We invest in London School of Economics entrepreneurs.
We back the best of the alumni, students and faculty of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
LSE founders have raised more than $60bn in venture capital, and they are just getting started.
35,000+
LSE founders
$60bn+
raised by LSE-founded companies
44
companies valued at $1bn+
$5.2bn
raised in 2025
PitchBook ranks LSE the number one social science university in the world for founders. Read more
OUR PORTFOLIO
Backing LSE founders from pre-seed to Series A
Scan.com
Healthtech · UK
Even
Healthtech · India
Firstwork
HR tech · US
Geosurge
AI · UK
Weather Promise
Insurtech · US
Valpas
Hospitality · Finland
WHO WE ARE
We are Houghton Street Ventures,
a venture fund founded in partnership with the London School of Economics.
Our first fund is fully invested, backing 25+ LSE-founded companies from pre-seed to Series A. We continue to support our portfolio and the wider LSE founder community.
For more than 130 years, the LSE has produced global leaders and innovators in every field. From captains of industry to heads of state. Pulitzer prize winners to Nobel Laureates. Ambassadors and academics to artists and activists. This spirit of diversity, dedication and depth is core to our philosophy at Houghton Street Ventures. So we’ve created a distinctive approach that’s singularly focused on a certain type of founder. Those that have forged their world view in the unique environment of LSE.
OUR APPROACH
We back LSE founders who are building companies that harness the power of the humanities, social sciences and technology.
We backed founders from pre-seed to Series A, in the early days, when it is most needed. When the product may be basic, but the potential can be huge. We lead with conviction and follow on with focus. Providing the accelerant for their ambitions.
We’ve developed an approach to investing that reflects this perspective. We call it ‘Critical Capital’. Critical because of the stage and the type of thinking we practice. The vital nature of the companies we back. And the combination of disciplines they apply.
OUR VALUE
We support our founders with inspiration, insight, influence and investment.
Leveraging the LSE ecosystem to provide them with the expertise, energy and encouragement of a global support network. Enabling them to enter new markets, extend their funding, enhance their talent pool, expand their operations and elevate our potential as a society.