Take your next step to growth with Bootstrap Europe. We provide progressive, ambitious entrepreneurs and shareholders with non-dilutive funding to help them succeed.
"Bootstrap Europe understands the day-to-day life as an entrepreneur. The team takes a completely different angle than other financiers when viewing the business’s value. They are empathic to scale-up’s needs which you don’t normally find in a financial partner."
"Since we have started working with Bootstrap Europe, our revenue has doubled. They have helped us fuel our growth just because they are such an exceptional financing partner to have."
"It was a truly fantastic experience with Bootstrap Europe right from the start — they are an inherently founder-friendly venture debt firm, and that’s rare. They deeply understand an entrepreneur’s journey; they know what it means to run a scaling business."
Bootstrap was founded by Stephanie Heller and Fatou Diagne in 2015 and is headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in Zurich and London. Bootstrap operates through classic fund structures backed by limited partners, including well-known technology entrepreneurs, family offices, asset managers and financial institutions.
The team at Bootstrap has invested in more than 250 Growth Debt transactions in European technology growth companies, over 12 jurisdictions in Europe with a focus on technology and life sciences sectors.
Although Bootstrap Europe flies under the radar with little to no marketing, the British Business Bank saw the huge value and has proudly committed €30 million to Bootstrap Europe whose fund includes some of Britain’s Top 100 Fastest-Growing Businesses.
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Bootstrap Europe supports thriving industries across the globe, from green energy and genetic testing to SaaS, fintech and smarter city solutions; the team’s collective experience has ensured that the fund includes some of Europe’s fastest, socially-focused scale-up businesses. Whether it’s deep-tech, sustainable manufacturing solutions or ethical money remittance tools, each of our partners work with us because we understand the ins and outs of creating a sustainable business that’s making a positive impact today’s and for the good of the future.
At Bootstrap Europe, we strongly believe in the people behind the companies we support. Each business on our portfolio is making a positive impact within their industry. Whether it’s bio-tech, efficient energy solutions or creating more financial inclusivity - every one of our customers has a different story to tell, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey in making a difference in the world.
Genetic sequencing for +2,200 rare inherited diseases.
Super Computing applied to automatisation of CNC manufacturing.
The Bloomberg for retail data.
Sustainable, eco and animal friendly recycled leather.
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Revolutionising e-motors and efficient power generation.
Online grocery platform sourcing ethically from farm to table.
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Augmented and Diminished reality applied to eyewear.
#1 UK Online Mortgage Broker
Software platform enabling next-generation digital banking for banks.
Green alternative to pesticides. Producer of pheromone based crop protection.
Award winning computer vision company.
Innovative pump technology; moving fluids inside the human body.
#1 network worldwide of smart LED streetlights.
Remittance company for the financial inclusion of migrant workers.
Semiconductor innovation.
Energy efficient water purification tech for industrial and consumer use.
World leading Esports performance brand
Nothing brings us more joy than to see the businesses we support create life-changing products and services. Our own experiences as entrepreneurs showed us that businesses succeed when the team has the freedom to make an impact immediately, stemming from the ability to make quick, nimble, business decisions.
That’s why the Bootstrap Europe team is here to shine a light on growth debt - a clever financing tool that allows entrepreneurs and key stakeholders to retain control over their business so that they can have the chance to innovate and grow at a pace that suits them.
Managing Partner
Stéphanie, Bootstrap Europe's co-founder and managing partner draws from her experience having founded, built and sat on the board of several successful companies.
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Managing Partner
Fatou is the co-founder and managing partner for Bootstrap Europe, actively sourcing and evaluating growth companies eligible for debt financing.
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Structuring Partner
Humphrey capitalises on his experience as a founder at growth debt pioneer ETV Capital, where he invested €300M in 200+ transactions across Europe.
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Chief Operating Officer
Nick joined Bootstrap as COO and is focused on optimising our operations. Nick joined Bootstrap having spent much of his career as Finance Partner and Compliance Officer of the European business of SV Health investors (Previously known as Schroder Ventures Life Sciences). He brings extensive experience of early-stage venture capital to the Bootstrap team.
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Vice President
Eliott joined the investment team from SVB where he underwrote more than £160M in growth loans and backed 20+ successful companies inc Azimo, Lyst, Worldremit and Market Finance.
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Vice President
Kristine joined from Norgine Ventures, a healthcare venture debt fund, where she led several deals across digital health, specialty pharma, diagnostics and medtech. Prior to this, she worked in Lazard's Healthcare M&A team in New York and in the investment team at Royalty Pharma. Kristine holds a BSc Hons in Cell Biology from the University of St. Andrews.
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Head of Finance
Denise oversees all aspects of Bootstrap's financial operations. Denise provides the connection and information flow between the various stakeholders which make Bootstrap's activities thrive.
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Head of Portfolio
Benjamin joined Bootstrap from EY's European PE advisory team. He works across the entire deal life cycle, primarily with the existing venture lending portfolio. This includes post-investment engagement with Founders and Management teams.
Fund Accountant
Robert joined Bootstrap to bolster the finance and operations function. Robert is a chartered accountant (ICAEW), having trained in KPMG’s Asset Management Audit team. Robert also holds an LLB from the University of Newcastle, and a MA in Global Political Economy from the University of London.
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Chief of Staff
Victoria brings a wealth of entrepreneurial experience to Bootstrap, having spent the past eight years working in the nucleus of Clean-Tech Start-Ups. Prior to this, Victoria spent a decade working in asset management at Capital International and Goldman Sachs. Victoria utilises her unique skill set to support Bootstrap’s operations.
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Advisor
Bindi is incredibly passionate about all things related to startups in Europe and connecting the dots between Investors, Founders, Corporates and Government. As a result, she has worked in and around technology startups for most of her career.
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Advisor
Sinikka brings her wealth of experience in risk management, asset allocation, private assets and impact investing. Sinikka served as a Venture Partner at Nextech Invest Ltd, and is a board member, advisor and an investor for biotech and tech businesses and asset managers.
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Advisor
Didier Cowling joined Bootstrap Europe as Scientific Advisor in 2021. As a serial entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of broad experience in the field, Didier brings to Bootstrap his deep knowledge of the medtech industry and hands-on start-up experience.
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Member of the Board
Under Matthias’s leadership from 2001-2014, the European Investment Fund’s tech investment business grew to over €4.7bn committed in, or alongside more than 260 funds, Business Angels, and Family Offices who invested in 3,800 technology companies.
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