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Highland Europe
Highland Europe is a growth-stage investment firm located in London and Geneva. It spun off from Highland Capital Partners in 2012 to focus entirely on...
Highland Europe
Highland Europe is a growth-stage investment firm located in London and Geneva. It spun off from Highland Capital Partners in 2012 to focus entirely on European-rooted scale-ups. The firm backs exceptional teams in Europe and Israel building technology leaders, investing in growth-stage, product-led companies across software and consumer sectors.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2012
Location
Region
North America
Country
United Kingdom
City
Geneva
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Additional offices
Geneva, Switzerland
Principals
Fergal Mullen
Co-founder & Partner
Laurence Garrett
Co-founder & Partner
Irena Goldenberg
Partner
Stan Laurent
Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How did Highland Europe originate, and is it still connected to Highland Capital Partners in the US?
Highland Europe was launched in 2012 as a separate, independent firm when partners Fergal Mullen and Laurence Garrett raised a dedicated €463 million fund exclusively for European growth-stage technology investments. It shares a name lineage with Boston-based Highland Capital Partners but operates with a fully independent investment committee, separate limited-partner base, and distinct fund vehicles. The two firms are not structurally linked.
Does Highland Europe invest outside of technology and software?
No. The firm's mandate is exclusively technology and software-focused, spanning enterprise software, fintech, cybersecurity, digital health, mobility and energy-transition technology. It has not invested in consumer brands, hard tech, or biotechnology outside the software enablement layer.
What is Highland Europe's geographic scope?
The firm invests across Europe — including the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Nordics — and occasionally Israel. It does not invest in North American or Asian companies. Its London office covers the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, while the Geneva office handles continental Europe.
Does Highland Europe raise permanent capital or operate on a fund cycle?
Highland Europe raises traditional closed-end blind-pool funds backed by institutional limited partners. Fund I closed at €463 million in 2012, Fund II at €663 million in 2015, Fund III at €859 million in 2018, and Fund IV at €1 billion in 2021. The firm does not manage permanent-capital or evergreen vehicles.
Who runs the investment committee at Highland Europe?
Day-to-day investment decisions are led by co-founders Fergal Mullen and Laurence Garrett, who chair the investment committee alongside partners Irena Goldenberg and Stan Laurent. The firm reports approximately 24 professionals in total, with investment professionals operating out of London and Geneva.
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