Parkwalk Advisors

John Pearson serves as Chief Investment Officer, a role he assumed in 2024 (per firm website). He joined the firm in 2018 and leads deal execution and portfolio management, having overseen exits to Apple and Microsoft from Parkwalk's portfolio. He works alongside co-founder Moray Wright, who sits on IP Group's Executive Committee and several portfolio company boards.

Parkwalk sits inside IP Group plc, which maintains longstanding relationships with over 30 UK universities and their technology transfer offices. This embedded position grants Parkwalk early visibility into spinout opportunities, often pre-public disclosure, giving it an edge over generalist VCs. The firm also benefits from IP Group's network of academics, founders, and co-investors in the deeptech ecosystem.

Parkwalk functions as a venture capital investor that primarily structures its investments through Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) funds. It invests across seed to Series C stages with a focus on deeptech university spinouts. Unlike many passive EIS fund managers, Parkwalk takes board seats, provides strategic guidance, and leverages IP Group's balance sheet for follow-on capital, resembling a specialist early-stage VC.

Parkwalk concentrates on three core areas: DeepTech (including AI, quantum computing, and advanced materials), HealthTech (digital health, life sciences, and medtech), and CleanTech (agritech, future mobility, and energy transition). Its portfolio of more than 200 companies spans these verticals, all rooted in university-developed intellectual property.

Parkwalk Advisors is a subsidiary of IP Group plc, a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange. Co-founder Moray Wright serves on IP Group's Executive Committee, and the parent company provides institutional capital, compliance infrastructure, and access to its global investor network. This structure allows Parkwalk to offer EIS funds while benefiting from IP Group's venture creation platform.

Yes, Parkwalk actively invites co-investment. Its website highlights options for interested co-investors, and the firm has a track record of syndicating rounds with other VCs, angel networks, and corporate investors. Being part of IP Group also means portfolio companies can attract follow-on funding from IP Group's balance sheet and institutional limited partners.

Parkwalk invests from seed through Series C, supporting companies from initial proof-of-concept to commercial scale and international expansion. The firm emphasizes bridging the funding gap between early academic discovery and later-stage venture capital, providing patient capital during the critical translation phase.