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Public.io
Founded by Korski and de Carvalho, Public.io operates from London and pairs an early-stage investment strategy with a consulting practice that embeds portfolio...
Public.io
Founded by Korski and de Carvalho, Public.io operates from London and pairs an early-stage investment strategy with a consulting practice that embeds portfolio company products into public services. The firm's dual structure is underwritten by de Carvalho's family wealth, sourced from the Heineken brewing fortune, where he serves as a Non-Executive Director of Heineken N.V. Public.io invests primarily at seed and early-stage, with an investment focus on enterprise software, cybersecurity, digital health, and AI. The firm uses a hybrid deployment model: direct investments into startups are coupled with commercial consulting projects for government bodies, creating a proprietary pipeline where the firm can test and scale technologies. Confirmed engagements include a three-year evaluation of over 60 local government digitalisation programmes for the UK Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and a defense accelerator with AWS that placed 10 startups with the UK Ministry of Defence. Geographic activity remains concentrated in the United Kingdom and Europe. Alongside the investment and consulting operations, the firm maintains PUBLIC Hall, a commercial workspace in Westminster. Alexander de Carvalho holds a position in the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. In early 2026, Public.io joined forces with Solita, a European technology, data, and design company, marking a strategic operational expansion into continental Europe. The firm's structural differentiator is a captured-demand model: by controlling consulting relationships with government departments, Public.io can originate deal flow and secure pilot programs for portfolio companies, creating a cycle that traditional venture firms cannot replicate without in-house advisory capabilities.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
2016
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Additional offices
One Horse Guards Avenue, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HU, UK
Principals
Daniel Korski
CEO and Co-founder
Alexander de Carvalho
CIO and Co-founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Public.io?
Investment decisions are led by co-founder and CIO Alexander de Carvalho, who holds a Non-Executive Director seat at Heineken N.V. He works alongside CEO and co-founder Daniel Korski, a former Deputy Head of the No. 10 Policy Unit under David Cameron. This pairing of policy access and family-office capital defines the firm's deal origination and due-diligence process.
How does Public.io source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources deal flow through its government consulting arm, which identifies operational technology gaps within public-sector contracts. By running programs like the AWS defence accelerator for the UK Ministry of Defence, Public.io scouts startups it can both invest in and connect to government pilot opportunities, creating a pipeline that bypasses standard competitive auction processes.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The firm's investment capital is tied to the de Carvalho family, controlling shareholders of Heineken N.V. Alexander de Carvalho is the son of Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, one of the wealthiest individuals in the Netherlands, and the heir to the Heineken brewing fortune. The family office's capital base supports both investment activities and the consulting operations.
Is Public.io a venture capital firm or a consulting company?
Public.io operates as a hybrid. It makes direct seed and early-stage equity investments in technology startups, while simultaneously bidding on and delivering paid digital transformation contracts for government clients. The two functions are operationally linked: consulting fees provide non-dilutive revenue, and government relationships act as a distribution channel for portfolio companies.
What investment stages does Public.io target?
The firm focuses on seed and early-stage startups. Confirmed engagements include scouting, mentoring, and connecting pre-revenue and early-revenue companies with government sponsors through structured accelerator programs — notably its work with 10 startups for the UK Ministry of Defence via an AWS-backed accelerator.
Does Public.io maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
There is no confirmed philanthropic vehicle directly under Public.io. However, the de Carvalho family's broader wealth structures, including the Heineken controlling stake and associated family governance vehicles, operate separately from the firm's investment and consulting business.
How is Public.io related to its acquisition by Solita?
Public.io joined forces with Solita, a Nordic-European technology and design consultancy, in early 2026. The transaction is described by the firm as a partnership rather than a full acquisition, with Public.io maintaining its distinct brand and public-sector mission while gaining access to Solita's engineering and data resources across continental Europe.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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