Updated:
TempoCap
TempoCap was founded in 2012 by managing partners Pierre Suhrcke and Olafur Gislason, both former European Investment Fund executives who saw that...
TempoCap
TempoCap was founded in 2012 by managing partners Pierre Suhrcke and Olafur Gislason, both former European Investment Fund executives who saw that Europe's venture ecosystem lacked dedicated secondary buyers for direct stakes in later-stage, privately held tech companies. The firm operates from London and focuses exclusively on the secondary market for European venture capital and growth equity. TempoCap acquires direct secondary positions — buying shares from early investors, founders, or employees — in established, venture-backed European technology companies. It concentrates on enterprise software, fintech, digital health, and cybersecurity. The firm writes equity checks from roughly €5 million to €30 million, targeting companies with proven business models and annual recurring revenue above €10 million. Known portfolio companies acquired through secondary transactions have included Trustpilot, Algolia, and Catawiki, typically in deals where TempoCap bought stakes from departing angel investors or early-stage venture funds. TempoCap manages a series of direct secondary funds. The firm closed its second fund, TempoCap European Direct Secondaries Fund II, at €185 million in 2018 (per AltAssets, 2018). It has since been deploying a larger third vintage. Investment activity spans the UK, Germany, France, the Nordics, and the Benelux region. While structured as a fund manager rather than a single-family office, TempoCap's operating model is notable for its singular focus: it is one of the few dedicated direct-secondary buyers in European venture capital, operating in a space where most secondary funds focus on LP stakes in funds rather than direct company equity. This purity of mandate — direct secondaries, Europe-only, tech-only — gives it an unusual concentration in a fragmented corner of private markets.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2012
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Principals
Pierre Suhrcke
Managing Partner
Olafur Gislason
Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does TempoCap's secondary strategy differ from traditional secondaries funds?
TempoCap focuses entirely on direct secondaries — buying existing shares in individual companies from founders, employees, or early investors — rather than acquiring limited partner interests in venture capital funds. This means TempoCap selects specific company exposures, negotiates directly with selling shareholders, and typically targets later-stage, venture-backed European tech businesses with established revenues. Most secondary funds operate in the LP-led or GP-led fund-restructuring market, making TempoCap's pure direct-secondary mandate unusual in Europe.
What type of companies does TempoCap invest in?
TempoCap targets later-stage, venture-backed European technology companies, primarily in enterprise software, fintech, digital health, and cybersecurity. The firm typically requires companies to have at least €10 million in annual recurring revenue and a proven business model. Past portfolio companies have included Trustpilot, Algolia, and Catawiki — businesses that had outgrown their early funding rounds but had not yet pursued an IPO or trade sale when TempoCap acquired its stakes.
Who founded TempoCap and what is their background?
TempoCap was founded in 2012 by Pierre Suhrcke and Olafur Gislason, both former executives at the European Investment Fund, where they gained deep exposure to European venture capital and private equity. Their EIF experience gave them insight into the fragmentation of European venture secondary markets and the lack of dedicated liquidity providers for direct company stakes — a structural problem TempoCap was built to address.
Where does TempoCap invest geographically?
TempoCap invests across Europe, with active deal sourcing and portfolio companies concentrated in the UK, Germany, France, the Nordics, and the Benelux region. The firm is headquartered in London.
What is the typical investment size for a TempoCap transaction?
TempoCap typically writes equity cheques between €5 million and €30 million per transaction, acquiring direct secondary stakes from existing shareholders in its target companies. The exact size depends on the selling stake, the company's stage, and TempoCap's desired position sizing within its fund portfolio.
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.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: