Exceptional Ventures Research
Investment Thesis
Exceptional Ventures (EV) is a London-based, science-driven venture capital firm with a mission to help as many people as possible live longer, healthier, and happier lives — a concept the firm calls maximising "Joyspan®," the years lived in good health, purpose, and happiness. Founded in 2022 by Matt Cooper and Paolo Pio, two experienced entrepreneurs, operators, and angel investors with a combined 400+ investments, EV backs early-stage founders and scientists building the current revolution in human health. The firm explicitly positions itself against the growing wave of unproven, hype-driven "wellness" products, insisting on science-based rigor and stating a goal of educating the public and working with policymakers as the sector matures.
Stage Focus
EV invests primarily at pre-seed and seed stage, acting as an early, often first-institutional, check for founders in health, wellness, and longevity. The firm aims to remain deeply engaged well beyond the initial capital, supporting portfolio companies with strategy, hiring, and partnerships.
Check Size
No specific check-size range is published on the firm's site or in third-party coverage found during this research; treat check size as unconfirmed pending direct disclosure.
Lead Tendency
Not clearly documented in public sources — EV appears in syndicates with other early-stage and specialist health investors as often as it appears as sole institutional backer, so lead tendency is recorded as unknown pending further evidence.
Recent Activity
EV Fund 1, a £20M/$24M vehicle, launched in 2022 and is now fully deployed across 41 companies spanning HealthTech, FoodTech, and Financial Wellbeing in the UK, Europe, and the US. Building on that track record, EV launched Fund 2 in September 2025 with a £50M target, backed by institutional LPs including the British Business Bank and three of Europe's largest banking foundations — Compagnia di San Paolo (anchor LP), Fondazione Cariplo, and Fondazione CRC. Fund 2 sharpens the firm's focus to three themes: Prevention; Early Detection & Risk Assessment; and Smarter Treatment & Care Delivery. As of this research, Fund 2 has already invested in 12 companies and is targeting a total portfolio of 50–60 over the next three years. The firm is also active in the industry circuit, appearing as a partner for the Longevity Show 2026 and attending events such as SuperVenture 2026 in Berlin.
Portfolio Highlights
Across both funds, EV's portfolio spans more than 50 companies. Fund 1 names visible on the public portfolio page include Aeon, Alba Health, Amatera, Beyond Health, Bio&Me, BonusX, Carol, Core Vitals, Evaro, Fivepointfive, Ginko, Gladys, GlycanAge, LevelZero, Visible, NetPurpose, OpenHealth, Pacifico Biolabs, Patchs Health, Preactiv, Reminded, ReportAid, Rest Less, Roga, SAVA, CleanOS, Unfabled, Univa, and Verley. Fund 2's early bets include Big Picture Bio, Clira, Peak Health, Hijack Bio, InTouchNow, Kinly, Meela, Plurify Bio, PolicyBot, Punto, and Vela. Earlier reporting (TechCrunch, 2022) also names Clerkenwell Health (mental health), Bar.On, Planetary and REAL (alcohol-free drinks / future of food), and Here We Flo (sustainable feminine hygiene) among the team's first investments.
Team
- Paolo Pio, Co-Founder & General Partner — former MD Europe at Joyance Partners (25 investments across 9 countries); started at Cisco in Silicon Valley
- Matt Cooper, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman — 40 years as an entrepreneur/operator, 400+ angel investments, co-founder of Tandem Bank and CapitalOne Bank (Europe)
- Hugh Cameron, Head of Platform, Science & Reputation — former Chairman of PHD (Omnicom), challenger-brand author
- Alex Söderman, CFO & Compliance Officer — also Investment Director at Zebulon Capital
- Mark Schilling, Head of Capital Formation — 20+ years in capital markets (Marylebone Partners, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank)
- Joan Miquel Marcos Salleras, Visiting Analyst — prior HealthTech screening at Nina Capital and Croton Capital
- A bench of Venture Partners, Scouts, and Science/Deep-Tech Advisors including Stefano Gurciullo (Tau Capital), Doug Kerr (CMO, Generation Bio), Omar Daniel (NHS board member), Mithi Thaya, Jason Foster (CEO, Ori Biotech), Federica Pio, Simone Cimminelli, and Valerie Bures
Decision Process
A small partnership led by co-founders Matt Cooper and Paolo Pio, supported by a wider bench of venture partners, scouts, and science advisors who assist with sourcing and diligence — consistent with a partnership-style decision process rather than a solo GP or large investment committee.
Founder Preferences
EV backs "the very best founders and scientists" building science-based innovation in Prevention, Early Detection & Risk Assessment, and Smarter Treatment & Care Delivery, and explicitly says it wants to differentiate itself from "charlatans" and celebrity-led health ventures lacking scientific rigor.
Geographic Focus
Primarily the UK and Europe, with selective investment reach into the US; Fund 2 LPs also bring an Italian institutional connection (Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione CRC).