The new fund will invest in high-growth media and technology companies.
UK-based business newspaper and media platform Financial Times Group has announced the launch of a venture arm.
The new CVC, FT Ventures, will invest in high-growth media and technology companies, focusing on data and intelligence. The Financial Times will inject $37.8m from its balance sheet into the firm.
Alongside its launch, FT Ventures has made its first investment in Charter, a US-based future-of-work media and research company. It took part in the startup’s $3m seed funding round.
Founded in 1888, the Financial Times was acquired by Japan-based media company Nikkei in 2015 for £844m. The corporation has invested in several companies including The Business of Fashion and Farm Infinity.
“We want to champion founders with a bold vision who also share our core values, global mindset and ambition,” said Alexandra Calinikos, corporate development and strategy director at Financial Times, in a release. “We aim to foster mutually beneficial relationships, particularly where we can offer strategic partnerships alongside our investments that enable founders to benefit from our expertise.”
