Adam French founded Scalable Capital just over a decade ago, grew it into what is now one of Europe’s fastest-growing online investment platforms, and then swapped seats to become a partner at Antler.
That history – from builder to investor – shapes how he talks about what it actually takes to back a founder in a world where AI is moving faster than ever, and it’s not necessarily the version most people picture when they think about venture capital.
Founders come into Antler’s offices and spend eight weeks there, often before the business even exists, before any money changes hands. French frames the period not as due diligence in the usual sense but as something closer to a courtship: “I like to say to the founders that meet with us that we have to earn the rights to be an investor in the company.”
At IFGS at London’s Guildhall this year, Tech Funding News sat down with French to unpack what trust looks like on both sides of the table in today’s ever-changing startup landscape.
Before the first check
