Touchstone Innovations

What is Touchstone Innovations?

Touchstone Innovations, previously known as Imperial Innovations, was a venture capital firm based in London, United Kingdom, before its acquisition by IP Group plc in October 2017.

The firm specialized in providing financial capital to startups and growth-stage companies within a diverse range of sectors including technology, bio-engineering, therapeutics, software, hardware, healthcare, medical devices, diagnostics, energy, engineering, materials, environment, and biosciences.

With a focus on transforming groundbreaking ideas into commercially viable businesses, they aimed to back innovation that could significantly influence the sectors they operate in.At the time of its activities, Touchstone Innovations sought to invest in companies with the potential to lead their respective fields.

They embraced a hands-on investment approach, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance to their portfolio companies.

The firm's investment profile indicated specific interest in opportunities emanating from academic research and they committed to nurturing the intellectual property developed in the UK's leading universities.Touchstone Innovations' standard investment size for both the lower and upper threshold was GBP 34,890,000, which suggests they were positioned to make substantial, growth-focused investments, typically in later stages of a company's development.After the acquisition by IP Group plc, the ethos and investment strategy of Touchstone Innovations were integrated into the operations of IP Group.

IP Group continues to build upon this legacy, positioning itself as an expert in the science and technology-based businesses ecosystem. They leverage their expertise to identify and back companies that promise to create a positive impact on society and the environment, aligning closely with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

They particularly excel in life sciences, deep tech, and cleantech, focusing on businesses that offer transformative potential in creating a healthier future, enabling new human capabilities, and addressing global climate challenges.