- Molten Ventures leads European VC exits, delivering four high-value transactions in 2024 totalling over $1.5 billion.
- Molten achieved over 20% of all $150m+ exits by European VC firms in 2024, showcasing strategic outperformance.
- Partnership with Artis Partners underpins repeatable, high-value exits through a proven two-stage exit preparation framework.
LONDON, 10 April 2025 – Molten Ventures plc (“Molten”) and Artis Partners LLP (“Artis”) today announce Molten’s sustained success in delivering market-leading exit outcomes for European venture-backed companies. Artis’ analysis suggests Molten achieved the highest number of meaningful exits (valued above $150m) among European venture capital firms in 2024, demonstrating the effectiveness of their strategic partnership with Artis and their systematic approach to value creation.¹
Market-Leading Performance
In 2024 Molten Ventures successfully achieved four high-value exits, including the sales of M-Files, Graphcore, Endomag and Perkbox, for an aggregate value that Artis estimates totals over $1.5 billion.
As highlighted in Molten’s recent Investor Day exit presentation, this performance establishes Molten as the clear leader in European venture capital exits. Molten achieved the highest number of £120m+ ($150m+) transactions in the market, representing what Artis estimates to be 20% of all European VC exits achieved above this level.
Molten’s market-leading performance validates its systematic and deeply embedded approach to exit preparation and execution, developed and executed in partnership with Artis. It also highlights Molten’s active approach to collaborating with relevant external expertise to support its core investment team’s work.
Proven Exit Methodology
The Molten-Artis partnership leverages a sophisticated two-stage exit preparation process, developed by Artis and most extensively adopted by Molten among European VCs, which has consistently delivered superior outcomes for numerous Artis clients over the past 20 years. Artis’ exit preparation framework, refined in collaboration with Molten, breaks down the route to exit into two distinct stages:
Stage 1: Strategic Preparation (for 12-24 months before planned exit)
- Development of compelling equity narratives
- Clear articulation of technological differentiators and market position
- Sustained support directly to each management team
- Intensive corporate marketing to build momentum
- Strategic relationship cultivation with key buyer decision-makers
- Internal alignment across board members and teams
Stage 2: Execution (for up to 6 months before exit)
- Streamlined 4–6-month transaction process
- Intensive competitive negotiation
- Coordinated buyer communications
- Comprehensive deal documentation
- Efficient due diligence management
This methodology positions portfolio companies to be “bought, not sold,” enabling them to capture maximum strategic value through carefully orchestrated, intensely competitive processes. Molten has adopted the Artis framework across its entire relevant portfolio, resulting in a continued pipeline of additional investments now becoming exit ready.
Forward Momentum
Building on the strong performance in 2024, Molten has already secured significant exits in early 2025 – Ravelin, Freetrade and Lyst exits have already been announced. The firm’s exit pipeline contains multiple high-value transactions in advanced stages of preparation and now moving naturally towards successful exits in 2025-2026. Molten’s collaboration with Artis extends beyond individual company preparation and transaction execution, encompassing regular CEO exit workshops and strategic planning sessions that ensure portfolio companies are optimally positioned for successful outcomes when timing is naturally right.
“We have embedded the discipline of exit preparation, sometimes over years before a successful transaction, into our core workflow as a fund. Our partnership with Artis has been instrumental in developing and executing this systematic approach which consistently delivers superior outcomes for our funds, investors and the entrepreneurs we back,” said Richard Marsh, Molten’s Chief Portfolio Officer. “Our results speak for themselves – we’re not just participating in the market; we are defining best practices for portfolio value realisation in European venture capital.”
“A cornerstone of successful exit prep is taking the time to cultivate potential buyers and broadcast individual company success” noted Victor Basta, Managing Partner at Artis. “Helping each company and team prepare thoughtfully, sometimes over 2 years, means each business is ready to engage with buyers who come to the table appreciating an acquisition’s long-term opportunity, not just its current performance. Molten is the gold standard in European VC for adopting this approach, which is the key to achieving such high strategic M&A valuations repeatedly.”
Notes
[1] Based on Artis’ analysis of publicly available data, including Pitchbook, and internal estimates of undisclosed deal values.
About Molten Ventures
Molten Ventures is a leading European venture capital firm, investing in and actively supporting the growth of high-potential technology companies. With a proven track record of successful exits and value creation, Molten Ventures has established itself as a premier destination for entrepreneurs seeking both capital and strategic support. www.moltenventures.com
About Artis Partners
Artis Partners is an investment bank advising technology companies on strategic sell-side M&A and growth financings, with a focus on B2B SaaS, Fintech, Deeptech and Healthcare Technology across Europe and the US. The firm specialises in combining deep exit preparation with high-quality transaction execution for prominent funds and larger growth companies. www.artis.partners
Contact Information
For Molten Ventures:
[email protected]
For Artis Partners:
Alicia Burke, Marketing Director
[email protected]
This press release is a corporate communication issued by Artis Partners LLP which is an appointed representative of Thornbridge Investment Management LLP, which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The contents of this communication are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute financial promotion. It does not constitute investment advice, or an offer or invitation to buy or sell any financial instrument or engage in any investment activity.
No reliance should be placed on the information contained in this communication for any investment decision or activity. All the information in this press release is believed to be reliable but may be inaccurate or incomplete. All rights reserved.
Artis Partners LLP (FRN:1022191) is an appointed representative of Thornbridge Investment Management LLP (FRN: 713859), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
