Lead Edge Capital Opens London Office, Plots Europe Expansion

Firm has backed companies including Spotify, Delivery Hero

Partner Brian Lobdell has relocated to oversee new office

Growth equity firm Lead Edge Capital opened its first office outside the US in an effort to enhance its presence in Europe.

The office is in London’s tony Mayfair neighborhood and is led by Brian Lobdell, a partner at the firm who has relocated to the UK.

Lead Edge, which invests in the software, technology-enabled and internet sectors, aims to develop relationships with prospective portfolio companies, provide more “hands-on” support to its new and existing companies, and strengthen its network of investors in the region, Lobdell said in an interview.

“Historically, around 15% of invested capital has been in Europe, but our aspiration is to meaningfully increase that figure, and now with our presence on the ground we feel well-positioned to do that,” Lobdell said. The firm has backed companies founded in Europe including Spotify Technology SA, BlaBlaCar, Wise, Catawiki, ClearScore, Delivery Hero, Immedis and Yousign.

Nimay Mehta, a partner based in New York, said Lead Edge can help such companies navigate their entry and expansion in the US.

One of Lead Edge’s operating partners, Stephan Dietrich, who is on the board of companies including Yousign and Lucca, both based in Paris, will be involved in the firm’s European expansion. Dietrich co-founded Neolane, which was acquired by Adobe in 2013.

The firm, sold minority stakes to both Blue Owl Capital Inc.’s Dyal Capital Partners and P10 Inc.’s Bonaccord Capital Partners, has more than 700 entrepreneurs, executives and other well-known individuals among its investor base, including GoDaddy Inc. Chief Executive Officer Aman Bhutani, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co. and eBay Inc. Meg Whitman, Point72 Asset Management’s Steve Cohen, and D1 Capital Partners’ Daniel Sundheim.

Founded in 2011 by managing partner Mitchell Green, Lead Edge has about $5 billion in assets under management and offices in New York City and Santa Barbara, California.