Richard has been building tech companies since the 1990s, with investment experience spanning every wave of SaaS innovation – experiences he now channels into helping ambitious European SaaS founders build businesses that leave a mark on their industries. His deep understanding of SaaS evolution, forged through the highs and lows of industry cycles, has proven invaluable; both in terms of understanding the nuances of the repeating macro pattern of each SaaS innovation wave, and in identifying critical areas where companies need help on their growth journeys.
In his early career, Richard worked as a management consultant and in the TMT team at Apax Partners, following which he joined software company Autonomy in its earliest days as a hands-on finance and business development executive. After that, he returned to his calling on the investor side, spending 18 years at Amadeus Capital. It was during this time that he also served as chair of the British Venture Capital Association, the BVCA. He has extensive experience investing in cybersecurity, so with that in mind, Oxx’s recent investment into SOCRadar was perfectly in his wheelhouse. Richard’s past investments in the space include Forescout (real time network security), Clearswift (email/web security) and Secerno (database security). Other past investments include Autonomy (unstructured data analytics), Clicktale (digital experience analytics) and Unruly (adtech).
Great companies aren’t just about innovation; they’re built on shared values, trust, and the determination to solve real problems. When the pieces fit together, that’s where the magic happens.
Analytically minded and with a hunger to understand how things work, Richard is one of those people who is great at recognising patterns and cutting through the noise to uncover the variables that actually drive success. There is a lot that goes into building a successful business, and when Richard and Mikael co-founded Oxx in 2017, their vision was clear: to create a firm that adds up to more than just capital, and to leverage the collective expertise of the Oxx team and network to help founders. They set out to become the trusted partner for growth-stage SaaS companies across Europe, working with founders to balance bold ideas with disciplined execution. For Richard this mission is anchored in values and integrity, areas where he, after years in the investment world, will never compromise.
Integrity is everything. It’s about building trust through the right decisions, guided by core values that serve as your north star. To that, there are no shortcuts.
At Oxx, Richard has shaped a culture of collaboration and curiosity, pushing both his team and portfolio founders to think differently and embrace challenges in order to tackle them head on. His quick thinking and ability to reframe problems inspire innovative solutions – a trait highly appreciated by the founders he works with. Outside of work, Richard recharges in nature, either in his meticulously engineered garden or in the wild (he is a keen skier and mountain biker). At the end of the day, family is his anchor, and Richard finds joy in lively dinner debates with his wife and four boys when the children are home.
