HOWZAT Partners

HOWZAT Partners specializes in providing venture capital funding for internet media startups in their early development stages. The firm has established itself as a discerning investor with a keen eye for digital platforms with significant growth potential. Their investment strategy focuses on identifying innovative business models across various sectors including travel technology, e-commerce, marketplace platforms, and digital media ventures that demonstrate strong scalability prospects.

The firm's current investment portfolio showcases its diverse interests, featuring promising companies such as Appear [here], a marketplace for short-term retail spaces; academia.edu, an online platform for academics to share research papers; SpotAHome, a housing rental platform; Audicus, a direct-to-consumer hearing aid company; Profishop, an industrial supplies e-commerce platform; and Lodgify, a vacation rental software solution. Each investment reflects HOWZAT's commitment to backing transformative digital businesses that address specific market inefficiencies or consumer needs.

HOWZAT Partners has built an impressive track record of successful exits that validates their investment approach. Their most notable success story is Trivago, the hotel metasearch platform that was acquired by travel giant Expedia Inc. Other profitable exits include TrustedPlaces, a review site purchased by Yell Plc; Zoomf, a property search engine acquired by Trinity Mirror Plc; and more recently, JustSpices, an innovative spice brand that was acquired by global food conglomerate Kraft Heinz. These successful transactions demonstrate the firm's ability to identify early-stage companies with significant acquisition potential.

Founded by experienced entrepreneurs and investors with backgrounds in digital businesses, HOWZAT brings more than just capital to its portfolio companies. The partners leverage their extensive industry networks, operational expertise, and strategic insights to help founders navigate growth challenges. Their hands-on approach typically involves active participation in strategic planning and business development during the crucial scaling phases. HOWZAT generally focuses on seed and Series A investments, primarily in European and North American markets, though they maintain a global outlook for exceptional opportunities that align with their investment thesis.