Nesta Impact Investments
Overview
Nesta Impact Investments is the investment arm of Nesta, a UK-based innovation agency for social good. They invest in high-impact innovations run by outstanding entrepreneurs to make real and lasting social impact in the UK and around the world, including in the US, while generating financial returns. They provide financial, knowledge and network capital to innovative tech ventures, and have backed businesses closely aligned to Nesta's missions, improving school readiness, tackling obesity and reducing household carbon emissions, by investing in edtech, foodtech, healthtech and climate tech.
Investments
| Company | Date | Stage | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| CellCentric | Oct 2007 | Series A | Lead |
| Third Space Learning | Jul 2015 | Series A | Co-investor |
| Aira | Aug 2025 | VC Round | Co-investor |
| Expertise Finder | Oct 2019 | Series A Extension | Lead |
| Inquisitive | Apr 2021 | Series B Extension | Lead |
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Key People
Lisa Barclay
Executive Director of Investments
Sector & Stage Mix
Industry, funding stage, and valuation band breakdowns.
FAQ
Where is Nesta Impact Investments based?
Nesta Impact Investments is headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom.
When was Nesta Impact Investments founded?
Nesta Impact Investments was founded in 1998.
How many portfolio companies does Nesta Impact Investments have?
Nesta Impact Investments has 17 portfolio companies in Caplight's dataset.
What are some companies in Nesta Impact Investments's portfolio?
Portfolio companies visible on Caplight include CellCentric, Third Space Learning, Aira, Expertise Finder, Inquisitive.
What was Nesta Impact Investments's most recent investment shown here?
Nesta Impact Investments's most recent investment in this portfolio sample was in Aira in 2025.
What sectors does Nesta Impact Investments focus on?
Nesta Impact Investments focuses on Healthcare & Life Sciences, Consumer & Commerce, Energy & Sustainability, Energy & Sustainability, Media, Entertainment & Gaming, Enterprise Software, Consumer & Commerce, Enterprise Software, Enterprise Software, FinTech, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Enterprise Software, Enterprise Software, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Enterprise Software, Energy & Sustainability, Enterprise Software, Real Estate & PropTech, Mobility, Transportation & Logistics, Consumer & Commerce, Consumer & Commerce, AI, Data & Cloud Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, AI, Data & Cloud Infrastructure, AI, Data & Cloud Infrastructure, AI, Data & Cloud Infrastructure, AI, Data & Cloud Infrastructure, Media, Entertainment & Gaming, AI, Data & Cloud Infrastructure, Media, Entertainment & Gaming, Frontier & Industrial Tech, Consumer & Commerce.
What company stages does Nesta Impact Investments focus on?
Nesta Impact Investments typically invests at the Early stage.
What is Nesta Impact Investments's AUM?
Nesta Impact Investments's assets under management are estimated between $50.0M and $100.0M.