Yvonne Bajela, a seasoned venture capitalist with over a decade of experience at firms like LocalGlobe and Impact X Capital Partners, has launched her own fund named Evertrue Capital. The fund successfully closed an oversubscribed $17 million debut round, aiming to invest in early-stage startups across the UK and Europe. This new venture represents Bajela’s desire for greater autonomy in investment decisions and the opportunity to back entrepreneurs with conviction and a tailored approach. Evertrue Capital plans to deploy average checks of about £350,000 across at least 20 companies within the next three years, already supporting seven ventures.

The ongoing surge in artificial intelligence innovation played a significant role in Bajela’s decision to start her own fund. She highlighted how AI has transformed startup economics and democratized the ability to create new businesses, creating fertile ground for early-stage investors like Evertrue Capital. Bajela is particularly focused on companies operating in AI and fintech sectors that demonstrate strong founder insights, execution skills, and ambitions for substantial growth. She also values founders’ unique journeys and resilience as key factors in her investment thesis.

The UK is emerging as a vibrant hub of startup activity, especially in AI, with areas such as King’s Cross gaining global recognition. Successful British companies like Revolut, Synthesia, ElevenLabs, and CuspAI underscore this momentum, attracting both talent and capital. Bajela sees this period as ripe for identifying and supporting the next generation of influential British innovators, many of whom are poised to expand internationally, notably into U.S. markets where more than half of her current portfolio already operates.

Fundraising for Evertrue was challenging, with Bajela emphasizing the difficulty of prolonged investor processes and the value of clarity and time for founders. The fund secured backing from five institutional investors, including the British Business Bank and Basecamp, which is linked to LocalGlobe. Evertrue participated in the British Business Bank's Investor Pathways initiative, highlighting the growing support for first-time fund managers in the UK. Bajela chose to cap the fund size at $17 million to maintain strategic focus and avoid pressure to over-deploy capital, reflecting her commitment to building meaningful and high-conviction investments.