Molten Ventures Supported by Artis Partners Leads European VC Exit Market with Proven Methodology
Artis Partners LLP (“Artis”) is proud to support Molten Ventures plc (“Molten”) in delivering market-leading exit outcomes for European venture-backed companies. Analysis of Pitchbook reveals that Molten achieved the highest number of meaningful exits (valued above $150m+) among European venture capital firms in 2024, which is a testament to Molten’s approach to value creation, as well as the effectiveness of the strategic partnership between Artis and Molten.
Market-Leading Performance
In 2024 Molten successfully achieved four high value exits, namely the sales of M-Files, Graphcore, Endomag and Perkbox for an aggregate total deal value which Artis estimates to total over £1 billion ($1.3 billion).
As highlighted in Molten’s recent Investor Day exit presentation our view is that this performance establishes Molten as the clear leader in European venture capital exits. Molten achieved the highest number of £120m+ ($150m+) transactions in the market, representing what Artis estimates to be around 20% (by number) of all European VC exits achieved above this level during 2024.
Molten’s strong performance validates its systematic and deeply embedded approach to exit preparation and execution, developed and executed in partnership with Artis. It also highlights Molten’s active approach to collaborating with relevant external expertise to support its core investment team’s work.
Proven Exit Methodology
The Artis-Molten partnership leverages a sophisticated exit preparation process, developed by Artis and most-extensively adopted by Molten among European VCs to break down the route to exit into two distinct stages:
Stage 1: Strategic Preparation (for 12-24 months before planned exit)
• Development of compelling equity narratives
• Clear articulation of technological differentiators and market position
• Sustained support directly to each management team
• Intensive corporate marketing to build momentum
• Strategic relationship cultivation with key buyer decision-makers
• Internal alignment across board members and teams
Stage 2: Execution (for up to 6 months before exit)
• Streamlined 4–6-month transaction process
• Intensive competitive negotiation
• Coordinated buyer communications
• Comprehensive deal documentation
• Efficient due diligence management
This methodology positions portfolio companies to be "bought, not sold," enabling them to capture maximum strategic value through carefully orchestrated, intensely competitive processes.
Forward Momentum
Building on the strong performance in 2024, Molten has already secured significant exits in early 2025 – with both Ravelin and Freetrade announced in Q1, and a pipeline of high-value exits in varying stages of development.
Molten’s collaboration with Artis extends beyond individual company preparation and transaction execution, encompassing regular CEO exit workshops and strategic planning sessions that ensure portfolio companies are optimally positioned for successful outcomes when timing is naturally right.
“A cornerstone of successful exit prep is taking the time to cultivate potential buyers and broadcast individual company success” noted Victor Basta, Managing Partner at Artis. “Helping each company and team prepare thoughtfully, sometimes over 2 years, means each business is ready to engage with buyers who come to the table appreciating an acquisition’s long-term opportunity, not just its current performance. We think of Molten as the gold-standard in European VC for adopting this approach, which is the key to achieving such high strategic M&A valuations repeatedly.”
About Molten Ventures
Molten Ventures is a leading European venture capital firm, investing in and actively supporting the growth of high-potential technology companies. With a proven track record of successful exits and value creation, Molten Ventures has established itself as a premier destination for entrepreneurs seeking both capital and strategic support. www.moltenventures.com
For Molten Ventures:
comms@molten.vc
About Artis Partners
Artis Partners is an investment bank advising international technology companies, focusing on strategic sell-side M&A and growth financings within B2B SaaS, Fintech, Deeptech and Healthcare Technology across Europe and the US. The firm specializes in combining deep exit preparation with high-quality transaction execution for prominent funds and larger growth companies.
For Artis Partners:
Alicia Burke, Marketing Director
aburke@artis.partners