AAA Financial Times Group launches venture arm

Financial Times Group launches venture arm

Media Financial Times
Photo by Matthew Guay on Unsplash
Media Financial Times
Photo by Matthew Guay on Unsplash

UK-based business newspaper and media platform Financial Times Group has announced the launch of a venture arm.

The new CVC, FT Ventures, will invest in high-growth media and technology companies, focusing on data and intelligence. The Financial Times will inject $37.8m from its balance sheet into the firm.

Alongside its launch, FT Ventures has made its first investment in Charter, a US-based future-of-work media and research company. It took part in the startup’s $3m seed funding round.

Founded in 1888, the Financial Times was acquired by Japan-based media company Nikkei in 2015 for £844m. The corporation has invested in several companies including The Business of Fashion and Farm Infinity.

“We want to champion founders with a bold vision who also share our core values, global mindset and ambition,” said Alexandra Calinikos, corporate development and strategy director at Financial Times, in a release. “We aim to foster mutually beneficial relationships, particularly where we can offer strategic partnerships alongside our investments that enable founders to benefit from our expertise.”