Innovation
Interviewing the innovation economy's investors: Wilbe Capital
- Innovation
- Article
- 4 minutes read
Find out how Wilbe, a venture fund and platform built to help scientists and engineers turn research into businesses, supports scientists with the tools, community, space and capital they need to move forward fast.
- Founded in 2020, Wilbe is a venture fund and platform backing scientists and engineers who want to build world-class companies from their research.
- Through its platform, Wilbe provides scientists with the tools, community, lab space and capital to move from idea to company in as little as seven days.
- To date, Wilbe has equipped more than 1,400 scientists across leading research institutions in the UK, Europe and the US, backed 22 companies building in pivotal domains from clean energy, materials, to bio, and helped create over $1.3 billion in value worldwide.
Scientific discovery is at the core of innovation. Whether it’s the advances driving new discoveries in deep tech or the trial of evolving healthcare solutions, researchers and scientists play a fundamental role in shaping the future.
However, making the leap from laboratory to listed company is a challenge. Wilbe Capital exists to bridge that gap and empower scientists to navigate the fundraising world and build tomorrow’s businesses today.
I spoke to Devika Thapar, Co-founder and COO at Wilbe Capital to find out more about their approach and investment thesis.
Please tell us a little bit about Wilbe Capital and your investment thesis
At Wilbe Capital, we invest in scientists.
We equip, support, and back scientist founders turning frontier research into companies that strengthen society's capacity to survive and thrive. We do this from day 0, typically preincorporation, meeting scientists and engineers through our online weekly cohorts – Build Weeks.
Devika Thapar, Co-founder and COO, Wilbe Capital"Our thesis is simple: empower scientists to operate as founders, and they will solve the challenges that define our generation."
Our thesis is simple: empower scientists to operate as founders, and they will solve the challenges that define our generation. Today, we have 1,400+ scientists on our platform, and we have had the privilege of partnering with scientists-turned-founders, tackling everything from fertility (U-Ploid) to fusion energy (Proxima Fusion).
What are you most excited about at Wilbe?
We’re most excited about the rise of the scientist-founder. More researchers are stepping out of institutions to build companies tackling issues like health span, fertility, energy, and material scarcity.
These founders are not waiting for policy shifts or academic recognition – they’re building scalable solutions with direct societal impact. As breakthroughs in computation, biology, and advanced manufacturing converge, scientists can now go from discovery to deployment faster than ever.
Devika Thapar, Co-founder and COO, Wilbe Capital"The next great companies will be built by those who understand the science deeply and have the conviction to bring it to the world."
Why did you choose HSBC Innovation Banking to be your banking provider?
We chose HSBC Innovation Banking for their reliability and strong relationships. They’re trusted not only by us, but also by many of our founders, and that says a lot about how well they understand this ecosystem.
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions and not facts. All information in this document is for general informational purposes and not to be construed as professional advice or to create a professional relationship and the information is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Nothing in this document takes into account your company’s individual circumstances. HSBC Innovation Banking does not make any representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of this document and the material may not reflect the most current legal or regulatory developments. HSBC Innovation Banking disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents in this document to the fullest extent permitted by law. Nothing relating to this material should be construed as a solicitation or offer, or recommendation, to acquire or dispose of any investment or to engage in any other transaction.
