In today’s episode of our CVC series, Andreas and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Alokik Advani, Managing Partner at Fidelity’s Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm, a strategic investment group focused on early-stage FinTech. Operating globally from London, Fidelity’s CVC targets opportunities in asset and wealth management, investing between $3–$10 million per deal and maintaining a disciplined approach to achieving both financial returns and strategic alignment.
With over six years of experience leading Fidelity’s CVC strategy, Alokik has spearheaded investments in companies like Moneybox, Moonfare, and 73 Strings. He shares insights into the unique challenges and opportunities of combining venture capital expertise with the strategic goals of a global asset manager. The conversation explores Fidelity’s thematic investment framework, the evolving CVC landscape, and the pivotal role of AI and sustainability in shaping the future of financial services.
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✍️ Show notes
1. How Fidelity Approaches Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)
Fidelity’s CVC strategy focuses on early-stage FinTech investments with strategic alignment to its core business. With typical investments between $3–$10 million and a global perspective, the firm prioritizes financial returns while ensuring strategic resonance. Key portfolio companies include Moneybox, Moonfare, and 73 Strings, reflecting a thematic approach to private asset infrastructure and valuation tools.
2. The Balance Between Strategic and Financial Goals in CVC
Alokik emphasizes the dual focus on financial returns and strategic alignment. Unlike many CVCs, Fidelity avoids tying investments to immediate contracts, instead fostering long-term optionality. Two-thirds of its portfolio currently collaborates strategically with Fidelity, with room for more partnerships over time.
3. Building a Thematic Investment Framework
Fidelity employs a thematic approach informed by both internal insights and external market research. Teams identify high-impact themes such as sustainability and carbon accounting, analyzing opportunities in areas like SME carbon credit management (e.g., Greenly) and ESG metrics (e.g., Silvera). This approach ensures alignment with both market needs and Fidelity’s strategic goals.
4. Challenges in the European VC Ecosystem
Late-stage funding in Europe is highly concentrated, with capital often available only to the best companies—but not always from the most desirable investors. The conversation highlights the need for stronger M&A dynamics between European corporates and GPs, as well as fostering repeatability through experienced founders and successful exits.
5. Differentiating Fidelity as a CVC
Unlike traditional CVCs, Fidelity’s approach integrates deeply with its internal ecosystem. Regular dialogue with Fidelity’s operational teams informs investment strategies while offering startups access to revenue potential, domain expertise, and validation. This model fosters trust and mitigates the “not-invented-here” syndrome prevalent in many corporates.
6. Sustainability and Innovation in Financial Services
Fidelity focuses on sustainability investments with financial and strategic relevance, such as retail proxy voting (e.g., Tumelo) and climate risk assessment tools. Open banking is cited as a key enabler for unlocking financial inefficiencies, creating opportunities for transformative technologies like AI to thrive within regulatory frameworks.
7. The Role of AI and Geopolitics in the Future
Alokik underscores the revolutionary potential of AI in investment research and portfolio management, predicting significant efficiency and revenue advancements. However, he warns that geopolitical uncertainties could hinder innovation, particularly in the boundaryless nature of financial services.
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Led by Joe Schorge, Managing Partner of Isomer Capital, this session will help you understand how LPs think, how benchmarks are created and - most importantly - how to use them to evaluate performance, communicate results, and position your fund confidently in the market.
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✍🏻 EUVC Masterclass | Setting up and Structuring a VC Fund
Emerging fund managers face countless challenges when setting up and structuring their first VC fund. The process is complex, daunting, and full of pitfalls, from navigating legal frameworks to engaging with the right service providers, the foundations you lay now will shape your growth trajectory.
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This masterclass is a side-event taking place during SuperVenture & SuperReturn.
💬 EUVC Community | LP AMA with AQVC’s Marius Weber
Join us for an exclusive AMA session with Marius Weber, Founding Partner at AQVC.
After a history as a co-founder of startups and a manager of several VC funds over the last 15 years, in 2021 Marius Weber partnered with his long time friends Marcus and Oliver and co-founded AQVC, a tech enabled asset manager for Venture Capital which is divided in two departments.
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💬 EUVC Community | LP AMA with Christian Hjort Pedersen
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Having allocated more than 600 M USD to top decile early-stage VC funds in US and Europe within tech and life sciences, Christian brings an understanding of the global venture markets and what it takes to build a true franchise better than most others.
This AMA is part of our ongoing series of small-group sessions designed to foster deep, meaningful discussions within the VC community. Reserve your spot now to ensure you don’t miss this opportunity. THIS EVENT IS FOR EUVC COMMUNITY MEMBERS ONLY.
🗓️ The VC Conferences You Can’t Miss
There are some events that just have to be on the calendar. Here’s our list, hit us up if you’re going, we’d love to meet!
GoWest | 📆 28 - 30 January 2025 | 🇸🇪 Gothenburg, Sweden
Investors Summit Bilbao 2025 | 📆 11 - 12 February 2025 | 🇪🇸 Bilbao, Spain
0100 DACH 2025 | 📆 18 - 20 Feb 2025 | 🇦🇹 Vienna, Austria
0100 Europe 2025 | 📆 02 - 04 April 2025 | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
0100 Emerging Europe 2025 | 📆 14-16 May 2025 | 🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary
GITEX Europe 2025 | 📆 23 - 25 May 2025 | 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany
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