Omers Ventures Adds Former Uber Executive Jambu Palaniappan as Managing Partner
Earlier this year, Omers Ventures, the venture capital arm of Canadian pension fund Omers, announced a new €300 million fund aimed at European technology startups. The firm had recruited local VCs Harry Briggs, Tara Reeves, and Henry Gladwyn to lead its European efforts. Now, Omers Ventures is adding another member to its team in Europe: Jambu Palaniappan, the former head of Uber’s food delivery business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Jambu Palaniappan Brings Operational Experience to Omers’ European VC Team
Palaniappan joined Uber in 2012 when it was a 75-person startup focused primarily on the U.S. market. He led the ridesharing behemoth’s expansion throughout the EMEA region and India before becoming regional general manager for Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Africa. He then went on to launch Uber Eats in EMEA. This brings even more operational experience to Omers’ European VC team.
A Career of Operational Experience
Palaniappan’s background is not new to venture capital either. His most recent gig was at London-based venture capital firm Atomico, where he spent 12 months as executive-in-residence. This means that Palaniappan has a strong understanding of the venture capital landscape and can bring valuable insights to Omers’ investment decisions.
Angel Investor and Early-Stage Backer
Unsurprisingly, Palaniappan has also been an angel investor and has backed several startups in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This experience will undoubtedly help him identify promising early-stage companies that can benefit from Omers’ funding.
A Strong Team at Omers Ventures Europe
The recruitment of Palaniappan marks a strong debut half-year for Omers Ventures Europe. The firm has already assembled a team of faces well-known to the London and broader European tech and startup scene. Briggs, Reeves, and Gladwyn all bring significant experience in the VC space.
- Harry Briggs: With stints at BGF Ventures and Balderton, as well as founding and exiting Tonics, a health drinks company, Briggs has a strong understanding of the European venture capital landscape.
- Tara Reeves: As a former seed investor at LocalGlobe and co-founder of Turo, the car-sharing marketplace, Reeves brings a wealth of knowledge in early-stage investing.
- Henry Gladwyn: With experience managing seed investments for the founders of DeepMind, Gladwyn has a strong understanding of the technology startup ecosystem.
A Strong Performance Already
The Omers Ventures Europe team has already invested more than €76 million into the European ecosystem. Investments to date include:
- FirstVet: A veterinary telemedicine platform
- Resi: A property management and renting platform
- Quorso: A platform for employee engagement and feedback
The Future of Omers Ventures Europe
With Palaniappan on board, the future looks bright for Omers Ventures Europe. The firm is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing European startup ecosystem and provide valuable support to its portfolio companies.
In conclusion, the recruitment of Jambu Palaniappan as a managing partner at Omers Ventures Europe marks a significant milestone for the firm. With his operational experience and knowledge of the venture capital landscape, Palaniappan will undoubtedly help drive the success of Omers’ European investments.
About the Author
Steve O’Hear is a veteran technology journalist with a strong background in covering European startups and companies. He first joined TechCrunch in November 2009 as a contributing editor for TechCrunch Europe, where he worked alongside longtime TC veteran Mike Butcher to help build TechCrunch’s coverage in Europe.
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