Octopus Investments
A United Kingdom investment-management firm providing tax-efficient, venture-capital, institutional and alternative-asset investment products.
Last updated October 17, 2026
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Overview
Octopus Investments is a United Kingdom investment-management company and a division of Octopus Group. Established in 2000 by Simon Rogerson, Christopher Hulatt and Guy Myles, it developed from a fund-management business into a broad investment platform serving retail investors, institutions, financial advisers and entrepreneurs. The firm is headquartered in London and operates within the wider Octopus group of businesses, which also has interests in venture capital, renewable-energy infrastructure, financial technology, real estate, private debt and consumer financial services. For individual investors, Octopus Investments is particularly associated with tax-advantaged products under the United Kingdom tax system. Its range includes venture capital trusts, enterprise investment schemes and investments intended to qualify for business-relief treatment for inheritance-tax planning. It also offers funds investing in listed United Kingdom small and medium-sized companies. These products are aimed at investors who are prepared to accept the higher risks and reduced liquidity associated with smaller companies, private markets and specialist tax structures. The company also manages money for institutional clients. Its institutional activities cover renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, real estate, healthcare, private debt and venture capital. Octopus Capital operates within the investment business as a specialist institutional asset-management division focused on alternative assets and strategies intended to combine financial returns with wider economic or social objectives. Octopus Ventures, another division, invests in high-growth technology and other early-stage businesses. Its portfolio has included companies such as SwiftKey, ManyPets, Graze and Zoopla. Octopus Investments is part of a larger operating group rather than a separately listed public company. Other related businesses include Octopus Energy and Octopus Energy Generation, which invest in or operate renewable-energy assets; Seccl Technology, which provides investment-platform and custody infrastructure; Octopus Legacy, which offers estate-planning and probate support; and Octopus Money, a money-coaching and financial-wellbeing business. These activities give the group a presence across both asset management and consumer-facing financial services, although Octopus Investments itself remains focused on investment products and investment management. The firm is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and is a certified B Corporation. As of June 2025, the wider investment business was reported to manage £9.9 billion for retail and institutional investors and employ more than 600 people. The company’s principal positioning is as a specialist, long-term investor with expertise in tax-efficient investments, entrepreneurial businesses and assets linked to the transition toward a more sustainable economy.
History
Octopus Investments was established in 2000 by Simon Rogerson, Christopher Hulatt and Guy Myles as a fund-management company. It became part of the corporate structure commonly known as Octopus Group, a privately held United Kingdom holding company whose businesses span investment management, venture capital, energy and real estate. The investment arm’s initial development was centred on managing funds and creating investment products for private investors, before expanding into tax-efficient investing and institutional alternative assets. A major part of Octopus Investments’ identity developed around United Kingdom tax-advantaged investment structures. The firm built offerings based on venture capital trusts and enterprise investment schemes, which provide eligible investors with tax reliefs while directing capital toward smaller and growing businesses. It also developed business-relief-qualifying investment services intended for inheritance-tax planning. These products require specialist portfolio construction because the underlying assets may be unquoted, less liquid and exposed to the operating risks of smaller companies. The company broadened its institutional capabilities through strategies covering renewable energy, infrastructure, real estate, healthcare, private debt and venture capital. Its venture-capital activities became associated with Octopus Ventures, which invested in technology and high-growth companies including SwiftKey, ManyPets, Graze and Zoopla. Its institutional alternative-asset activities were later organised under Octopus Capital, previously associated with names including Octopus Institutional Investments and Octopus Real Estate. Octopus Group also developed a set of adjacent businesses that support or complement the investment operation. Octopus Energy was created in 2015 as an electricity and gas supplier and expanded into business energy, energy services and software licensing. Octopus Energy Generation focused on renewable-energy ownership and management, including solar and onshore wind. It managed Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust, an investment fund floated on the London Stock Exchange in December 2019, before being acquired by Octopus Energy in July 2021. The group entered investment-technology infrastructure through Seccl. Founded in Bath in 2017 by Dave Harvey and Hugo Thorman, Seccl provides platform, custody and technology services that allow advisers, wealth managers and consumer financial businesses to operate products such as individual savings accounts, general investment accounts and self-invested personal pensions. Octopus Group acquired Seccl in 2019 in a deal reported at £10 million. Seccl’s platform has been used by financial and technology businesses including Monzo, MoneySuperMarket, Tide and Söderberg & Partners. Octopus expanded into related consumer services through Octopus Legacy and Octopus Money. Octopus Legacy traces its origins to Guardian Angel, founded in 2016 by Sam Grice after the death of his mother to make estate planning, probate and bereavement support easier to navigate. It became part of Octopus Group in 2022. Octopus Money launched in 2023 following the purchase of Hatch Financial Coaching in 2021 and replaced Octopus Wealth, a financial-advice business announced in 2018. Ruth Handcock, who had joined Octopus Investments from Tandem Bank in 2018, led the money-coaching business. By June 2025, Octopus Investments was reported to manage £9.9 billion for retail and institutional investors and to employ more than 600 people. The company is regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and is a certified B Corporation. Its modern identity combines specialist retail investment products, particularly tax-efficient offerings, with institutional strategies in private markets, sustainable infrastructure and entrepreneurial businesses.
- 2025
Investment assets reach reported £9.9 billion
[1]As of June 2025, Octopus Investments is reported to manage £9.9 billion for retail and institutional investors and employ more than 600 people.
- 2023
Octopus Money launches
[1]The group launches a money-coaching and financial-wellbeing service, often distributed through employers.
- 2022
Guardian Angel becomes part of Octopus Group
[1]The estate-planning and bereavement-support business later known as Octopus Legacy joins the group.
- 2021
Octopus Energy acquires Octopus Energy Generation
[1]Renewable-energy generation and management activities are consolidated under Octopus Energy.
- 2019
Octopus acquires Seccl
[1]Octopus Group acquires Seccl in a transaction reported at £10 million.
- 2019
Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust is floated
[1]The renewable-infrastructure investment trust managed by Octopus Energy Generation is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- 2017
Seccl is founded
[1]Dave Harvey and Hugo Thorman found Seccl in Bath to provide investment-platform and custody technology.
- 2015
Octopus Energy is established
[1]The wider Octopus Group enters retail energy, creating a business that later develops renewable-energy generation and related investment activities.
- 2000
Octopus Investments is founded
[1]Simon Rogerson, Christopher Hulatt and Guy Myles establish the business as a United Kingdom fund-management company.
Products and positioning
A specialist United Kingdom investment manager combining tax-efficient retail investments with institutional alternative assets, venture capital and sustainability-oriented strategies.
Tax-efficient retail investment
Octopus Venture Capital Trusts
Venture capital trusts providing investors with exposure to portfolios of smaller and growing United Kingdom companies. The structure is designed for eligible investors seeking VCT tax benefits, while carrying the higher investment and liquidity risks associated with smaller businesses.
Tax-efficient retail investment
Octopus Enterprise Investment Schemes
Enterprise investment scheme propositions investing in qualifying smaller companies. They are intended for investors seeking potential tax reliefs and growth exposure, with risks arising from early-stage or developing businesses and the possibility of limited liquidity.
Inheritance-tax planning
Octopus Inheritance Tax Service
A business-relief-oriented investment service allowing investors to acquire shares in one or more unquoted United Kingdom companies. The service is designed for inheritance-tax planning and invests in operating businesses, including companies associated with short-term property lending and broadband-network development.
Venture capital
Octopus Ventures
The group’s venture-capital division, investing in high-growth technology and other entrepreneurial companies. Reported portfolio companies have included SwiftKey, ManyPets, Graze and Zoopla. The division manages capital for investors seeking exposure to private growth businesses.
Institutional alternative assets
Octopus Capital
An institutional asset-management division focused on real estate, energy and infrastructure, and private debt. It develops alternative-asset strategies intended to generate financial returns while addressing broader economic or social needs.
Renewable-energy infrastructure fund · 2019
Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust
A listed investment trust investing in renewable-energy infrastructure and managed by Octopus Energy Generation. Its portfolio focus includes assets such as solar and onshore wind projects.
Public-equity funds
Listed UK smaller-company funds
Funds providing exposure to listed small and medium-sized companies in the United Kingdom. They are intended for investors seeking growth potential from smaller public companies rather than direct exposure to large-cap equities.
Investment technology · 2017
Seccl investment platform
Technology and custody infrastructure enabling advisers, wealth managers and financial-services businesses to build investment propositions. Supported account types include ISAs, general investment accounts and self-invested personal pensions.
Brand decisions
2023
Launch Octopus MoneyProduct launchBackground
The group sought to expand from investment and financial advice into accessible financial coaching and workplace financial wellbeing.
Action taken
Octopus launched Octopus Money after acquiring Hatch Financial Coaching in 2021 and repositioning the earlier Octopus Wealth business.
Aftermath
The service was offered to consumers, frequently through their employers, under the leadership of Ruth Handcock.
2021
Consolidate renewable-energy generation under Octopus EnergyM&ABackground
Octopus Group had developed separate energy-supply and renewable-generation businesses and sought closer integration of the renewable-energy platform with Octopus Energy.
Action taken
Octopus Energy acquired Octopus Energy Generation in July 2021.
Aftermath
Octopus Energy Generation continued to own and manage renewable infrastructure and to manage renewable-energy investment vehicles.
2019
Acquire Seccl to expand investment-platform capabilitiesM&ABackground
Octopus Group sought technology capabilities that could support investment products and propositions operated by advisers, wealth managers and consumer financial businesses.
Action taken
The group acquired Seccl, a Bath-based investment-platform and custody technology company, in a deal reported at £10 million.
Aftermath
Seccl continued operating as an investment-technology provider and its platform was used by businesses including Monzo, MoneySuperMarket, Tide and Söderberg & Partners.
Reported acquisition value. £10 million (2019)
Recent events
- 2023
Octopus Money launches consumer money-coaching service[1]
Product launch
Octopus Money was launched to provide money coaching and financial guidance, often through employers. The service followed Octopus Group’s acquisition of Hatch Financial Coaching and replaced the earlier Octopus Wealth proposition.
- 2022
Octopus Group adds Guardian Angel to its businesses[1]
M&A
Guardian Angel, an estate-planning and bereavement-support business founded by Sam Grice, became part of Octopus Group and was subsequently associated with the Octopus Legacy brand.
- 2021
Octopus Energy acquires Octopus Energy Generation[1]
M&A
Octopus Energy acquired Octopus Energy Generation, consolidating renewable-energy generation and investment activities under the energy business. Energy Generation manages renewable infrastructure, including solar and onshore wind assets.
- 2019
Octopus Group acquires Seccl investment-platform business[1]
M&A
Octopus Group acquired Seccl, a Bath-based provider of investment-platform and custody technology, in a transaction reported at £10 million. Seccl subsequently supported investment propositions for advisers, wealth managers and financial-services businesses.
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