Ben Blume

I’m drawn to product-obsessed teams building transformative technology. I focus on companies using breakthroughs in technologies like AI, simulation and robotics to create ‘10x’ products, solutions that can reshape industries, create new categories, and drive real impact in sectors that have been slow to digitise.

I’ve been fascinated by technology my whole life

As a kid I wrote thousands of lines of code, spent many days battling to configure Linux web servers, and built web applications for small businesses. I was able to learn the fundamentals at university in Cambridge from where I hold a first class BA in Computer Science, and also spent time in industry as a software engineer at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

We are at an inflection point for AI in enterprise

I’ve been looking at companies applying AI for almost a decade, but recent breakthroughs have unlocked a step-change in capability: systems that can reason, automate and adapt in ways that simply weren’t possible before. This has opened the door to products that can create far more value, and it’s driving a wave of demand from industry. Adoption is no longer blocked by infrastructure or awareness, it’s being pulled by need and potential. I get excited by teams turning these advances into solutions that truly wow their users.

People ask me what keeps me at Atomico year after year

In 2013, Atomico opened a door for me. I was at Bain & Company, and they gave me a route into the then-nascent world of European venture. Since then, they’ve mentored and challenged me, giving me as much opportunity as I could take. What’s kept me here is the constant ambition and momentum. Atomico is a place where nothing stands still and anyone can help shape what comes next. Every year has brought new challenges, no two have been the same.

One of the best things about staying in one fund for the long term is the chance to work alongside founders over multi-year journeys. I’ve been fortunate to lead investments into companies that have reached IPO or successful exits, and seeing the impact they’ve had on the world is incredibly rewarding.

I see my role as being a sounding board to founders

Over time, I’ve learned that the right challenge at the right moment can be hugely valuable, especially when big decisions are on the table. As investors, we bring a different vantage point: close enough to grasp the nuances, but far enough removed to avoid getting lost in the day to day. That perspective, shaped by seeing many similar journeys, can help sense-check thinking and surface what might otherwise get missed.

When Atomico invests, you get all of us

It’s the thing I’m most proud of. We take a many-to-many approach. On top of the funding and network we provide, we make sure that anyone on our team is there to jump in to help anyone on yours. 

Food is incredibly important to me, and I have a serious sweet tooth

There’s nothing better than a table full of shared plates with family, friends or colleagues. Cooking is how I unwind, create, and switch off from work. I’ve got a particular weakness for baked goods, whether they’re fresh from my own oven or making their way around the office on a busy afternoon!