Empowering the Next Generation of UK Entrepreneurs
A boutique investment firm that provides more than just capital to early-stage UK startups.
Kaleido is a boutique investment firm that invests between £100k and £1M in early-stage UK startups. But Kaleido isn't just another investment firm - it's founded by someone who has walked the path and understands the challenges you face.
Kaleido's mission is to provide more than just capital. The firm invests personal money and offers hands-on support, strategic guidance, and access to a valuable network. The approach is built on the belief that the best investments come from genuine partnerships where both parties are fully committed to building something extraordinary together.
Kaleido understands the challenges, the pivots, the late nights, and the moments of doubt. The goal is to help founders navigate these challenges and build something that makes a real impact.
The Founder's Journey
From startup founder to startup investor
Tom Petley is the founder of Kaleido and a seasoned entrepreneur who has experienced the full journey of building and scaling companies. In 2014, he joined Halo with 5 employees and under £1M in annual revenue.
Nine years later, Tom had grown the company to 150 employees and achieved a £1B valuation. But the path wasn't linear - it was filled with pivots, challenges, and moments where everything could have fallen apart.
Now, Tom is using his personal capital and hard-won experience to invest in the next generation of UK founders through Kaleido. He's not managing other people's money - he's investing alongside founders with the kind of support he wished he had during his own journey.
Tom's Experience
From scaling Halo to £1B to building Gaia, Tom has experienced the full journey of entrepreneurship and now invests in the next generation of founders.
Scaled from 5 to 150 employees and £1M to £1B valuation in 9 years. A journey from startup to scale-up to successful exit.
Building market-leading carbon accounting software and nature credit marketplace to create something even bigger and more impactful.
Why Tom Chooses to Invest
After building and scaling Halo, and now building Gaia, Tom could have focused solely on his own ventures. But he chose to invest personally through Kaleido because he believes founders deserve more than just capital.
Tom invests his own money because it aligns interests completely. When founders succeed, he succeeds. When they face challenges, he's there to help because he's been there - twice.
Tom is selective about the companies he invests in through Kaleido - not because he's picky, but because he wants to give each founder his full attention and support. This isn't a portfolio play for him; it's about building genuine partnerships.