Sturgeon Capital
Status
ACTIVE
Global HQ
London, United Kingdom
Countries of investment
- Uzbekistan
- Kazakhstan
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Georgia
- Azerbaijan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Armenia
Investment stages
- Seed
- Series A
Industries
- Fintech
- Financial Services
- SaaS
- E-commerce
- Marketplaces
- Logistics
- Healthtech
- Edtech
About
Sturgeon Capital is a London-based venture capital firm focused on frontier and emerging markets across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and South Asia. Their focus spans fintech, financial services, SaaS, e-commerce, marketplaces, logistics, healthtech, and edtech across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia. The firm supports frontier markets founders from Seed through Series A.
Sturgeon Capital is a London-based venture capital firm focused on frontier and emerging markets across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and South Asia. Their focus spans fintech, financial services, SaaS, e-commerce, marketplaces, logistics, healthtech, and edtech across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia. The firm supports frontier markets founders from Seed through Series A.
Investment Thesis
Sturgeon Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm deploying capital across fintech, financial services, SaaS, e-commerce, marketplaces, logistics, healthtech, and edtech sectors. They invest in transformative tech businesses in frontier and emerging markets, backing founders solving unserved acute pain points for huge numbers of people in the developing world. The firm differentiates itself as a pioneer in frontier markets venture capital with $300M AUM, operating from seven offices across target markets including Almaty, Astana, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Karachi, and Dhaka.
Manager's Experience
Kiyan Zandiyeh is CEO and Founding Partner, having led Sturgeon's investment activities in frontier markets since 2006 with deep expertise in Iran, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Alexander Branton, Robin Butler CFA, and Alijon Ravshanov are Partners with combined decades of frontier markets investment experience. Lado Gurgenidze, Fintech Venture Partner, is former Prime Minister of Georgia and former CEO of Bank of Georgia. The team operates from London with local presence across Almaty, Astana, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Karachi, and Dhaka.
Team
Kiyan Zandiyeh - CEO & Founding Partner
Alexander Branton - Partner
Robin Butler - Partner
Alijon Ravshanov - Partner
Lado Gurgenidze - Fintech Venture Partner
Steve Chaves - COO
Kamila Sharipova - Research
Saad Hasan - Team Member
Waiz Rahim - Team Member
Rustam Mursalimov - Team Member
Nazerke Kalidolda - Team Member
Portfolio
ZoodPay
ZoodMall
BILLZ
Tabiyat
MedznMore
DealCart
Cargon
FINMAP
Data Cultr
Finja
PeopleForce
Payme.uz