Private markets have been propelled by powerful tailwinds in recent years, with the global value of assets under management rising from $10 trillion to $24 trillion over the last decade. Appetite from retail investors hoping to enter the rapidly-expanding category currently stands at $150 trillion. Bolstered by the growing need for diversified retirement products, and the huge capital demands of funding the transition to renewable energy sources and modernising technology in industry, private markets are on the precipice of becoming a mainstream asset class. However, the processes and technological infrastructure have evolved little since the 1980s, impeding fund managers’ efforts to accelerate wealth creation through alternative assets.

bunch provides an end-to-end platform for investors to operate, administrate, and transact within private markets. While fund operations have historically been characterised by complex, paperwork-based processes and a lack of transparency, bunch’s data-centric approach enables GPs and LPs to interact with accurate, up-to-date information, all in one place. This new ‘System of Record’ for private markets combines AI and workflow automation with personalised support from fund administration experts, delivering a white-glove service spanning the entire fund lifecycle.

London is home to over 1,500 active PE and VC funds, while over half the value of the European private markets’ total assets under management sits within the UK. As the global value of alternative assets is projected to reach $38 trillion in 2028, the launch is a strategic move to accelerate bunch’s international expansion, posing a challenge to legacy providers such as Aztec, Apex and IQEQ, as well as more specialised platforms such as Carta.

The company has appointed Tomás Herrmann, former investor at Creandum and Hedosophia, to head up the newly-opened London office at Tottenham Court Road. bunch plans to invest heavily in its UK go-to-market team, growing its headcount to double figures over the coming year to drive commercial growth and develop client partnerships.

Founded in late 2021, bunch is an established player in mainland Europe, working with over 40 of the continent’s most renowned funds, including Cherry Ventures, Hummingbird VC and Motive Partners. The UK is the first of several new country launches slated for the year ahead, as bunch pursues its goal of becoming the partner of choice to pan-European funds, fuelled by its $15.5M Series A raise in July.

Tomás Herrmann, General Manager, UK, at bunch, said: “With demand for private markets booming, legacy systems are no longer fit for purpose. By building a world-class team and comprehensive tech infrastructure to meet the unique needs of this market, bunch empowers GPs and finance leaders to focus on strategy, not admin.

Sandra Lyness, Partner at Tiny VC, said: "We believe in bunch’s potential to streamline and simplify the fund administration experience, and we’re excited to be their first client in the UK. We invest in more companies than most other venture funds, so operations are especially critical to our firm. We’ve spoken to many fund ops software products in the market, and bunch is the one that allows us to focus more on our portfolio companies and direct LP relationships."

Lord Mayor of London, Alastair King said: “It is great to see bunch launch its UK presence and London office. We welcome the innovation that bunch are bringing to the private investment markets at times when unlocking private capital is more crucial than ever for the UK and global economic growth. London as a global financial centre with a high concentration of private markets investors is the natural choice for bunch to grow and scale up its innovative offer to the industry.”

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