Europe’s next major AI company may still be operating from a small office, testing an unconventional idea or solving a problem that established investors have yet to recognise. Yvonne Bajela wants to find such businesses before they become obvious investment opportunities. The experienced venture capitalist has launched Evertrue Capital, her debut solo fund with $17 million in commitments, to back promising founders at the earliest stages of their journeys.
The fund will focus on pre-seed AI and technology startups across the United Kingdom and Europe. With a strategy built around early conviction, concentrated investments and hands-on founder support, Evertrue aims to identify companies with the potential to become significant players in their industries.
A $17 Million Fund for Early Innovators
Evertrue Capital has attracted backing from several institutional investors and members of Bajela’s professional network. Its supporters include Phoenix Court, through its fund of funds Basecamp, the British Business Bank, Better Society Capital, Bootstrap 4F and Allocator One. Founders, business operators and general partners connected to Bajela have also committed capital.
The fund plans to make investments of approximately £350,000, with its official investment approach allowing cheques between £250,000 and £500,000. It expects to support at least 20 startups over the next three years.
Rather than spreading capital across a large number of businesses, Evertrue intends to build a carefully selected portfolio. The firm will both lead investment rounds and participate alongside other investors, concentrating on founders whose ideas show strong potential before wider market recognition arrives.
Backing Founders Before the Market Notices
Bajela’s investment philosophy centres on identifying entrepreneurs with deep knowledge of the problems they are trying to solve. She believes some of the strongest business opportunities emerge from personal experience, specialist expertise and insights that are not immediately visible to the wider market.
According to Bajela, the most promising founders do not necessarily fit familiar startup profiles. Instead, they demonstrate the ability to understand difficult problems, develop distinctive solutions and remain disciplined while building their companies.
Evertrue’s official website describes its approach as investing in the gap between what a founder has already demonstrated and what that founder could eventually achieve.
The firm also aims to provide more than financial support. Its website highlights an inner circle of more than 50 operators and former founders from organisations including Anthropic, Revolut and J.P. Morgan. This network is intended to help portfolio companies access practical expertise, industry connections and guidance during important stages of growth.
Seven Startups Already in the Portfolio
Evertrue has already made seven investments, giving the fund an early portfolio across artificial intelligence, data infrastructure and financial technology.
Among the companies publicly identified are Revion, which is developing AI technology for the automotive sector, Poindexter Labs, an AI data and infrastructure business, and Zuba, a fintech company.
These early investments reflect the fund’s interest in technology businesses addressing specific industry challenges rather than pursuing artificial intelligence simply as a trend.
Bajela’s Experience Behind the Fund
Bajela brings more than a decade of investment experience to Evertrue. She began her career at Goldman Sachs before taking investment roles at Japanese investment firm Mitsui, where she backed fintech company Wise.
She later joined Impact X Capital, where she led the seed investment in insurance technology company Marshmallow. Before launching Evertrue, she worked as a partner at Phoenix Court, gaining further experience supporting technology companies at different stages of development.
Her previous investments provide a foundation for Evertrue’s strategy of identifying promising businesses before their potential becomes widely recognised.
Looking for Europe’s Next Technology Leaders
Evertrue enters the market as investors continue to look for emerging AI businesses across Europe. While established technology companies attract substantial funding, early-stage investors also have opportunities to support founders developing new products, infrastructure and industry-specific applications.
For Bajela, the objective is not simply to invest in the most visible companies of the moment. It is to recognise talented founders early, commit capital with conviction and remain involved as they build.
With $17 million available and seven investments already completed, Evertrue Capital is beginning its journey with a clear ambition: to discover and support the next generation of European technology companies before the rest of the market catches up.