Alex Smout

Investment Director at Maersk Growth

📍 United Kingdom🔄 Updated September 2026💼 9 investments📅 9 years investing🗓 Last invested Nov 2021
VC🌍 United Kingdom
9
Total investments
5
Early stage
1
Mid stage
2
Late stage
9y
Years active

Portfolio

9 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Investor
Nov 2021
We’re the peace-of-mind car servicing platform. Dealerships can be daunting places. It’s hard to tell good workmanship from bad, and good advice from sneaky sales talk. So, when you’re handed a big bill it’s natural to feel uneasy. If only someone out there had your back. Say hello to Bumper. We started by making sure whoever you’re taking your car to is one of the good guys, with supreme standards and superb service. Then, we found a way to free people from the burden of having to pay up front by making it simple and speedy to spread the cost, interest free. When taking care of your car is taken care of, just think what you could do. That’s why we’re by your side every step of the journey, transforming a trip to the dealership from a sharp intake of breath, to a breath of fresh air. So, whether you’re a driver looking for a service you can trust, or a dealership doing things right, we’ve got your back. Bumper.co
Investor
Oct 2021
A game changing way to pay for your next car in minutes! Take control of your car finance through the Carmoola app. No hidden fees. Get the wheels youve been waiting for. Manage your finance and spread the cost of your ride with a plan that suits you.
Investor & Board Observer
Mar 2021
Caura is making car admin easy. Welcome to an entirely new way to manage everything car, all in one place. Tolls, city charges, insurance, tax and MOT on a single platform, with much more to come. We raised $4.2m in 2021 from investors such as TwinFocus and InMotion Ventures (the investment arm of Jaguar Land Rover), and we’re growing quickly. Two-tap payments for London’s Congestion Charge, ULEZ, Dartford Crossing, Clean Air Zones, airport drop-off charges, road tax, tolls and more. No more fines, and all your receipts stored in once place. We partner with the UK's leading insurers, get from quote to covered in less than a minute with Caura. Keep all your car insurance policy documents in the app, and manage policy changes directly from Caura. Simple. Available on iOS and Android, get set-up in seconds with just your vehicle registration number.
Investor & Board Observer
Mar 2021
Ascend Elements manufactures advanced battery materials using valuable elements reclaimed from spent lithium-ion batteries. Our Hydro-to-Cathode direct cathode precursor (pCAM)synthesis process transforms todays waste into high value materials for tomorrows EV batteries - a major advancement for the entire industry. We are building North America and Europes domestic supply of critical minerals through "urban mining" and innovative battery materials technologies - an infrastructure that retains critical minerals in country for supply chain security. We produce high-performance, engineered battery materials using the valuable elements found in end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap. Join us in elevating the performance, security, and reliability of domestic battery materials with the first pCAM production in North America and the first refined pCAM production in Europe.
Investor & Board Observer
May 2019
LGNs edge AI management software puts you in complete technical and financial control of your edge AI. This allows you to scale out edge AI products without exploding your costs.
Investor
Jan 2019
Apex.AI is a Palo Alto, Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, and Gothenburg-based company developing breakthrough safe, certified, developer-friendly, and scalable software for mobility systems. ​ Our software products are based on proven open-source software, such as ROS or Eclipse iceoryx. We fork software that has been developed and proven in use by large developer communities. We then add what is missing: Functional safety, flawless performance, and support for application in commercial and safety-critical products. In order to do so, we have developed a proprietary process to rework open-source software in record time such that it conforms to the highest requirements of the applicable functional safety standard. Distinguished by our experienced and agile team, we bring in the right pedigree: Expertise in modern software engineering to build software that scales, leading know-how in software functional safety, experience bringing software to market, and twenty-plus years of experience building autonomous systems. We launched our award-winning first product Apex.Grace, formerly known as Apex.OS in 2020 and have taken it through certification in record time for launch in 2021. We enable software-defined vehicles. Learn more about us at www.apex.ai
Investor & Board Observer
Dec 2018
Urgently keeps vehicles and people moving by delivering safe, innovative, and exceptional mobility assistance experiences. Our digitally native software platform combines location-based services, real-time data, AI and machine-to-machine communication to power roadside assistance solutions for leading brands across automotive, insurance, telematics and other transportation-focused verticals. Urgently fulfills the demand for connected roadside assistance services, enabling our partners to deliver exceptional user experiences that drive high customer satisfaction and loyalty. With more than 50 operating partners and an estimated Service Provider Professional Network of 80,000+, Urgently delivers innovative, transparent and exceptional connected mobility assistance experiences on a global scale.
Investor
Jul 2017
At By Miles, we are on a mission to make driving fairer and we think it’s time that car insurance was done differently for low mileage drivers. Offering a fairer kind of car insurance since 2018, By Miles is the UKs leading pay-by-mile car insurance provider, making car insurance more cost-effective and easier to manage for people who drive less. By Miles was voted UKs best car insurance provider & best insurance app at the Insurance Choice Awards 2020 and 2019. Our people are at the heart of what drives our business. So, its not only our mission to make driving fairer but to be a fairer kind of employer too. How do we do this? We start with what we believe in, our Virtues. These are the things that really matter to us. We call them ‘virtues’ rather than ‘values because they’re not just aspirational words, but things we already do and have committed to keep doing. We decided on these virtues as a whole company, so there’s no corporate waffle, just a basic set of shared beliefs that guide us in everything we do. Respect. We challenge with kindness, making sure everyone feels safe and included. We support each other. Fairness. We own up, we don’t blame. We’re humble enough to take feedback on board, and respectful enough to give it. The next big idea could come from anywhere, so everyone’s opinion matters. Growth. We take time to learn so that we can improve ourselves, our colleagues and our products. We’re not afraid to make mistakes if it gives us the opportunity to grow. Efficiency. We consider before we start, whether that’s interrogating details to save confusion down the line, or getting help from others.. We make decisions using data, not opinions, and we use our time wisely, always staying focused on the end goal. Ambition. We’re clear in our vision. We’re never afraid to challenge the status quo if it will help us make things better. Check out our jobs & life tabs (above) to find out more about working at By Miles.
early stageInsurance
Investor & Board Observer
Jul 2017
Zeelo is the leader in commuting solutions, helping organisations operate and optimise their transportation services Here at Zeelo, the smart shuttle platform, our programs are designed to get people to work and school in a smarter, faster, safer, greener and more reliable way. The power of our technology and data platform allows us to quickly build you the most optimized shuttle routes to serve your exact needs; like hiring for unfilled jobs, improving social mobility and achieving your net zero ambitions. We’re the developed world’s leading smart mobility platform; helping organizations make informed, efficient and sustainable transportation decisions that benefit their riders while meeting their goals and keeping their costs down. Plus, riders are completely in control of their commute experience, with Zeelo’s smart mobility apps for riders, parents and our drivers. We’re proud to already be a carbon-neutral business, meaning from day one, our clients services are 100% carbon-neutral at no extra cost. But that’s not enough, so we’re committed to achieving Net Zero by 2030, as we transition to a fully electric fleet with our nationwide network of Operator Partners Through the power of data and technology, we’re finally breaking down the age-old commuting challenges, enabling access to safe and sustainable transportation for everyday journeys.
Experience · 13 entries
All (13)
Investments (9)
Board (5)
2024
Investment Director
Apr 2024
Maersk Growth is the global partner for external innovation at A.P. Moller - Maersk on a mission to digitise, democratise, and decarbonise supply chains, investing in and partnering with promising startups to support new business models and technologies. We support thinkers and doers who focus on global challenges, and by investing in and partnering with them, we fast-track the adoption of smart logistics technologies, address supply chain inefficiencies, and create a more sustainable transport and logistics sector. If you have an opportunity you would like to present to our team; please send an email to growth@maersk.com.
2021
Investor
Nov 2021
We’re the peace-of-mind car servicing platform. Dealerships can be daunting places. It’s hard to tell good workmanship from bad, and good advice from sneaky sales talk. So, when you’re handed a big bill it’s natural to feel uneasy. If only someone out there had your back. Say hello to Bumper. We started by making sure whoever you’re taking your car to is one of the good guys, with supreme standards and superb service. Then, we found a way to free people from the burden of having to pay up front by making it simple and speedy to spread the cost, interest free. When taking care of your car is taken care of, just think what you could do. That’s why we’re by your side every step of the journey, transforming a trip to the dealership from a sharp intake of breath, to a breath of fresh air. So, whether you’re a driver looking for a service you can trust, or a dealership doing things right, we’ve got your back. Bumper.co
Investor
Oct 2021
A game changing way to pay for your next car in minutes! Take control of your car finance through the Carmoola app. No hidden fees. Get the wheels youve been waiting for. Manage your finance and spread the cost of your ride with a plan that suits you.
Investor & Board Observer
Mar 2021
Caura is making car admin easy. Welcome to an entirely new way to manage everything car, all in one place. Tolls, city charges, insurance, tax and MOT on a single platform, with much more to come. We raised $4.2m in 2021 from investors such as TwinFocus and InMotion Ventures (the investment arm of Jaguar Land Rover), and we’re growing quickly. Two-tap payments for London’s Congestion Charge, ULEZ, Dartford Crossing, Clean Air Zones, airport drop-off charges, road tax, tolls and more. No more fines, and all your receipts stored in once place. We partner with the UK's leading insurers, get from quote to covered in less than a minute with Caura. Keep all your car insurance policy documents in the app, and manage policy changes directly from Caura. Simple. Available on iOS and Android, get set-up in seconds with just your vehicle registration number.
Investor & Board Observer
Mar 2021
Ascend Elements manufactures advanced battery materials using valuable elements reclaimed from spent lithium-ion batteries. Our Hydro-to-Cathode direct cathode precursor (pCAM)synthesis process transforms todays waste into high value materials for tomorrows EV batteries - a major advancement for the entire industry. We are building North America and Europes domestic supply of critical minerals through "urban mining" and innovative battery materials technologies - an infrastructure that retains critical minerals in country for supply chain security. We produce high-performance, engineered battery materials using the valuable elements found in end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap. Join us in elevating the performance, security, and reliability of domestic battery materials with the first pCAM production in North America and the first refined pCAM production in Europe.
Show all 13 entries ↓
Investment activity
2017–2021 · 9 investments
20172201812019220214
Recent (last 2 years)Earlier