Frank Lampen

Serial founder with experience across food and beverage and digital innovation.

📍 London, England Metropolitan Area, United Kingdom🔄 Updated October 2026💼 2 investments📅 14 years investing🗓 Last invested Mar 2013𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 United Kingdom
2
Total investments
2
Early stage
0
Mid stage
0
Late stage
14y
Years active

Portfolio

2 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Investor / Advisor
Mar 2013
Osper thinks young people are smart - and can do amazing things if we give them the tools. Especially when it comes to the business of managing money. In fact, we think it’s important they’re exposed to the reality of it early. That's why we've set up Osper, a mobile banking service that gives children as young as 8 a safe way to learn to by doing. The young person gets a debit card that their parent tops up weekly or monthly with their budget. The card can be used in shops, at cash machines and online. Both parent and child get an app that allows them to track spending on the card together. We're already helping tens of thousands of young people becoming confident in managing money, and our journey has only just begun. Fancy joining the learning revolution? We're hiring - have a look here: https://osper.com/jobs.
Investor / Mentor
Jan 2012
Collider is the accelerator driving the future of marketing and sales technology for startups, corporates and investors. We find the very best startups to invest in and scale, bring the right startups solutions at the right time to corporates, and ultimately deliver impressive investor returns. Founded in London in 2012 and also active in Amsterdam since 2017. With over five years of in depth, first-hand experience, one exit and over £13m going into the next generation of marketing and sales startups, we’ve since been listed as one of Europe’s Top Five Seed Accelerators. Our experience means we’ve built the expertise to make the very best investment decisions and add incredible value to our portfolio, to our community of corporates and investors, and to our ecosystem.
Experience · 6 entries
All (6)
Investments (2)
Founder (2)
2023
Founder and Chair
May 2023
Through funding, unrivalled know-how and a global network of industry expertise, we partner with next-gen founders seeking to start or scale the drinks brands of the future. To date, Distill Ventures has invested +$300M in 35 founder-led brands. Our current public portfolio includes: *New World Whisky* 🥃 Stauning Whisky, one of Europe’s standout new whiskies from Denmark. 🥃 Starward Whisky, a distinctive Australian whisky, exclusively matured in Australian wine barrels. 🥃 Westward Whiskey, a leading American single malt whiskey inspired by the Pacific Northwest’s craft beer traditions. 🥃 Kanosuke Distillery, makers of Japanese single malt and blended whisky. *No & Low* Ritual Zero Proof, the first spirit alternative distilled in America. *Acquisitions by Diageo to date* Kikori Whiskey exited our accelerator programme and entered the Diageo portfolio in 2018. Belsazar, a German aperitif, integrated into the Diageo portfolio in 2018. Seedlip, the world’s first non-alcohol distilled spirits brand, exited into the Diageo portfolio in 2019. —————————————————— THE PRE-ACCELERATOR In 2021, Distill Venture committed to increasing diversity within the industry by launching the Pre-Accelerator, an initiative dedicated to early-stage founders from underrepresented communities. Our recent Pre-Accelerator cohort introduced Jackson McCrea Whiskey and Ume Plum Liqueur to the portfolio ————————————————— WORKING ALONGSIDE DIAGEO We operate independently with backing from Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks company. Diageo provides investment funding, as well as resources and access through its network of experts. If youre building a drinks brand of the future and want to know how acceleration works for drinks brands, visit www.distillventures.com.
2013
Distill Ventures
Partner and Chief Tasting Officer
Aug 2013
Investor / Advisor
Mar 2013
Osper thinks young people are smart - and can do amazing things if we give them the tools. Especially when it comes to the business of managing money. In fact, we think it’s important they’re exposed to the reality of it early. That's why we've set up Osper, a mobile banking service that gives children as young as 8 a safe way to learn to by doing. The young person gets a debit card that their parent tops up weekly or monthly with their budget. The card can be used in shops, at cash machines and online. Both parent and child get an app that allows them to track spending on the card together. We're already helping tens of thousands of young people becoming confident in managing money, and our journey has only just begun. Fancy joining the learning revolution? We're hiring - have a look here: https://osper.com/jobs.
2012
Investor / Mentor
Jan 2012
Collider is the accelerator driving the future of marketing and sales technology for startups, corporates and investors. We find the very best startups to invest in and scale, bring the right startups solutions at the right time to corporates, and ultimately deliver impressive investor returns. Founded in London in 2012 and also active in Amsterdam since 2017. With over five years of in depth, first-hand experience, one exit and over £13m going into the next generation of marketing and sales startups, we’ve since been listed as one of Europe’s Top Five Seed Accelerators. Our experience means we’ve built the expertise to make the very best investment decisions and add incredible value to our portfolio, to our community of corporates and investors, and to our ecosystem.
2006
Co Founder
Sep 2006
IU UNITES ENTREPRENEURS AND CORPORATES TO FUEL INNOVATION We created the company to make revolutions happen. For over 10 years we have invested in, and worked with, start-ups and corporates to transform innovation processes and develop new products and services that drive growth. We do three things: COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION We help organisations like Diageo, PepsiCo and the Cabinet Office change the way they approach innovation. In a world where companies are faced with doing more with less, we have the knowledge, capabilities and network to create successful partnerships that help businesses grow. CORPORATE VENTURING We specialise in building and running accelerator programmes to support the creation of consumer-facing brands. Highlights of our venturing experience include the creation of Distill Ventures, the world’s first spirits accelerator. Now in its third year of operation, it has seen over £35m of investment committed to entrepreneurs across Europe, Asia and North America. START-UP INVESTMENT We invest our own money into early stage start-ups that we love, and also provide mentorship and consulting services. Recent investments include Osper, a pre-paid debit card teaching children how to manage their money; Fy, a mobile first jewellery retailer; and Dressipi, a technology company personalising how fashion brands sell clothes.
Show all 6 entries ↓