Luke Smith

Partner at Forward Partners

📍 United Kingdom🔄 Updated September 2026💼 1 investments📅 5 years investing🗓 Last invested Jun 2021
VC🌍 United Kingdom
1
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0
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1
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0
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5y
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Portfolio

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Board Observer
Jun 2021
Ably provides a suite of APIs to build, extend, and deliver powerful digital experiences in realtime for more than 250 million devices across 80 countries each month. Organizations like HubSpot and Verizon, depend on Ably’s platform to offload the growing complexity of business-critical realtime data synchronization at global scale. Our everyday digital experiences are in the midst of a realtime revolution. Whether attending an event in a virtual venue, receiving realtime financial information, or monitoring live car performance data – consumers simply expect realtime digital experiences as standard. As a result, synchronized data in realtime is business critical for many organizations. But building homegrown realtime synchronization capabilities is complex and costly. Ably simplifies this. In the same way that content delivery networks simplify and underpin large parts of the internet, Ably is the invisible platform and infrastructure layer powering the realtime revolution on a global scale. As the de facto platform for developers at organizations of all sizes, Ably is on track to reach one billion devices per month by 2023.
Experience · 3 entries
All (3)
Investments (1)
Board (1)
2021
Partner
Jul 2021
At Forward, we partner with the most ambitious teams building world-changing businesses from the ground up. Every business is different, so we offer funding that’s flexible and fair. And we work together right from the start, so we can provide hands-on support with strategy and execution, helping teams reach their potential faster.
Board Observer
Jun 2021
Ably provides a suite of APIs to build, extend, and deliver powerful digital experiences in realtime for more than 250 million devices across 80 countries each month. Organizations like HubSpot and Verizon, depend on Ably’s platform to offload the growing complexity of business-critical realtime data synchronization at global scale. Our everyday digital experiences are in the midst of a realtime revolution. Whether attending an event in a virtual venue, receiving realtime financial information, or monitoring live car performance data – consumers simply expect realtime digital experiences as standard. As a result, synchronized data in realtime is business critical for many organizations. But building homegrown realtime synchronization capabilities is complex and costly. Ably simplifies this. In the same way that content delivery networks simplify and underpin large parts of the internet, Ably is the invisible platform and infrastructure layer powering the realtime revolution on a global scale. As the de facto platform for developers at organizations of all sizes, Ably is on track to reach one billion devices per month by 2023.
2011
Investment Analyst
Sep 2011
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers, enabling them to make better decisions, get better results and be more productive. Our purpose is to benefit society by developing products that help researchers advance scientific knowledge; doctors and nurses improve the lives of patients; lawyers promote the rule of law and achieve justice and fair results for their clients; businesses and governments prevent fraud; consumers access financial services and get fair prices on insurance; and customers learn about markets and complete transactions. Our purpose guides our actions beyond the products that we develop. It defines us as a company. Every day across RELX our employees are inspired to undertake initiatives that make unique contributions to society and the communities in which we operate. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. ____ Please note that RELX does not contact people through social media to extend job or contract offers, nor do we request money, credit card details or bank account information as part of any project or job application process. Any such request is fraudulent. Please contact your local law enforcement agency if you have been victimized by a scammer. For careers, access https://www.relx.com/careers/why-relx