Peter Cowley

Author of 'Public Success, Private Grief' - available now on Amazon (and via ps-pg.com). Serial entrepreneur. Retired angel investor (75+, 20 positive exits, 23 failures). Advanced cancer patient. Dad

📍 Greater Cambridge Area, United Kingdom🔄 Updated September 2026💼 11 investments📅 16 years investing🗓 Last invested Apr 2020𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 United Kingdom
11
Total investments
1
Early stage
4
Mid stage
0
Late stage
16y
Years active

Portfolio

7 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Observer
Mar 2020
DeepTech Labs is an Accelerator and Venture Capital fund based in Cambridge focused on building the world's top DeepTech companies utilising the unique academic and commercial capabilities offered by the Cambridge ecosystem.
UK Angel Investor of the Year 2014/15
Jul 2014
The UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA) is the national trade association representing angel and early-stage investment. UKBAA acts as the voice of the angel investment community and strives to build and connect the early-stage investment ecosystem, in support of the UKs high-potential entrepreneurs. UKBAA supports a large and dynamic community, with more than 170 member organisations. Our members include angel syndicates, individual investors, early-stage VCs, equity crowdfunding platforms, accelerators and professional advisers.
Non-Executive Chair and shareholder
Jan 2013
For challengers, by challengers. James and James. The two Cambridge grads trying to make ends meet selling honey online. Spotting the failings of the fulfilment industry, they hatched a plan to address them (and cause major, intentional disruption). Said disruption came along in 2010 in the form of James and James Fulfilment - the first, digital-native fulfilment house in the UK. From that point onwards, our growth accelerated. We established ourselves stateside and earned a reputation for doing things differently, creating change for the better, and delivering real results. Today, we’re a Fast Track 100 company (modestly) boasting; two Queen’s Award accolades for Enterprise and International Trade, Financial Times 1000 status (two years running), and a workforce of over 200 status-quo challengers. When it comes to our people, we empower them to step outside their comfort zones, think big and question the way things are done. We’re always looking for new challengers to join us across a variety of roles and teams. If this resonates, we’d love to receive a stand-out application from you (recruitment@jamesandjames.com). 🌐 ecommercefulfilment.com 📧 sales@jamesandjames.com 📞 +44 (0)1604 968 820
Board observer and shareholder
Nov 2012
Captive Media's interactive screens are a world-first. For venues, a unique, premium differentiator. For advertisers, an effective media channel at the point of sale. Since January 2014, we have been creating the world's first interactive washroom media network, which is now live across London, UK. For more information, visit www.captive-media.co.uk Our units are 'retrofitted'​ above the urinal bowl, requiring only power and internet connections and no change to the existing fittings. They contain a patented heat detection system, which allows a user to play an interactive game on the screen when approached. The units are all remotely networked, allowing us to monitor usage, update games and content, and check for any issues. They are waterproof, vandal-proof to an industrial standard, and entirely self-contained. We hope to provide differentiation and value to venues through providing a surprising, enjoyable and memorable experience for customers and clientele, and boosting loyalty, retention, and sales in turn. Moreover, we hope to provide a valuable and unique channel for advertisers, by targeting customers when they are out and enjoying themselves with our digital place-based system, in an interruptive and unforgettable manner via advertisements and gamification of products and brands. On this page, you'll find a full list of our Products & Services. Watch our product in action on a video, view customer and client testimonials, and browse the results of our case studies on the system's effectiveness.
Exited to Austria Microsystems (previously board observer and shareholder)
Oct 2012
Founded in 2008, Cambridge CMOS Sensors (CCS) is the industry leader in advanced sensor solutions providing sensor technology across multiple global markets. CCS is a fabless semiconductor company with an established high-volume supply chain that is qualified to ISO:9001, ISO:14001 as well as TS16949. The technology developed by CCS offers a radical step change in performance when compared to the competition; this has opened up multiple markets which previously were unserviceable. Ultra-low power consumption, fast response time, embedded intelligence and ultra-small form factor has enabled the growth of new application areas for improved health and well-being such as; ambient air quality monitoring and breath analysis, in smartphones, tablets, wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Board observer and shareholder
Aug 2012
e-Go aeroplanes is creating the striking, new, very lightweight e-Go aircraft. It will cost dramatically less to fly than traditional aircraft and is a design-led product for discerning pilots who relish new experiences. It uses novel technologies for performance yet achieves a low cost of development and operation by exploiting the newly de-regulated environment in the UK. Interest in the product is high and we already have first deposits for aircraft which will be delivered in 2015.
Board observer and shareholder
Feb 2010
Eluceda is a detection technology business that delivers powerful solutions for product & brand protection, biological & chemical testing (including pathogens) and other industrial processes. We focus on working with market leading companies and organisations to deliver quicker, cheaper and more portable detection technologies that are designed for the requirements of the specific industrial requirements.
Experience · 22 entries
All (22)
Investments (11)
Founder (3)
Board (7)
2022
Founder
Sep 2022
For those who have cancer, those that know someone who has, and those that will evitably come into contact with cancer.
2020
Global Business Angel Network (GBAN)
Board member
Apr 2020
Board Observer
Mar 2020
DeepTech Labs is an Accelerator and Venture Capital fund based in Cambridge focused on building the world's top DeepTech companies utilising the unique academic and commercial capabilities offered by the Cambridge ecosystem.
2018
President, then President Emeritus
Jun 2018
EBAN is the pan-European representative for the early stage investor community gathering over 150 member organizations in more than 50 countries today. Established in 1999 by a group of pioneer angel networks in Europe with the collaboration of the European Commission and EURADA, EBAN represents a sector estimated to invest 11.4 billion Euros a year and playing a vital role in Europe’s future, notably in the funding of SMEs. EBAN fuels Europe’s growth through the creation of wealth and jobs.
2017
Founder
Jul 2017
The Invested Investor Listen for free via Audible on Amazon https://adbl.co/39MTwiM Disseminating decades of knowledge and expertise from a serial entrepreneur and angel investor, to educate future entrepreneurs and angel investors and ultimately improve the success rate of future start-up businesses We're on a mission to improve the journeys of startups by educating angels and entrepreneurs to make fewer mistakes, work better together and produce more successful exits. Buy our book at bit.ly/investedinvestor
Show all 22 entries ↓
Investment activity
2010–2020 · 11 investments
20101201112012320132201412016120202
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