Patron
Nick Discombe
Chair PE Sponsored & Private Companies
Boardwave Patron
A lifer in the technology industry Nick’s executive career was centered around working with Founders and various sources of capital to build scalable, international businesses around interesting and compelling technologies. Nick has been a successful private company, PLC and NASDAQ CEO although freely admits to many mistakes along the way not least in building out the businesses in the USA. During his executive career, Nick has worked with General Atlantic Partners (Connecticut) , Apax (London) and Battery Ventures (Boston).
In 2007 Nick returned to UK looking for a new challenge and so at the age of 44 started a plural non-exec career. Nick has been privileged as a chairman to help technology start-ups all the way through to some of the largest European technology buyouts and believes being able to scale up and down different sizes of organisations is important.
Nick has Chaired more than 10 companies during this time leading them to successful exits or making sure the companies were properly placed for the next stage of development. During his time as Chairman, he has worked with internet, data and software companies across a variety of geographies and funding sources including venture, Family Offices, growth capital providers as well as Private Equity. Of late more of his time has been focused on investing his own money and helping smaller businesses on a pro-bono basis. He has also had a spell as a visiting lecturer talking about Entrepreneurial Finance.