Fintech Visionary Adam French Advocates for Greater Boldness in London's Financial Heart
In an exclusive interview, Adam French, partner at early-stage venture capital firm Antler and co-founder of digital wealth manager Scalable Capital, has issued a compelling call for the City of London to demonstrate more courage in backing innovative startups. The seasoned investor, who also serves as a non-executive director at Innovate Finance, believes that while London excels at risk management, it must develop a stronger appetite for supporting ambitious, early-stage ventures to maintain its global competitiveness.
From Goldman Sachs to Fintech Entrepreneurship
French's journey into the world of finance began at Goldman Sachs, where he worked as a trader during the tumultuous period of the global financial crisis. "It was an intense education in markets, pressure and decision-making at speed," he recalls, describing it as "a front-row seat to how global capital really moves." Despite his successful banking career, French found himself constantly brainstorming business ideas with colleagues on the trading floor, which ultimately led to the founding of Scalable Capital.
His academic background at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he studied Business, Mathematics and Statistics, provided a solid foundation for his investment career. French originally aspired to become an actuary but became captivated by investment banking during his university years.
The City's Strengths and Areas for Improvement
When asked what he most appreciates about London's financial district, French highlights "the density of ambition" that characterizes the Square Mile. "You can have breakfast with a founder building something genuinely world-changing, lunch with a policymaker shaping markets and a drink with an investor backing the next generation of companies, all within a few streets," he observes. "There are very few places in the world where that still happens so naturally."
However, French identifies a significant area where he believes improvement is needed. "We could be braver," he states emphatically. "The City is brilliant at risk management but less good at risk appetite, particularly when it comes to backing early-stage innovation at scale. If we want to stay globally competitive, we need to be more comfortable supporting ambition before it is fully de-risked."
Career Milestones and Personal Insights
Among his proudest achievements, French mentions being awarded the Freedom of the City, which held particular significance for his mother. He also expresses immense pride in the growth and success of Scalable Capital, acknowledging the contributions of his co-founders and the wider team.
The investor's professional philosophy has been shaped by valuable advice he received early in his career. "Optimise for learning early on, not titles or money," he shares. "If you keep compounding skills and judgement, everything else tends to follow." Conversely, he considers "Play it safe" to be the worst career advice he's encountered, noting that "almost every meaningful opportunity in my career came from doing the opposite, albeit in a thoughtful way."
Looking Ahead with Optimism
French remains decidedly optimistic about the future of the UK's innovation ecosystem. "We're seeing green shoots across the UK ecosystem," he reports, pointing to pension funds beginning to allocate to venture capital, serious government engagement on growth policy, and a new generation of founders who have learned from previous market excesses.
"2026 could be an inflection point for UK innovation if we get the policy fundamentals right and deploy capital intelligently," French predicts. "The talent and ambition are here; we just need the ecosystem to back them properly."
Beyond the Boardroom
When not immersed in the world of venture capital, French maintains a disciplined routine that begins with a 6am gym session. He resides in London Bridge with his wife and dog, enjoying weekend walks, pub lunches, and what he describes as "slightly over-ambitious fitness plans." For longer breaks, he prefers adventurous destinations like Patagonia or Botswana over traditional beach holidays, seeking "movement, landscapes, and at least a small sense that something could go wrong."
French's professional motto, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," reflects the resilience required in both entrepreneurship and investment. As the City of London navigates an increasingly competitive global landscape, voices like French's advocating for calculated boldness may prove crucial in shaping its future trajectory.
