Venture Capital Fund of the Year

Winner: Index Ventures

Index ventures stood out due to their great recent exits, such as LastFM, their geographical reach and the closing of a big fund.

Exit of the Year

Winner: Cramer Systems / Eden Ventures & Kennet Venture Partners

Cramer won as the stand-out deal due to the investors showing true guts by sticking with it and achieving one of the best software deals ever done in Europe

Venture Capital Trust of the Year

Winner: Octopus - Phoenix & Eclipse VCT

The winner this year is Octopus for showing great ability to raise money, high-quality investments and strong regional coverage.

International Deal of the Year

Winner: Safeguard / Sudbrook

The judges were impressed by Safeguard, and felt it represented an extremely innovative product with vast market potential.

Private Investor Network of the Year

Winner: Hotbed

Hotbed stood out for their strong team, high-quality deal-flow, serious backing and ability to attract good co-investors.

Equity Gap Fund of the Year

Winner: North West Business Investment Scheme

The judges liked NWBIS’s impressive portfolio and strong coverage of centres of excellence.

VC Personality of the Year

Winner: Mark Farmer

The judges would like to commend Mark for his substantial achievements during the past year, such as leading a number of highly sought-after investments in Apertio, Ontology, Tribold and Truphone, as well as the exit of Cramer Systems.

Service Provider of the Year

Winner: Kreos Capital

This new award is to recognise the vital role played by such companies in the European venture eco-system. Kreos stood out as the venture debt provider that has had the most impact on the European scene. The judges liked their professional approach and the leverage they provide to key investments.

Jon Moulton's Triumph Over Adversity Award

Winner: Paragon Group

An award to recognise the achievements of a company, a team or an individual who have turned around a business financed by venture money.

Outstanding Contribution of the Year

Winner: Danny Rimer, Index Ventures

Danny was a clear winner in this category for growing Index from an unknown brand into arguably the leading VC brand in Europe. Danny and Index have an unrivalled reputation for securing the best venture deals and working hard with their investments to achieve inspirational exits such as Skype and LastFM. As one judge put it, every time you look at a good deal, Danny is already there.