Venture capital firm Draper Esprit (AIM: GROW, ESM: GRW) has appointed Nicola McClafferty to the Dublin office. She will join Brian Caulfield as the VC seeks to identify the next generation of Irish tech firms poised for success.
McClafferty was most recently CEO of Covetique.com, a leading online retailer of pre-owned luxury fashion. McClafferty co-founded the company in 2011 and in 2012 Covetique received investment from ASOS plc, the UKs largest online fashion retailer, who subsequently acquired the company in 2015.
Brian Caulfield, Managing Partner, Draper Esprit in Dublin, commented on McClafferty joining the firm;
“Nicola has great experience both as an investor and importantly as an entrepreneur in her own right. I’m absolutely delighted that she has joined us. We have already experienced much success and the expansion of our Dublin team reflects our commitment to continue to back the best Irish entrepreneurs with patient venture capital to generate future global success stories out of Ireland.”
Born in Ireland, McClafferty graduated from University College Dublin, with a first class honours degree in International Commerce and French. After moving to London, she joined investment bank Jefferies International where she worked as an Analyst in the Technology team with a focus on consumer internet and digital media. McClafferty then moved into venture capital, investing in and developing early-stage technology and media start-ups, first with Balderton Capital and latterly with Ravensbeck. McClafferty has been a mentor on the Enterprise Ireland Retailer Ready program and in 2014 she was shortlisted for the Female Entrepreneur of the Year award at the GP Bullhound Investor Allstars.
“Draper Esprit has been redefining the venture capital industry and having been both an investor and an entrepreneur the benefits of their patient capital model really appealed to me. I look forward to working with Brian and the wider team to help to create more Irish technology success stories,” said McClafferty.
Draper Esprit described McClafferty’s hiring as part of a strategy push to grow internationally and their commitment to Ireland given its growth as a global tech hub. Draper Esprit has also been one of the earliest VC firms to embrace investment crowdfunding having joined in the funding of companies that are listed on UK based crowdfunding platforms.
