The UK's largest online marketplace for used photographic equipment.

Launched in 2011, MPB’s proprietary technology manages the entire end-to-end experience for users buying, selling, or trading second-hand equipment, automating the creation of listings for more than 4,000 different product types and dynamically updating prices based on supply and demand. This provides users with superior transparency and consistency of product information, and ensures they receive competitive prices.

Backing MPB throughout its growth journey, we invested at each of the company’s series A, series B and series C rounds and remain its second largest institutional shareholder after a £50m Series D in 2021.

Investment rationale

In 2016, we invested £2.1m of growth capital to support the business’s international expansion into the US and German markets. Management has delivered exceptional growth ever since, In 2018 we co-invested with Beringea in a £5m round and in July 2019, we participated in a £9m Series C round, led by growth VC firm Acton Capital, to provide this exciting business with the further capital to build on its commercial opportunity and first-mover advantage. In 2021, MPB raised £49.8 million, led by Vitruvian Partners.

The company is focused on new product developments and technology that broadens the way people can access kit and brings more kit to more people.

Investment team

Trevor Hope

Managing Director & CIO, Private Equity

Trevor joined Gresham House as part of the Mobeus VCTs team in 2021, having worked at Mobeus since 2016. Prior to Mobeus, Trevor held positions at Barclays, RBS, 3i and Beringea.

For over 25 years, he has invested in fast-growing businesses at series A and beyond.

It is a real privilege to work with so many great businesses and management teams and support them in their growth ambitions.

Previous investments and Board positions include Paragon Software, Mondus.com, Cambridge Industries, Southnews plc, Achilles Group, MyOptique, Fjordnet, ILG Digital, Celebrus Technologies, Big Data Partnership, and Preservica.

Trevor holds an MBA, is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Outside of work Trevor enjoys time with his family, travel, tennis, and as an Investment Committee Member of Bethnal Green Ventures, Europe’s leading early-stage tech for good VC.

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Greg Blin

Investment Partner

Greg sources and executes investments into fast-growing businesses and is our resident consumer expert. He combines a natural flair for understanding the drivers of brand value, insight into wider market dynamics and strong corporate finance experience.

I first got into growth investing because it has afforded me the opportunity to work and build relationships with some incredibly talented entrepreneurs and ambitious management teams to support them on their growth journey.

Greg joined Gresham House Ventures in 2021 and has been part of the Mobeus VCTs team since 2013.

Previous investments and Board positions include Virgin Wines, MPB, Rotageek and Buster + Punch.

Greg’s previous roles include investments at Piper Private Equity and Corporate Finance at PwC. He holds a BA/ ACC in Business Studies and Accounting and is a Chartered Accountant (ICAS).

Outside of work, Greg enjoys a range of sports including golf, tennis and skiing, would secretly love to be a DJ, and has a passion for travel.

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Matt Mead

Venture Partner

Matt joined GHV in 2021 and the Mobeus VCT team in 2019.

He has over 25 years’ experience in early stage and scale-up technology investing.

It is a real privilege to work with so many great businesses and management teams and support them in their growth ambitions.

Matt was a Partner in 3i’s technology investment business and held Chief Investment Officer roles at the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and Mercia Asset Management.

Outside of work Matt enjoys spending time with his family, most sports, mainly spectating now but still playing golf, cricket and tennis.

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