David Lau-Kee

David Lau-Kee is a highly respected Partner at Octopus Ventures, one of Europe's largest and most active venture capital investors. In his pivotal role at Octopus Ventures, David is instrumental in identifying, evaluating, and nurturing early-stage and growth-stage companies that are poised to disrupt industries with innovative technology. His expertise lies primarily within the deep tech and B2B software sectors, where he actively seeks out ventures utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, quantum computing, and other advanced technologies.

David's investment focus is broad yet strategic, encompassing areas such as enterprise software, the future of work, and companies with strong intellectual property and defensible technological advantages. He is particularly drawn to founders who are building foundational technologies that can scale globally and create significant market impact. His approach is hands-on, leveraging his extensive operational experience to provide strategic guidance and support to his portfolio companies, helping them navigate challenges and accelerate growth.

Before joining Octopus Ventures, David Lau-Kee had a remarkable career that provided him with a unique perspective as both an entrepreneur and a technologist. He co-founded and served as CEO of TouchType, the innovative company behind SwiftKey, a predictive keyboard technology that revolutionized mobile typing. SwiftKey achieved significant commercial success and was ultimately acquired by Microsoft, a testament to David's vision and leadership. This experience as a founder gives him a profound understanding of the entrepreneurial journey, from product development and market entry to scaling and exit strategies.

Prior to his entrepreneurial venture, David honed his technical and product management skills at prominent technology companies such as Symbian and Motorola. His academic background is equally impressive, holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge, which underpins his deep technical understanding and analytical capabilities. This blend of academic rigor, engineering expertise, and entrepreneurial success makes him a formidable force in the venture capital landscape.

Throughout his tenure at Octopus Ventures, David has been involved in numerous notable investments, contributing to the success of companies that are now leaders in their respective fields. His portfolio includes pioneering firms like WaveOptics (acquired by Snap), a leader in augmented reality waveguides; Ori Biotech, a company transforming cell and gene therapy manufacturing; and Quantum Motion, a developer of silicon-based quantum computing technology. These investments highlight his commitment to backing ambitious founders who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in technology.