We exist to make the right investment choices today, for tomorrow.

We invest in boldly ambitious deeptech entrepreneurs that solve complex problems using breakthrough solutions and we apply our domain expertise to build lasting value.

We invest in early and high-growth companies building the digital infrastructure to enable a 3D Urban mobility future.

Our previous investments have included innovative products and services that are improving our world, the way we live, and the way we do business.

PSION Team

Alain Gavin

Managing Partner - Chief Investment Officer

Alain Gavin brings a unique perspective to bear on investing through his experience, training and personal background.

Alain is an experienced Deep-tech investor, who runs a portfolio of 18 tech investments with 6 exits/IPOs and performs in the top 5% of VCs globally. He previously worked with Seraphim Capital, a Space-tech and Drone-tech fund which is backed by the UK Sovereign Wealth Fund and several big corporates including Airbus.

He has executed early’ and growth stage investments in European & US technology companies across a diverse range of sectors. He has deep transactional experience ranging in size from £1m to £10m for direct VC investments and up to €200m per deal for strategic corporate investments. He has also instigated and executed corporate M&A and carve-outs to other PE firms.

Alain understands operational challenges first-hand having had extensive experience working in high tech and industrial blue chip companies such as Siemens, Daimler and Schott, where he had full P&L responsibility and led teams of up to 40 people, as well as working within his own start-up in Berlin.

Being an engineer by training and having gained an MBA from London Business School allows him to understand the complex interrelationships across great teams, technology innovation and business model applications.

Alain was born and brought up in Nigeria with multiple nationalities, is trilingual (German, French & English) and has worked in Germany, Japan, the US and the UK, all of which allows him to relate easily and professionally to people across a range of international environments.

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Prof. Robert Gavin

Senior Advisor

Seasoned Academic Leader with 30+ years of experience in developing academic partnerships with Industry to assist regional development and local regeneration.

Undertakes research for the Psion projects and helps in the planning and production of company documentation; uses his network to find openings for portfolio companies.

Professor Gavin was awarded a CBE in recognition of services to Higher Education in Northern Ireland. Appointed in 1979 as Dean of the faculty of Arts at Ulster Polytechnic (Belfast and Jordanstown), he was re-appointed as Provost of Magee College in 1984 when the Polytechnic and the New University of Ulster (Coleraine and Derry) amalgamated to form the University of Ulster. As Provost of Magee College in Derry, he planned the resuscitation and extension of undergraduate and post graduate courses with a business-oriented bias and collaborated in regional efforts to develop new industrial and commercial initiatives in the NorthWest particularly those with American and European dimensions. In 1988 he was appointed Pro ViceChancellor for Research.

In addition to his academic activity, Professor Gavin has devoted much attention to the development of University links with Industry, encouraging the companies’ partnership with the University in the promotion of technology and research. He was Chairman of Foyle Development Organisation 1991-2005 (Derry City Council's agency for promoting industrial and commercial development).

Prior to coming to Northern Ireland, Professor Gavin spent 9yrs growing and managing academic institutions in Nigeria (Zaria & Ilorin). He also spent 15 years university teaching in Cambridge Colleges, King’s College London & in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was awarded an MA and PHD from Cambridge University and has published research on regional economic and political developments in Africa, the Middle East and Ireland.

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What People Say About PSION

Alain went beyond imaginable limits with his ability and professional VC expertise to coordinate our fundraising activities at CyStellar. His capability to deeply understand our company’s vision and match it with the right investors was crucial in shortening the time to closing the investment.

Alain helped us with the investment strategy, corporate restructuring, pitch deck, building an investor funnel and following up with investors, supporting the due diligence process, term sheet negotiations and provide recommendation for legal, financial, and tax advisors.

He’s really made a difference in our start-up success to raise its first seed round!

I chose him to join our Board as independent Non-Executive Director where he continues to add value to the strategic direction of the company.

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Peter Bunus

CEO and Co-Founder - CyStellar

It has been exceptional working with Alain over the past few months to develop Skyrora’s financial model and business plan. Alain quickly understood the key drivers of the business, and he was able to combine them with his deep knowledge of the investment industry to ensure our model is well received by investors. He paid detailed attention to intricacies, such as revenue recognition and worked hand-in-hand with us to resolve all difficulties.

Alain went far beyond what was expected and put us on track to successfully close our funding round. I highly recommend him.

Victor Ivanenko

CFO – SKYRORA (Rocket company)

Alain carried out due diligence on a complex, fast moving business. He worked very long hours and his efforts exceeded the amount of time that was expected.

He did a deeply researched analysis of the business involved and the sector that it was trading in, as a result of which we made an investment in the target company. In addition, he carried out due diligence on two other companies, a high technology business with several valuable patents based on the West Coast of the USA, and a company supplying communications solutions to the global railways sector.

Alain and I are discussing several further opportunities of working together.

Simon Hunt

Fund manager

Alain possesses superior organisational, planning and interpersonal skills. As CEO of the business we began together, and as the primary partner in the enterprise, he demonstrated his ability to build and motivate a team, and guided the group towards creative goals and solutions.

Alain involves others, encourages their strategies for finding solutions and secures maximum commitment from each team member. He also achieved good results when negotiating.

Personally, I find Alain to be a bright and engaging individual. He has a breath of international experience which I find particularly interesting and has a collegial manner which enables him to work effectively with others.

Michael Buxton

Co-investor & entrepreneur

Alain produced an Information Memorandum for Microbus for new investors, he was extremely diligent and picked up the complexity of what is a highly technical niche market very quickly. Market detail across Europe in the public safety market is limited but Alain managed to access detail that had previously been unattainable.

He was also very knowledgeable in how to value this type of opportunity and tested these valuations from several directions. He was easy to work with but persistent in ensuring he produced the best possible results. I would recommend Alain to anyone requiring an in depth study of their business.

Reg Marsh

MD and COO in Growth & Turnaround businesses

It was a pleasure working with Mr. Gavin and observing his highly professional attitude and his remarkable energy and perseverance in the work he accomplished. He took initiative even on difficult issues to achieve needed results. His unique motivational drive and energy and collegial manner made him well accepted among those he worked with closely.

Dr. Roland Voigt

ex-CFO - SCHOTT AG

Alain is a wonderful person to work with. His support in Skyrora’s outreach to secure funding was invaluable. In countless calls, we worked out strategies together on how to approach investors.

Alain always inspired me with his ideas and relentless energy to reach out to the right investors. He helped us to do a ground-up analysis of the competitive and market landscape and convince investors of the immense opportunity in the Space launch industry.

I would warmly recommend him and am thrilled to have him on board and hope to work with him again to secure our next investment round.

Anfisa Anikushina

M&A, SpaceTech