Amadeus Capital Partners, the European technology investor, has appointed DeepTech leader Kelly Richdale as a venture partner.
Richdale has deep sectoral expertise in cyber and quantum security, blockchain, identity management and AI and will advise Amadeus on investment opportunities and support portfolio companies based on her successful career as an entrepreneur and executive.
Richdale has first-hand experience of building high growth tech businesses globally with two successful exits in the DeepTech sector.
She founded A4Vision, a biometrics company, in 2000 and built out the solution suite before exiting to Idemia in 2010. She subsequently headed the Quantum Safe Security division of ID Quantique, acquired by SK Telecom in 2018.
Richdale is currently a senior advisor to Alphabet spin-out SandboxAQ and a NED for a Swiss insurance company with a focus on digital transformation, cyber risk and resilience.
She is also a quantum fellow at the World Economic Forum, developing strategies for the quantum economy, as well as on the scientific advisory board of the University of Geneva information security course.
Previously Richdale was an executive team member of Libra Networks (AKA Diem), the Meta-backed cryptocurrency project. She was also a member of the Innovation Council of Innosuisse, Switzerland’s federal agency to promote science-based innovation.
Anne Glover, CEO and co-founder at Amadeus Capital Partners, said: “Kelly’s entrepreneurial drive and expertise in developing go-to-market strategies, business development and sales channels for DeepTech businesses, along with her extensive global network, will be immensely helpful to both our portfolio companies and our investment team, as we seek new opportunities across quantum, cyber and blockchain.
“Kelly is as focused as I am on improving diversity in both venture capital and science-driven startups and we’re excited to have her join the team.”
Richdale said: “Amadeus has been in the business of transformative technology investment for three decades and I am delighted to support their mission to scale up DeepTech enterprises across Europe.
“This is a great opportunity for me to share my passion for entrepreneurship with Europe’s most thrilling, science-led startups, and help build the world-leading businesses of tomorrow.”