Peter Cowley

Tech entrepreneur, angel investor, and speaker

Peter Cowley is a prominent tech entrepreneur, angel investor, and author based in Cambridge, UK. Born in 1955 in Kingston upon Hull, England, he has built a notable career in the technology and investment sectors. Cowley is the founder of The Invested Investor, an initiative aimed at improving the startup ecosystem through transparency and mentorship.1 4

Career Highlights

Entrepreneurship and Investment::

Cowley has co-founded several businesses, including Martlet Capital, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies. He has personally invested in over 75 startups and was recognized as the UK Business Angel of the Year in 2014.1 2 3
He served as President of the European Business Angels Network (EBAN) and is currently a board member of the Global Business Angels Network (GBAN).2

Publications::

He authored The Invested Investor in 2018, which outlines principles for angel investing, followed by Founder to Founder in 2019. His latest book, Public Success Private Grief, published in April 2024, details his personal experiences with cancer and loss.1 3

Education::

Cowley holds an MA in Engineering and Computer Science from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University. He has also received an honorary doctorate in business administration from Anglia Ruskin University.1

Recent Initiatives

In addition to his investment activities, Cowley founded Project Cancer in September 2022 to support individuals affected by cancer. This initiative reflects his personal journey after being diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2021.3

Cowley's extensive background not only showcases his commitment to entrepreneurship but also highlights his dedication to mentoring others and contributing positively to society through various charitable endeavors.

Highlights

Oct 29 · twitter

Have you ever wondered what makes me tick? Find out in my book - Public Success, Private Grief – by ordering a copy at https://t.co/aAQh4mYbjs

And whilst you wait for delivery, here’s a taster of what I calls the ‘Turning points’ in my life:

•The school cohort that carried me into a good university •Deciding to spend my gap year in Australia and maturing with help of my uncle/aunt and experiencing entrepreneurial enthusiasm from Dick Smith •My brother dying and then being tempted by Lothar Ulbrich to move to Germany •Meeting, courting and marrying my three wives •My recovery from alcoholism, creating time and motivation to help others •Taking risk with speculative property development creating wealth to invest in startups •Mentoring and investing in Martin Kleppmann, hence learning what an angel investor is •Robert Sansom trusting that I would be an active angel, despite my then lack of wealth and helping me become a member of Cambridge Angels •Robert Marshall trusting me to cofound Martlet •Tim Mills believing I could assist the Angel CoFund and hence get noticed by the industry and become Angel of the Year •Alan being available and willing to cofound the Invested Investor •The various awards and accolades •The personal tragedies and my cancer leading to me writing this book

(If you are ordering from outside the UK, please go to https://t.co/VSXocjtjXt)

#PeterCowley #PublicSuccessPrivateGrief #PostTraumaticSuccess

Have you ever wondered what makes me tick? Find out in my book - Public Success, Private Grief – by

Oct 25 · twitter

Very bad news, but as people say, I have made the utter most of the last 3 years. Prognosis now measured in weeks, which was a tremendous shock, although my last week's deterioration was apparent internally to me and externally to Lies. I have to decide chemo or not. Chemo may extend my life by a few weeks (or may kill me), but at what cost to my quality of life? I am planning to meet or speak to friends and some colleagues for the last time.

For a full update visit: https://t.co/W1awLPi91o

#PeterCowley #PublicSuccessPrivateGrief #PostTraumaticSuccess