As 2025 comes to a close, we have been reflecting on what an important year 2025 was at Upliift, and on what lies ahead.

This year marked an important turning point. We entered new geographies in Southeastern Europe and Spain and expanded into the Workforce Management and Insurtech spaces. We invested in several new companies that share our belief that strong, specialised software businesses deserve a better, more patient form of investment, supporting their growth over the long run.

Today, Upliift is no longer just a company with a portfolio of individual investments. It is a growing network of software businesses across Europe, built by teams who know their markets deeply and provide the mission-critical software that keeps entire industries running.

As an example, we are particularly proud of supporting Aexis Medical in its expansion into the UK market and in opening its first office in Manchester. This kind of impactful hands-on support to enable CEOs / Founders to achieve their vision is exactly what we want Upliift to stand for. We back capable teams with strong products and give them the experience, support, and long-term commitment they need to grow sustainably.

The result? Even when deals get done, the long-term outcome for teams and customers can fall short of the founder’s hopes — and the company’s potential.

When we look back on 2025 however, the number one thing we’ll remember is not any one quantitative milestone, or any specific goal achieved, but rather the relationships forged with founders who have entrusted us with their life’s work. The CEOs and teams that have chosen to build their next chapter with Upliift. We do not take that trust lightly.

As we head into 2026, our focus remains simple. We want to be a responsible long-term home for exceptional software businesses and for the people behind them. We are entering the year with a strong pipeline, and while the journey of permanent capital is rarely linear, we expect 2026 to be an important year for capital deployment and organic growth. More importantly, we are starting to unlock the real strength of our network. In January, for the first time, we will bring together CEOs and CTOs from across our portfolio to create a forum for learning, honest exchange, and practical collaboration. A key focus will be on embedding AI into everyday workflows in ways that help teams build better products, faster and more efficiently. We have already seen the impact of thoughtful AI adoption and cross-company collaboration and expect this to accelerate in 2026 as new product models and capabilities emerge from how our teams work together.

As we look ahead to 2026, Upliift will continue to build in the same way we always have: patiently, responsibly, and with deep respect for the businesses and people we support. If we do that, we are confident the results will follow.

We would like to thank everyone who has been part of our journey this year, and to wish you and your loved ones happy Holidays and a successful New Year.