Ada Ventures Scout Program
Scout Program
Discover how to join
Ada Ventures Scout Program
including requirements, application process, and compensation and explore other programs to join!
Scout Program
Ada Ventures launched its Scout Programme in 2020 to widen access to venture capital – both for founders historically overlooked and for the people who spot them first. Today a distributed network of 70+ scouts operates across the UK, Ireland and Denmark, funnelling early‑stage opportunities that align with Ada’s inclusion‑led thesis: massive markets serving female, LGBTQ+, ethnic‑minority, disabled and low‑income communities.
Scouts come from a mosaic of backgrounds – university society leaders, grassroots community organisers, product managers, angel investors, healthcare clinicians and more. Once accepted they complete a structured onboarding covering: how to source authentic deal flow, use Ada’s screening questionnaire, support founders pre‑pitch and comply with FCA regulations. Ongoing learning happens through monthly Zoom salons with the investment team, skill‑share workshops run by senior scouts and an annual in‑person retreat in London for deeper relationship‑building.
The economics are deliberately generous. When a scout’s referral becomes an Ada Ventures portfolio investment, the scout receives an immediate £5 000 cash bonus plus 10 % of Ada’s carried‑interest share in that specific deal (payable on fund returns). Scouts need not deploy their own capital, nor do they face claw‑backs if a company fails. The programme is 100 % free to join and entirely remote: scouts decide how many founders they meet each month and submit leads through a simple Airtable form that feeds directly into Ada’s pipeline.
Impact to‑date: scouts have referred 120+ companies, of which 19 have secured Ada cheques, generating £95 000 in bonus payments and helping several founders who might have been missed by traditional networks raise institutional rounds. Four scouts have since transitioned into full‑time investing roles at Ada Ventures or other European funds, demonstrating the programme’s value as a springboard into venture careers.
Join the Superscout community!
🌍 Meet other scouts globally.
👀 Get first dibs on new scout programs and VC openings.
✨ Get feedback and investor recommendations for your deal memos.
✌️ Learn and grow together as a community!
Ada Ventures is a venture capital firm funded by entrepreneurs and a collection of mission-driven investors from around the world. The fund invests on undervalued entrepreneurs and undervalued markets.
Ada Ventures is named after Ada Lovelace, a pioneering computer programmer and mathematician who was never recognized for her contributions to the progress of science and technology during her lifetime.
Ada reviews interest forms on a rolling basis and cohorts new scouts quarterly. Selection prioritises applicants with authentic reach into under‑represented founder communities and demonstrated enthusiasm for Ada’s inclusive thesis. Short listed candidates join a 30‑minute call with the investment team before receiving onboarding materials and legal docs.
Scouts are volunteers but earn (a) an immediate £5 000 success fee for every deal that closes and (b) 10 % of Ada Ventures’ carry in that investment. They take no personal financial risk, contribute no capital and keep full upside even if they later leave the programme.
Joining, training, software access and all official events are free. Scouts only cover incidental personal expenses such as coffee with founders or travel to optional meet‑ups.
The program is evergreen rather than cohort‑based. Typical journey:
There are no fixed hours. Most scouts devote 2‑6 hours a month to coffee chats, deal‑form completion and the optional monthly salon; activity can flex up or down around work and family commitments.
All sourcing, submissions and mentoring happen online via Slack, Airtable and Zoom. Optional quarterly meet‑ups rotate between London, Manchester, Dublin and Copenhagen.
What does a scout actually do?
Meet founders, assess fit with Ada’s thesis and submit a simple Airtable lead form.
Do scouts write cheques?
No. Ada funds the investments; scouts just make the introduction and, if they wish, stay involved post‑investment.
Is there a limit to how many deals I can refer?
No. Scouts can submit as many qualified opportunities as they find.
How quickly do I get paid the £5 000 bonus?
Within 30 days of Ada’s investment closing and funds transferring to the start‑up.
When is carry realised?
Carry pays out once Ada Ventures distributes returns for the fund, typically 7‑10 years after investment.
Can I leave the programme and keep my carry?
Yes. Once a deal closes your carry is locked in, regardless of future involvement.
What if I’m new to venture?
Training resources cover all basics; curiosity and a strong founder network are more important than experience.
Do I need to be a UK citizen?
No, but you must legally reside in the UK, Ireland or Denmark to sign the scout agreement.
Does Ada invest outside the scout themes?
It focuses strictly on inclusive “overlooked founder/market” opportunities in climate, health, ageing, consumer and work‑tech.
How do I apply?
Complete the interest form linked on the programme page; Ada reviews new submissions every quarter.
All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and brands does not imply endorsement.
