Peter Dubens

Peter Dubens’ Biography

Peter Dubens is a British entrepreneur and investor, best known as the Founder and Managing Partner of Oakley Capital, a private equity and venture capital investment group.

Oakley Capital is one of the top ten London-based private equity firms by fundraising, and is recognised as one of Europe’s best performers, having generated a 3.9x gross money multiple and a 52% gross IRR on realised deals. Over the past twenty years, the company has grown from two founders to roughly 300 professionals across offices in London, Munich, Milan, Madrid and Luxembourg.

Peter began his career at age 20, building and successfully exiting several consumer, digital, and telecoms ventures. These formative experiences as a serial entrepreneur underpin Oakley’s longstanding focus on founder-led companies. Most of the firm’s investments are in founder-led businesses, and Oakley is often the first institutional investor in the companies it backs.

Peter has previously said that he wanted Oakley to be “the empathetic adviser he never had when he was an entrepreneur, and the partner of choice for founders.”... Peter Dubens is a British entrepreneur and investor, best known as the Founder and Managing Partner of Oakley Capital, a private equity and venture capital investment group.

Oakley Capital is one of the top ten London-based private equity firms by fundraising, and is recognised as one of Europe’s best performers, having generated a 3.9x gross money multiple and a 52% gross IRR on realised deals. Over the past twenty years, the company has grown from two founders to roughly 300 professionals across offices in London, Munich, Milan, Madrid and Luxembourg.

Peter began his career at age 20, building and successfully exiting several consumer, digital, and telecoms ventures. These formative experiences as a serial entrepreneur underpin Oakley’s longstanding focus on founder-led companies. Most of the firm’s investments are in founder-led businesses, and Oakley is often the first institutional investor in the companies it backs.

Peter has previously said that he wanted Oakley to be “the empathetic adviser he never had when he was an entrepreneur, and the partner of choice for founders.” This principle shapes the firm’s strategy and its commitment to supporting entrepreneurial ambition with operational expertise and long-term capital.

He has also emphasised the importance of luck and humility in business: “Success in business is often down to luck, and being humble enough to recognise this. Because this humility allows founders to escape the hubris that destroys so many businesses, and to understand that past successes do not guarantee future victories.”

Peter Dubens is actively involved in charitable work and philanthropy. In 2019, he founded the Peter Dubens Family Foundation, which supports UK-based charities and projects focused on education, marine conservation, children’s welfare and health. In addition to his foundation’s work, Peter contributes to a range of causes and serves as a Trustee of The King’s Trust. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Peter Dubens’ Newsfeed

Financial Times

Oakley Capital buys controlling stake in corporate intelligence firm G3

Peter Dubens’ Background

Oakley Capital

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

2002 - Present

London, UK

Oakley Capital partners with exceptional founders to invest in pan-European businesses valued at between €100 million and over €1 billion. Oakley has built a strong track record of investing in four core sectors, including standout successes such as hosting business Contabo within the Tech sector; Inspired and IU, two unicorns created in the Education sector; Southern Europe’s leading property portal idealista, within Digital Consumer; and TICC business Phenna Group in Business Services.

Oakley Capital Investments Limited

Founder

2007 - Present

London, UK

Oakley Capital Investments Limited (OCI) is an investment company listed on the London Stock Exchange that provides investors with long-term capital growth by investing in Oakley Capital’s private equity funds. The company offers access to private equity returns through a portfolio of market-leading companies managed by Oakley Capital.

Touring Capital

2023 - Present

San Francisco, CA, USA

In 2023, Oakley Capital supported the launch of Touring Capital, to invest in the next generation of AI-powered software businesses. Touring’s diverse team has previously worked together to build a number of global venture investing franchises, including Qualcomm Ventures and M12, Microsoft’s venture fund. The partnership between Oakley and Touring brings together Touring’s extensive experience investing in growth tech and enterprise technology, with Oakley’s leading operational platform, deep network, and proven value creation expertise.

Global Accessories Limited

Co-Founder

1990 - 1996

London, UK

Together with two partners, Peter took on the rights to sell Vans shoes and Eastpak bags in the UK. They grew the business from a £250,000 turnover to £2.5 million in profit, before selling the company to Vans for US$16 million in 1996.

Global Inc Limited

Co-Founder

1986 - 1991

London, UK

Peter and his friend, Jonathan Sieff, founded Global Inc to sell licensed clothing, such as Disney merchandise, to UK retailers including M&S and BHS. They later secured the rights to sell colour-changing T-shirts in the UK, and eventually sold the company to Coats Viyella for £8 million.

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Current Board Positions

PROfounders Capital

Director

2010 - Present

London, UK

PROfounders Capital is a London-based early-stage venture fund that backs European tech and digital start-ups, combining investment with hands-on founder support. PROfounders benefits from the extensive resources of founding partner, Oakley Capital. By leveraging Oakley’s high-quality infrastructure, PROfounders can remain a lean, independently run investment team focused on sourcing strong opportunities and supporting founders.

Time Out Group PLC

Non-Executive Chairman

Nov 2010 - Present

London, UK

Time Out Group plc is a global media and hospitality company. Originally founded in London in 1968 as a city-listing magazine, it has since expanded into a worldwide digital and lifestyle brand. Oakley Capital became a major shareholder in 2010, and Peter joined the board. He was appointed Non-Executive Chairman in 2016.

Previous Board Positions

Pembroke VCT

Director

2012 - 2018

London, UK

Pembroke VCT is a UK venture capital trust that backs growth-stage, founder-led companies to give investors access to early-stage equity returns and associated tax benefits. Pembroke is managed by Pembroke Investment Managers LLP, and is able to draw on the same resources that power the Oakley Capital Group.

GX Networks (later Pipex Communications)

Chairman

2002 - 2007

London, UK

As Chairman of GX Networks, Peter led the acquisition of Pipex and oversaw the consolidation of multiple telecoms, broadband and hosting businesses under the Pipex Communications brand. During his tenure, he guided the company through a period of significant strategic growth and restructuring, culminating in the sale of Pipex’s broadband business to Tiscali in 2007 for £220 million.

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Philanthropy

Peter Dubens Family Foundation

Founder

2019 - Present

London, UK

Peter Dubens Family Foundation is a UK-registered grant-making charity that supports a range of causes including education, children’s welfare, health, and marine conservation. Charities it has supported include the BRIT School, the Ocean Family Foundation, the NSPCC and the British Film Institute.

Media

Oakley Capital

News and Insights

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Features

Low-profile entrepreneur all the high-rollers know

Profile

The business on...Peter Dubens, Founder, Oakley Capital

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Charitable Interests

Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity

Board Member, Centre for Children's Rare Disease Research Appeal

2012 - Present

London, UK

Peter helped to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital’s 'Centre for Children’s Rare Disease Research', a dedicated hub bringing together clinicians and scientists to study rare and complex childhood diseases with the aim of improving diagnosis, developing new treatments, and ultimately finding cures.

The National Gallery

Patron Member, George Beaumont Group

2011 - Present

London, UK

The George Beaumont Group, created in 1994, are a group of art enthusiasts who provide valuable financial support to the National Gallery.

Institute of Contemporary Arts

Patron

2011 - Present

London, UK

The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London is a leading contemporary arts centre that showcases experimental and emerging work in visual art, film, performance, and culture.

Blue Marine Foundation

Member

2011 - Present

London, UK

Blue Marine Foundation is a UK-based marine conservation charity that works to protect and restore ocean ecosystems by securing marine protected areas, tackling overfishing, and promoting sustainable fisheries and habitat restoration. Its goal is to ensure that at least 30% of the world’s oceans are under effective protection by 2030.

The Legacy List

Founding Patron

2010 - 2016

London, UK

The Legacy List was a charity set up to support the long-term cultural, social, educational and artistic regeneration of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after the London 2012 Olympics, to ensure a lasting legacy from the Games in East London.

The King's Trust

Trustee

2009 - Present

The King's Trust (formerly The Prince's Trust) is a leading UK youth charity that helps vulnerable or disadvantaged 11- to 30-year-olds build confidence, gain skills, and access education, employment or start-up support. Since its foundation in 1976 by King Charles III (then Prince of Wales), the Trust has helped over a million young people across the UK to improve their lives.

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Investments

Oakley Capital

Portfolio Companies

London, UK

Click to view all of Oakley Capital’s portfolio companies, including current investments and those that have been realised.

Peter Dubens’ Education

JFS School

Sussex House

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Oakley Capital

London, UK

Peter Dubens’ Biography

Peter Dubens’ Newsfeed

Peter Dubens’ Background

Current Board Positions

Previous Board Positions

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Peter Dubens’ Education

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