Exceptional Ventures is a London-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in companies that help people live longer, healthier and happier lives, a thesis the firm brands "Joyspan." It operates through the legal entity Exceptional Ventures LLP, incorporated in January 2022, and was co-founded by Matt Cooper, Executive Chairman and previously a co-founder of Capital One Bank Europe and Tandem Bank, alongside Paolo Pio, General Partner and formerly Managing Director for Europe at Joyance Partners. The firm writes pre-seed and seed cheques of roughly $200,000 to $1.5m across health technology, wellness, mental health, future of food, non-alcoholic beverages and sustainable personal care. Its debut vehicle closed at around £20m in 2022 with a target of roughly 40 investments, and it has backed more than 50 startups to date including Clerkenwell Health, Here We Flo, Planetary and Juniper. A second healthtech-focused fund of approximately £40m reached first close in February 2026. The firm runs a paid six-month investment internship from its Notting Hill office.