Lord David Alliance

Lord David Alliance was a British businessman, philanthropist, and angel investor with a notable track record of supporting Israeli initiatives and companies.

Angel Investor Active Manchester, United Kingdom Est. 1932
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Last updated 2026-07-20
Portfolio
1
in our dataset
Rounds participated
5
Rounds led
1
Rounds' value
$64.0M
total disclosed, rounds participated
Stages
—

About

Lord David Alliance, born Davoud Alliance in Kashan, Iran, in 1932, was a prominent British businessman, philanthropist, and Liberal Democrat politician. He moved to Manchester, England, at the age of 18 and built a significant career in the textile industry, notably as the founder and former chairman of N Brown Group plc and co-founder of Coats Viyella plc (now Coats Group plc). He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1984, knighted in 1989, and created a life peer as Baron Alliance in 2004. Lord Alliance was also a notable angel investor, with investments in technology companies like SimilarWeb. He was deeply involved in philanthropic activities, particularly in education and supporting Jewish causes. He was instrumental in the rescue of Ethiopian Jews to Israel between 1984 and 1991. He served on the Board of Governors of Tel Aviv University in Israel, and an Iranian Studies Centre at Tel Aviv University is named after him. He passed away in July 2025 at the age of 93.

Portfolio · 1

Similarweb
A global software development and data aggregation company specializing in mobile app and web analytics, web traffic, digital performance, and SEO tools.
Led ★ 5 rounds $64.0M committed Latest: 2015-10

Investment activity

1 portfolio exit on record.

Portfolio by sector

Business Software4

Q&A

What is Lord David Alliance's primary investment focus as an angel investor?
Lord David Alliance focuses on retail, manufacturing, and technology sectors, offering both capital and strategic advice to startups.
Can you name some notable companies in Lord David Alliance's portfolio?
Lord David Alliance's portfolio includes Hexa, which converts existing imagery into immersive content, and Similarweb, a web analytics and competitive intelligence platform.
Has Lord David Alliance had any notable exits from his portfolio?
Yes, Similarweb, a company in Lord David Alliance's portfolio, went public in May 2021 with a valuation of $1.65 billion on the NYSE.
What is Lord David Alliance's involvement with N Brown Group?
Lord David Alliance served as the Non-Executive Chairman of N Brown Group for over 40 years, contributing to its growth into a leading UK retailer.
What is Lord David Alliance's sector concentration based on his portfolio companies?
According to startupim data, Lord David Alliance's portfolio companies show a concentration in the Business Software sector, with four companies in this area.
What is the typical investment range for Lord David Alliance?
Lord David Alliance's investment range is between $3.5 million and $25 million.
What kind of funding stages has Lord David Alliance participated in?
Lord David Alliance has participated in various funding stages, including Seed, A Round, B Round, D Round, and E Round investments.
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