Meet the Farm491 member – Valsoft Corporation

Read our five-minute Q&A with Farm491 member Luke Partridge, an investment director at Valsoft Corporation, to find out more about his work and his experience as a Farm491 member. 

Tell us about Valsoft Corporation.  

Valsoft and Valstone are a group of software investors, and one of our strongest sectors is agriculture, with six businesses ranging from swine management software to payroll software for farmers.  

We protect the legacy and brand of the businesses we acquire, and ensure decisions are left as close to the customer as possible, allowing our portfolio to remain agile while also gaining access to large group resources (AI, funding, best in class playbook and back office functions).  

Tell us about yourself. 

I am, for my sins, a chartered accountant with 10 years of experience in acquisitions and investing. I started my career at PwC before moving to an LA based private equity firm, Platinum, before joining Valsoft in December 2024 where I lead our UK&I acquisitions team. I have been involved in over 20 acquisitions ranging from £1m to £1bn, albeit I am now very much focussed on the SME market. 

What were your biggest achievements of the past year? 

We surpassed 150 portfolio companies across 20 countries, a significant milestone for the business. We also launched Valsoft AI Labs, embedding AI capability across our portfolio and unlocking a powerful value creation lever.  

What were your biggest challenges of the past year? 

Pivoting in an AI enabled world and navigating the so-called ‘SaaSpocalypse’, where the rules of building and valuing software businesses are being rewritten in real time.  

What does working with Farm491 as a member bring to your business? 

Superb proximity to the agricultural innovation ecosystem, where I can better understand the opportunities and challenges facing the industry, and a chance to meet leading entrepreneurs in the space. The coffee is also better here than at home… 

I am more than happy to advise any businesses in the software space considering an acquisition via Valsoft or looking to raise funding more broadly. 

To get in touch with Luke, visit the Valsoft Corporation website here.