Sam Merullo is a General Partner at UpsideDown VC, where he leads investment committees and identifies high-potential early-stage ventures across the UK and Europe. His career is defined by a unique "full-stack" perspective on the startup lifecycle—spanning institutional law, hyper-growth operations, and successful entrepreneurial exits.

Prior to his move into venture capital, Sam was a key figure in the micro-mobility revolution as the General Partner/General Manager at Lime. There, he spearheaded operations for the UK and Ireland, navigating complex gov-tech relations and regulatory frameworks during a period of intense hyper-growth. His operational expertise is rooted in his own experience as a founder; he built ScootFleet from the ground up before leading it to a successful trade sale to the Rico Group.

Sam’s strategic approach is underpinned by a rigorous legal foundation, having begun his career as a lawyer at Allen & Overy. This background provides him with a sophisticated understanding of deal structuring and M&A that few early-stage investors possess.

An active pillar of the European tech community, Sam serves as a mentor at the Founder Institute and maintains deep connectivity with the UK/EU venture ecosystem through his work with Love Ventures and Backed VC. He acts as a bridge between the structural discipline of "Magic Circle" advisory and the agile, high-stakes reality of the founder journey.