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SFC Capital and PHTA agree to Investment Partnership
- SFC Capital and the University of Birmingham’s Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) announce an investment partnership to support promising Health and MedTech companies in the West Midlands
- Partnership welcomed by Midlands Mindforge, and both commit to future collaboration with Midlands Mindforge around future co-investment opportunities
In a landmark partnership, SFC Capital, the UK's most active seed-stage investor, and the University of Birmingham’s Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) have announced an investment partnership to support promising HealthTech and MedTech companies. The partnership aims to nurture and support science-backed startups on their commercialisation pathway. SFC Capital and PHTA have also committed to coordinate with Midlands Mindforge, an ambitious patient capital investment company, in exploring future co-investment opportunities aimed at nurturing the IP-rich startup landscape in the Midlands.
Read MoreSFC's 2023: The Year in Review
As 2023 draws to a close, it’s time to look back on this year, and it’s fair to say that it has been quite a busy one for SFC Capital!
Read MoreThe Extension of the EIS Sunset Clause
The recent Autumn Statement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt heralded a significant development for the UK's early-stage VC ecosystem. The government announced the extension of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) sunset clause to April 2035, a move long advocated by SFC Capital and other stakeholders in the startup community. This extension, initially set to expire in April 2025, represents a vital step in providing certainty and security for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
Read MoreThe Beauty Accelerator 2024
Facilitating Fundraising for Beauty Startups
The Red Tree, the UK’s leading international beauty brand consultancy, and SFC Capital, a leader in the UK’s early-stage investment world, are delighted to announce that The Beauty Accelerator returns in 2024.
Read MoreStartup Stories: MeVitae
We chatted with Riham Satti, co-founder of MeVitae, about the hurdles and high points of starting up. She tells us how she moved from academia to entrepreneurship, and why diversity and inclusion are more than just buzzwords for her company. As MeVitae plans its US launch, Riham gives us the lowdown on what's next.
Read MoreWhy More IFAs Are Using SEIS
Investment landscapes perpetually shift, propelled by myriad factors such as fluctuating interest rates, inflation, equity market volatility, and geopolitics. The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), recently bolstered by the Government's legislative enhancement, now surfaces as an increasingly appealing avenue for investors, allowing up to £200,000 of annual investment into a broader spectrum of businesses.
Read MoreStartup Stories: Vulse
Meet Rob - an entrepreneur who's building Vulse, a content automation platform for LinkedIn. Raised by two miniature dachshund & parachuting entrepreneurs he’s now spearheading AI-driven content creation. His journey is a blend of passion for social media, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of change. Discover Rob's unique path, the lessons he's learned, and the horizons he's set on conquering.
Read MoreGreenTech on the Rise: Trends & SEIS Impact
The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) has been a linchpin for early-stage investment in the UK, especially in sectors aspiring to make a transformative impact, like GreenTech. The UK’s swelling GreenTech scene, responsible for an impressive $2.6bn of funding last year, has grown into one that we are particularly interested in. At SFC, our portfolio reflects the current trends in GreenTech as it became the second biggest sector we invested in during the 2022/2023 tax year.
Read MoreStartup Stories: Halocycle
Halocycle is leading the charge against the plastic waste problem by developing a technology to recycle Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a material previously only mechanically recyclable at large scale. I’m speaking to Yorkshire-based Henrietta Boyd, the co-founder and director at Halocycle. We talk about her path into entrepreneurship, the challenges and opportunities in tackling plastic waste, the ups and downs of fundraising, Halocycle's innovative approach to solving the PVC problem, and her advice for aspiring founders.
Read MoreThe Rise of SEIS Funds for Investors
SEIS funds are quickly becoming one of the most attractive investment options for investors. The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) offers a range of benefits that are unmatched by other investment vehicles or tax planning tools. These benefits include 50% income tax relief, capital gains reinvestment relief, 0% inheritance tax liability, and even loss relief protection at your marginal tax rate. Additionally, returns on SEIS investments are 0% capital gains.
Read MoreInvestor Post-Investment Guide: SEIS Tax Relief
Investing in early-stage startups can be rewarding. However, there are some housekeeping rules for after you invest to ensure long-term success and maximize the tax benefits of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
Read MoreReady, Set StartUP Deep Dive
Ready, Set, StartUP is an entertaining new business reality series currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The show throws the spotlight on ten ambitious entrepreneurs armed with unique business ideas and competing fiercely to secure a £100k investment and invaluable business support.
Read MoreStartup Stories: Esca
I sat down with Shalom Osiadi, winner of the new entrepreneurial TV show Ready Set StartUP and founder of Esca, a stablecoin savings and payments startup. We will be talking about his experience on the show, so get ready for some behind-the-scenes insights. Also, Shalom shared how he pivoted after the show, what’s ahead for Esca, startup funding, his take on the future of crypto, and much more.
Read MoreThe SFC Guide to SEIS Eligibility
The UK government’s Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is a stimulus program designed to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and grow the British startup hub. It incentivises investment in early-stage companies by offering tax relief to individual investors, proving SEIS eligibility to be a huge value-add for seed-stage startups.
Read MoreInspiring Entrepreneurs
Becoming a judge on Ready Set StartUP provided me with an unforgettable experience and the chance to leverage my expertise in a different setting. However, the benefits didn't end there. Sitting on the panel alongside some remarkable individuals in the industry, I had the privilege of being next to Tom Blomfield, the visionary founder of two incredible British companies, GoCardless and Monzo. It was disheartening to learn that Tom decided to move to the US as he believed it offered a better environment for tech businesses mainly for two reasons. Firstly, the UK still lags behind the US in creating an optimal startup ecosystem – there is much room for improvement. The good news is that SEIS 2.0 presents a silver lining for its development (learn more about it here). Secondly, losing such an exceptional talent who could have potentially created yet another successful business in the UK is a missed opportunity.
Read MoreSFC's Approach for More Gender Equality
For more information about the report, please visit the British Business Bank website.
Read MoreNurturing the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Who hasn't enjoyed talent shows like The Great British Bake Off, The X Factor, or Strictly Come Dancing? They captivate us with their entertainment value and have popularised baking, singing, and dancing. Now, Ready Set StartUP has debuted on Amazon Prime, and I am confident that it will do the same for entrepreneurship.
Read MoreStartup Stories: GrowGrows
Journeying from the unlikeliest of paths, Eddie, a former police officer turned lawyer, and Joe, a former university entrepreneur advocate, brought their diverse experiences together to seed GrowGrows, a sustainable, high-quality babywear startup. In this interview, we are speaking to Eddie and Joe about their unique ways into entrepreneurship, crucial pivots, how they are scaling their business, and the lessons they are learning along the way.
Read MoreBehind the Scenes of Ready Set StartUP
Television possesses a magical quality that captivates and inspires viewers through its persuasive and memorable storytelling. Thanks to shows like Ready Set StartUP, available on Amazon Prime in the UK and the US, the world of entrepreneurship is brought to the forefront, potentially sparking the interest and aspirations of countless individuals in the business realm.
Read MoreThe Latest on the New SEIS Rules
The highly anticipated amendments to the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) officially came into effect on the 6th of April. However, the legislative journey of the Finance Bill No. 2 2022-23, which encompasses these new rules, is still underway within Parliament. This naturally raises a few pressing questions: Can startups already begin fundraising under the new SEIS rules? Are the new rules a certainty? And, when will they be enacted upon by HMRC?
Read MoreHow to cope with anxiety as a startup founder
Leading a startup is an exhilarating journey, a thrilling ride that holds the promise of success, growth, and innovation. However, it can also be a pressure cooker, with high stakes, longer hours, and the weight of numerous responsibilities on your shoulders. As we delve into Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, with a focus on anxiety, it's critical to address the unique mental health challenges faced by founders of early-stage companies.
Read MoreWhy you need a co-founder and why it matters
The problem with moving fast and breaking things is that the debris piles up and you inevitably begin to tread on the shards of broken glass. Unfortunately, certain shards are harder to remove than others…
Read MoreHow to Find Good Startups at an Early Stage
When it comes to investing, the goal is to identify high-potential startups early on and invest before they take off. However, with so many investment opportunities available, it can be difficult to know which ones have the potential to succeed. In this article, we will take a look at some key factors to consider when evaluating startup investment opportunities as well as what the process typically looks like.
Read MoreThe high valuation trap
Valuing a startup has never been easy. Despite many methods that have been developed and tested, it is still a matter of balance between supply and demand, risk and return, and often, pure guess.
Read MoreSEIS and EIS Funds – how do they work?
Raising capital is perhaps one of the toughest challenges that entrepreneurs have to face while developing their startups. Although there are many different ways to finance a startup, some types of funding – such as bank loans and credit cards – are often difficult to access for emerging businesses due to the extraordinary risk early ventures entail. Thus, young companies are usually relying on angel investors to provide that essential initial capital.
Read MorePitch decks: Everything you need to know
Ultimately, like most things in life, less is more. The perfect pitch deck should be anywhere between 5-10 slides and, critically, not cluttered. It is important to remember that a pitch deck should only include high-level information and, if pitched live, should not last any longer than 15 minutes. We humans have short attention spans, and investors can always ask additional questions if they require more information. Too much information included in each slide will only serve to distract those that are reading it. Further, if you are using it to present in front of a room full of investors, too much writing on each individual slide will ensure that they are concentrating on the included information and not on what you are saying – which is far more important.
Read MoreWelcome to SEIS 2.0
Listen in because here’s the big secret about SEIS: You won’t find a more generous and efficient programme anywhere.
Read MoreHow to secure investment in a month
Fundraising. “A necessary evil.” “The worst part of the job.” “An exercise in surviving rejections.”
Read More
How can I minimise my tax burden?
At SFC Capital, we understand the importance of maximising returns while minimising tax burdens for our investors. SEIS, EIS, and VCT are all government-backed schemes that provide tax incentives for individuals who invest in early-stage companies.
Read MoreBecoming an Angel
Please note: Capital at risk. For professional investors only. Investment in early-stage companies involves risks such as illiquidity, lack of dividends, loss of investment and dilution. Investment in SEIS/EIS funds and startup companies are higher risk and should be considered as part of a diversified portfolio. The availability of tax relief depends on individual circumstances and may change in the future.
Read MoreSFC's 2022: The Year in Review
2022 being our 10th anniversary year, we had to mark it with a bang and despite the tough economic environment, we made it a record-breaking year for SFC Capital!
Read MoreSFC Capital leads round into green tech Harvst
Cardigan-based green tech company Harvst has successfully closed a funding round with SFC Capital as lead investor. They aim to use the funds to expand their team, commercial partnerships and product range.
Read MoreAutumn Statement: Increased SEIS limits confirmed
There was a lot of anticipation in the SEIS and EIS industry ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement last week. Whilst it was obviously a very difficult Autumn Statement in many ways, we were pleased that the more detailed documentation, published by the Treasury, confirmed the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) extensions would go ahead as planned in April 2023.
Read MoreGrandNanny raises £400k in pre-seed round
- Founded by Adele Aitchison in 2020, GrandNanny is the first tech-enabled childcare service to focus on the talents of people over 50, bridging the gap and bringing generations closer through childcare.
- Service matches over-50s with childcare experience with parents needing part-time, reliable childcare help
- Benefits are proven to GrandNannies, parents and kids alike
- The new round of funding will help GrandNanny expand its presence across the UK, focusing specifically on Brighton for the immediate future.
GrandNanny, a new intergenerational childcare service supporting mature job seekers into work and providing vital childcare for working parents, announced today that the company closed its pre-seed round at £400,000.
Read MoreSmart Kiwi closes £250k pre-seed round led by SFC
Smart Kiwi, the data intelligence platform for shared mobility companies, has raised £250k in a pre-seed round led by SFC Capital, the UK’s most active seed-stage investor. Additional investors include Silicon Valley-headquartered Plug and Play and Startup Wise Guys. Smart Kiwi will use the funding to grow the team and further develop their technology.
Read MoreWhy the beauty sector is always a good idea for investment
It’s not a secret that markets are currently going through an economic downturn that is likely to last several years, making raising funds harder than in the last decade. Over the last few months, down rounds have become the new norm for big companies like Klarna and Stripe that had previously raised large amounts. However, there is one sector that appears to be immune to economic cycles and market changes, making it perfect for investment: the beauty industry.
Read MoreWhat you need to know about the new SEIS rules
Although it didn't make the headlines following the Chancellor’s mini-budget on Friday, many of you will have noticed the announcement of a major boost to the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).
We were delighted with this announcement as we have been lobbying for two years for improvements to SEIS, and even launched a petition this year which received more than 400 signatures from entrepreneurs and investors.
Our CEO Stephen Page commented on these positive changes in Sifted, This Is Money, and UKTN among other.
From April 2023, the following changes will come into force:
Building a startup as a female entrepreneur
Before becoming Prime Minister, Liz Truss launched a new “Taskforce for Women-Led High-Growth Enterprises” whilst she was Minister for Women. It is a very welcome initiative and one of many that emerged in recent years with the aim to support female entrepreneurs. We are yet to see what exactly the taskforce will do, but this gives us an occasion to contemplate what issues they should tackle to really make a difference.
Read MoreRyft secures £1.2m seed round led by SFC
Ryft, the revolutionary PSD2-compliant payments system, has raised a large seed round led by SFC Capital, the UK’s most active seed-stage investor. Additional investors include the ex-founder of Shutterstock and the founder of LoveFilm. Ryft enables automated next-day payouts for marketplace businesses and their merchants, for a single flat fee per transaction.
Read MoreVirtue closes seed round with SFC Capital
Just one year after being launched on Shopify (2021), Virtue closed a pre-seed round led by SFC Capital, and has also joined the prestigious Techstars accelerator.
Read MoreThe Beauty Accelerator™ 2022
The Red Tree, the UK’s leading international beauty brand consultancy, and SFC Capital, a leader in the UK’s early-stage investment world, are delighted to announce that The Beauty Accelerator™ is back for 2022.
Read MoreSave British Startups – Fix EIS and SEIS
Britain’s seed funding market has inched into the realm of jeopardy. There is no other way to look at it. While later-stage markets flourished in 2021, doubling the number of investment deals worth more than £1m, the seed stages continued the worrying trend of recent years by plateauing on figures over the same period.
Read MoreSFC Capital invests in Zeed
FinTech startup Zeed uses short-form videos to break down financial concepts and empower Gen Z investors across Europe
Zeed, the first-ever investment platform that uses short-form video to empower Gen Z investors in Europe, has secured £205,000 in pre-seed funding led by SFC Capital, the UK’s most active seed-stage investor. The London-based FinTech startup makes investing more accessible to Gen Z by pairing in-house finance content with trade execution. The funding will be used to continue building the Zeed product, expanding the team, and producing exclusive content.
Read MoreSFC Capital receives £5m from British Business Investments
Cheshire-based seed-stage investment firm SFC Capital has received a further £5m commitment from British Business Investments (BBI), as part of its Regional Angels programme.
Read MoreSFC Capital invests in BirdsEyeView
Insurtech startup BirdsEyeView has closed a seed funding round led by SFC Capital, with the funds matched by the European Space Agency (ESA). BirdsEyeView uses satellite data to structure insurance solutions for severe weather. The funding will be used to grow the team, further develop BirdsEyeView’s tech and match ESA funding.
Read MoreSFC Capital invests in Blue Skies Space
Blue Skies Space Ltd. Is bringing the world’s first commercial space science satellite closer to market after securing further capital investment from its shareholders.
Read MoreSFC's 2021: The Year in Review
After a record 2020, the pressure was on to keep up the pace in 2021. I am pleased to say that the team overdelivered and made 2021 our busiest year at SFC since we started almost ten years ago.
Read MoreSFC & FINTECH Circle partner to find the best fintech startups
SFC Capital and FINTECH Circle are partnering to find the next top 10-20 fintech startups or scaleups. SFC Capital has assigned £1.5m in funds which will be distributed among the selected startups. The final list of startups will be revealed by mid-April 2022.
Read MoreKANKAN wins The Beauty Accelerator™ 2021
The Red Tree and SFC Capital are delighted to announce that KANKAN, a modern personal care brand on a mission to make refill and reuse the desired lifestyle choice, is the Winner of The Beauty Accelerator™ 2021. KANKAN will receive £150,000 equity investment from SFC Capital, subject to the completion of commercial due diligence and agreement of terms, as well as strategic guidance from The Red Tree over the next 12 months.
Read MoreThe Beauty Accelerator™ 2021
SFC Capital, a leader in the UK’s early-stage investment world, and The Red Tree, the UK’s leading international beauty brand consultancy, are delighted to announce the return of The Beauty Accelerator™ for 2021. The UK’s most exciting beauty initiative offers emerging independent beauty brands the opportunity to receive £150,000 equity investment from SFC Capital plus a year-long collaborative partnership with The Red Tree to dramatically accelerate the brand’s growth and help build the brand to its next level and beyond.
Read MoreWhat to do after you've secured investment
Congratulations, you have just closed your most recent funding round and received investment into your company! All those months of hard work and being put through the rigorous process that is raising money have finally paid off. But the hard work is only just beginning. While you now have no excuses to deliver on your vision and scale your company to become the next Unicorn, you also have some more immediate responsibilities.
Read MoreEdTech is not all about the kids
Originally published on Startups Magazine in February 2021.
Read MoreThe golden rules of successful angel investors
Who are angel investors?
The profiles of angel investors are very diverse: they range from ‘exited’ entrepreneurs – successful business owners who have sold their companies – to corporate executives and high-income City professionals (investment bankers, asset managers, etc.). These are the main categories, but you will also find angels who are lawyers, consultants, marketing executives and even the odd professional gambler.
Read More2020 in Review: Sustainability Edition
The Global Carbon Project released that their researchers estimate that lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a 7% drop in global emissions, with some researchers suggesting that a drop of this level hasn’t been recorded since 1945. 2020 was a year that forced us to re-invent our day to day, for the safety and security of ourselves and those around us. Observing these shifts occur globally, one has to wonder what new habits we can carry with us beyond the pandemic to minimise our emissions on both micro and macro levels.
Read MoreSFC 2020: The Year in Review
In what has been a difficult year for everyone, at SFC Capital we feel very fortunate to be operating in a sector that has been relatively spared from the crisis.
Read MoreSFC is named Finalist in the 2020 Growth Investor Awards
In a challenging year, and with a record-breaking number of award entries, SFC has secured a spot as one of the finalists in the Best SEIS Investment Manager category of the 2020 Growth Investor Awards, hosted by Intelligent Partnership.
Read MoreMeet the winners of The Beauty Accelerator™
The Red Tree and SFC Capital are delighted to announce that Faace and Fussy are both Winners of The Beauty Accelerator™ 2020. Both brands will now go on to receive £150,000 equity investment subject to financial evaluation and commercial due diligence, plus the knowledge and expertise of The Red Tree applied over 12 months to take each brand to its next stage and beyond.
Read MoreSFC is named Most Active Seed Investor in Europe
PitchBook Data recently published its Q2 2020 Global League Tables and named SFC Capital (formerly Startup Funding Club) the Most Active Angel & Seed investor in Europe. SFC Capital is only behind SOSV and 500 Startups on the Global list of Seed investors for this period.
Read MoreIntroducing The Beauty Accelerator™
The Beauty Accelerator™ is the UK’s first beauty sector specific accelerator programme and a joint initiative between The Red Tree, the UK’s leading international beauty brand consultancy, and SFC Capital, the UK’s most active seed-stage investor. Emerging independent beauty brands based in the UK are invited to apply for the chance to receive £150,000 investment plus a year long collaborative partnership with The Red Tree to dramatically accelerate their growth and help build the brand to its next stage and beyond.
Read MoreWhy diversity matters to us
The COVID-19 crisis has been an opportunity to reflect on social issues and our role in addressing them. There is currently a healthy debate taking place on the lack of diversity in entrepreneurship and venture capital, which is undeniable, and the work that needs to be done to address gender inequality, regional imbalance and ethnic minority underrepresentation in our industry.
Read MoreA new chapter
In a sector where longevity is not the norm, it is quite incredible to think that Startup Funding Club will soon celebrate its eighth anniversary! These eight years have rushed by like an Olympic sprint at times, but this lockdown presented an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on our accomplishments and our vision for the future of the company.
Read MoreSFC startups that are beating the crisis
Although the COVID-19 crisis has hit the economy hard, startups have the potential to be real winners in this new world. The digital transformation of society is being massively accelerated and never before have such drastic changes occurred in such a short timeframe. This creates significant opportunities for small and lean startups that are able to adapt more quickly to new market conditions than larger businesses.
Read MoreStephen Page opens up about BBI's £10m commitment
As published on UK Business Angels Association on 26th May.
Read MoreBritish Business Investments commits £10m to SFC
British Business Investments Ltd, a commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, has announced a new commitment under its £100m Regional Angels Programme, committing £10m to Startup Funding Club Limited (SFC).
Read MoreSFC Alumni Highlights 2019
Over the year, we have had some exciting accomplishments in the Startup Funding Club Alumni community. From awards and product launches to closing substantial funding rounds, our Alumni are wrapping up 2019 on a high note.
Read MoreSFC 2019: The year in review
In just a few days, we will be bidding farewell to what has been a fantastic year for Startup Funding Club. With more investments closed than ever, 2019 has also brought successful exits, the announcement of SFC’s UK-China partnership, and some great industry recognition.
Read MoreSFC leads round into fintech startup Ember
Startup Funding Club has led a £250,000 seed round into fintech company Ember. The accounting software startup strives to make business simpler for contractors and SMEs by automating the entirety of the business administration and tax process.
Read MoreSFC is named Runner Up at the Growth Investor Awards
Startup Funding Club has been named Runner Up at the fifth annual Growth Investor Awards. The landmark event, which took place last week at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, celebrates the standout investment providers who help SMEs to thrive.
Read MoreSFC Keeps up the momentum
We are pleased to announce that PitchBook Data has named Startup Funding Club the fifth Most Active Angel & Seed Investor in the World in its 2Q 2019 Global League Tables.
Read MoreSFC introduces growth startups to Linrun
Last month, Startup Funding Club (SFC) hosted the first Sino-UK Project Roadshow – ”Keep up with the world!”– with its Chinese partner Linrun Intelligent Valley. The online pitch, run from SFC’s headquarters in Central London and hosted at the companies’ co-managed science park in Dongguan (China), was aimed at Chinese investors looking to aid SFC’s portfolio companies to develop their business in China.
Read MoreSFC named Best SEIS Investment Manager finalist
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has beaten off tough competition to become a finalist in the Best SEIS Investment Manager category of the fifth Growth Investor Awards.
Read MoreSFC partners with Chinese science park
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has recently signed an agreement with Chinese investment firms Linrun and Tsingbay to enhance the collaboration between the Chinese market and the UK’s early stage investment industry.
Read MoreSFC invests in AI startup Intoolab
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has recently closed a seed investment round into Artificial Intelligence startup Intoolab. The company has developed a platform where researchers, R&D employees, professors, and students work in research projects by using Tzager, one of the first artificial scientists that is trained to understand the field of Biomedicine.
Read MoreStartup growth as a female founder
Starting a company and growing it is difficult as it is, but if you happen to be a woman, it becomes even more challenging. Coinciding with the nomination of three Startup Funding Club funded companies – Big Couch, MeVitae and Tapoly – for Best High Growth Woman Founder at tonight’s UKBAA Angel Investment Awards, we wanted to take a look at what it is like to be a female-founder in this day and age when it comes to securing funding and scaling up.
Read MoreA new way of categorising businesses
The world changes all the time, and so do businesses. Some time ago, when talking about companies to fund, we would typically refer to the sector in which they operated – e.g. Retail or Property –, their business model – B2B or B2C –, or the areas where their service or product was applicable – e.g. marketing or finance. Today, it is not so easy. Companies come up with solutions that have applications across various fields and thus, they cannot be locked in within just one sector.
Read MoreSFC named finalist for the Early Stage Fund of the Year Award
We are extremely pleased to announce that Startup Funding Club has been named as a finalist for the 2019 Early Stage Fund of the Year Award by the UK Business Angels Association!
Read MoreSFC funds cyber-security startup Awen Collective
Awen Collective has secured seed investment through Startup Funding Club (SFC)’s early stage funds. The Welsh cyber-security startup, which develops digital forensics software solutions for Industrial Control Systems, Robotics and Internet-of-Things devices, helps manufacturers and critical infrastructure providers reduce the time spent before and after a cyber-attack or cyber-physical incident.
Read MoreSFC introduces growth startups at its new event
On April 15th, Startup Funding Club was thrilled to invite investors to its brand new event, ‘Pitch, Please’! This Home Grown hosted night was aimed at investors looking to support more advanced early stage businesses than those showcased on SFC’s regular pitching and networking sessions.
Read MoreSFC leads seed round into SaaS tech company Sceenic
Startup Funding Club (SFC) is delighted to have led the seed investment round into Sceenic, a B2B SaaS technology company that powers interactive co-viewing experiences for some of the world’s best media companies with its “Watch Together” software. Utilising its real-time video chat API and SDKs, Sceenic enables people who are physically apart to watch video and TV together.
Read MoreSFC holds its last event before the end of the Tax Year
Last week, Startup Funding Club (SFC) welcomed a myriad of investors to its Investor Event at Home House. Held in partnership with SFC Bennett Brooks and Withersworldwide, the event was the last before the end of the tax year and the close of the SFC Angel Fund, which will take place in just a few days.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club invests £100k in The Jackal
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has closed an investment of £100,000 into luxury lifestyle media brand The Jackal. The company, which received the capital from SFC’s early stage funds as well as SFC’s Angel Network, is currently crowdfunding on Seedrs.
Read MoreSFC ranks high in PitchBook’s 2018 Global League Table
Last month, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that PitchBook has named Startup Funding Club #5 Most Active Angel & Seed Investor in the world in its 2018 Global League Table! And it does not end here – we have also been ranked #5 most active VC organisation in Europe across all categories and #3 in the UK & Ireland just behind Enterprise Ireland and Mercia Technologies.
Read MoreSFC holds its first Investor Event of 2019
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has kicked off 2019 with a sell-out Investor Event in Mayfair. SFC’s Pitching & Networking events, which are hosted regularly at Home House as well as other London clubs, have become increasingly popular since they were first held back in 2013, and keep attracting new investors in each of its editions.
Read MoreSFC leads £800K funding round into Swytch
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has recently closed an investment into state-of-the-art eBike company Swytch Technology in an SFC-lead round of £800,000 coming from various entities as well as private investors. The funded company produces and sells eBike kits that convert existing bikes into electric power-assisted ones.
Read MoreSFC Alumni Highlights 2018
The year started with the SFC Alumni Alumni Awards, where we acknowledged the efforts in fundraising, reporting, and commercial traction of portfolio companies Tapoly, Torsion IS, and Olly’s Olives respectively. But we are not the only ones to recognise the potential of the SFC Alumni. This has been a busy awards year for our startups, with many of them receiving accolades for their hard work – from Valkyrie Industries winning the Best use of VR/AR Award at the Go:Tech Awards and Big Couch’s co-founders Irina Albita and Maria Tanjala being named Blockchain Founder of the Year at the UK Tech Founder Awards, to food and drink companies as Hunter & Gather, Superfood Bakery, and Davina Steel dominating their respective categories. Furthermore, we had the pleasure to close the year by handing out the Startup of the Year 2018 Award at the SFC Alumni Christmas Party earlier this month, which was granted to SFC-funded Cognism.
Read MoreFive startups pitch at SFC’s last investor event of 2018
Last Monday 12th November, Startup Funding Club (SFC) held the latest edition of its popular pitching and networking event – the Crocodile Lair – at private members club Home House. There, SFC’s CEO Stephen Page introduced five up-and-coming early stage companies to the audience of angel investors following a brief introduction to the sponsors of the evening – SFC Bennett Brooks and Withersworldwide.
Read MoreTranscend Packaging’s Story
There is increasing pressure from consumers and governments to reduce the quantity of single-use plastics in packaging, and many packaging providers have not been able to deliver. In 2017, the team behind Transcend Packaging embarked on an ambitious mission to provide sustainable packaging solutions to customers in the food and beverage, confectionary, and health and beauty industries began. The company has vowed to make that change through innovation and a commitment towards packaging products in an environmentally responsible manner.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club invests in Cardiff sports media business Lead Sports
Leading Sports and Media, a Cardiff based sports promotion and digital marketing company that provides commercial development for professional cycling races and teams, is very proud to announce it has secured substantial investment towards the Lead Cycle Tour (LCT) Euro Cup series of races it has planned to start in 2019.
Read MoreWhat SMEs must know about the 2018 Budget
On the afternoon of 29 October, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond announced an early Autumn Budget, exactly five months before the UK is due to leave the European Union.
Read MoreHealthy Business Habits
Having a successful business is every entrepreneur’s dream. But how do you build a successful company and – most importantly – how do you keep it that way? The answer to that question is to rely on a strong team. A good team consists of individuals from different backgrounds and cultures who share the same habits and practices. The key to success, therefore, is to make yourself and your team familiar with these healthy business habits:
Read MoreSFC kicks off the season with a stellar line-up
Last Monday 17th September, Startup Funding Club (SFC) inaugurated the new season of Pitching & Networking events with outstanding success. The occasion, known as the Crocodile Lair, was held at private members club Home House and gathered over eighty investors eager to meet the latest investment opportunities sourced by SFC.
Read MoreTop 10 reasons why startups fail
Starting a new company, as thrilling as it may seem, is not an easy task. Very often, entrepreneurs make some mistake that eventually leads to the downfall of their company. We spoke with the SFC Capital team to find the most common reasons why startup businesses get in trouble and eventually fail.
Read MoreSFC closes its 100th fund investment!
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has invested in Blue Skies Space Ltd, a pioneering UK company providing access to space science data from low-cost space missions. Blue Skies Space is taking a private-sector approach to a traditionally government-driven area and will provide a commercial service worldwide. The deal marks the 100th investment made by a fund operated by SFC since the launch of the organisation’s first Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme Fund in 2014.
Read MoreSFC shortlisted for Lead Syndicate of the Year
The team at Startup Funding Club (SFC) is proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for the prestigious UKBAA Angel Investment Awards in the Lead Syndicate of the Year category. This is the third year in a row that we have been nominated for this accolade, which we took home in the 2016 edition of the Awards.
Read MoreInvestors Meet Promising Startups at SFC’s May Pitching & Networking Event
Startup Funding Club (SFC), the award-winning network of Business Angels and Seed Investment Fund, held last week its May Pitching & Networking evening. The event, which gathered dozens of investors, was held at SFC’s most esteemed location – Home House, Mayfair’s best members club.
Read MoreMaking a Business a success
The journey from business concept to successful exit is long and full of obstacles. Even the best entrepreneurs cannot be ready for everything – there is no way of knowing what new challenges will come!
Read MoreSFC invests in VR startup Reality Zero One
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has raised £285K seed funding for Virtual Reality company Reality Zero One (R01) alongside major British investment funds. The company is building a platform that makes it easy, affordable and fast to convert real-world objects into virtual world digital assets and experiences. This takes the form of studio quality reality capture hardware combined with a unique software platform to streamline and automate the process of building the digital experience and publishing to the emerging 3D/VR/AR/MR ecosystem, without requiring development skills.
Read MoreThe SFC Funds invest in 36 UK startups
London, UK, April 2018 – Startup Funding Club (SFC) has successfully closed the first tranche of its SEIS/EIS funds for investments made in the 2017/2018 tax year. SFC has invested over £2M under the (Seed) Enterprise Investment Schemes across four funds in 36 UK-based startups, 28 of which are part of the organisation’s flagship fund, the SFC Angel Fund.
Read MoreThe Past & The Future of New Businesses.
Over the past 20 years we have seen a boom in startups following the same trends and in similar industries. This was a result of opportunities arising from the changes in society, new discoveries and the adoption of new technologies that became available to a wider public.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club introduces five up-and-coming companies at Home House
Startup Funding Club (SFC), showcased last week an outstanding line-up of startups at its March Pitching & Networking event at Home House. The private club opened its doors once more to SFC’s popular investor event, where many gathered to meet some of the best businesses the organisation has seen in the last few weeks.
Read MoreAll you need to know about SEIS and EIS
Every startup and growing business needs capital to develop. Over the past two decades, the UK has developed a unique ecosystem to make it easier for emerging businesses to access that essential “seed” capital. An important part of that action has been the implementation of generous tax incentive schemes to encourage individuals to invest in early-stage British companies.
Read MoreSFC's Investor Event at The Club at The Ivy
Startup Funding Club (SFC) celebrated last week its February Pitching & Networking event at The Club at The Ivy. The event, which was sold out, showcased a stellar lineup of startups:
Read MoreBritish, digital and on the fast track
Over the last decades, digital products and services have become increasingly popular prompting an almost uncontrollable boom of the economy. Of all Western European countries, the UK has experienced the biggest impact on its GDP since the rise of the Internet and digital products and services. A comparison of the value of the digital economy now, and five years ago proves that the economy has increased almost 20%, with a valuation of a staggering amount of £170 billion in 2016.
Read MoreEverything you need to know to raise funding
After the success of their online masterclasses, Focused for Business are offering entrepreneurs worldwide the opportunity to participate in a live and interactive webinar designed to give an answer to “What’s the best way to fund my business?” for free.
Read MoreSFC is named Rising Star at the EISA Awards
We are very pleased to announce that Startup Funding Club received the "Best Innovation & Rising Star in EIS/SEIS" award at this year's EIS Association Awards held on Tuesday evening at the House of Lords.
Read MoreSFC celebrates the 2nd SFC Alumni Awards
Startup Funding Club (SFC) has begun the year by rewarding some of its brightest alumni at the SFC Alumni Winter Party & Awards. The event, held at the London offices of SFC’s legal partner Withersworldwide, was attended by startups that had previously received investment from SFC – including some of the organisation’s most recent investments – and some members of the award-winning SFC Angel Network.
Read MoreSFC holds its first Investor Event of 2018
Last Monday, Startup Funding Club (SFC) held its first SFC Pitching & Networking event of 2018 at Home House, Mayfair. The evening brought together a large crowd of investors eager to learn more about some of the latest investment opportunities sourced by SFC. Five companies eligible for the UK Government’s Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS and EIS) pitched to the audience:
Read MoreSFC raises £250K for Tapoly
Startup Funding Club (SFC) and the London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF) have invested £250K into Tapoly, a comprehensive on-demand insurance solution supporting the growth of the sharing economy. The company was first introduced to the SFC Angel Network in October, when its founder Janthana Kaenprakhamroy presented it at SFC’s monthly pitching and networking event. Tapoly was well received by the audience, which has ultimately led to SFC Angels backing it.
Read MoreSFC celebrates its last Investor Event of 2017
London, December 2017 – Last Monday, Startup Funding Club celebrated its last SFC Pitching & Networking event of 2017 at King’s College. The evening, organised in partnership with KCL’s Entrepreneurship Institute, showcased two startups incubated at the university’s King’s20 Accelerator and three SFC Alumni.
Read MoreSFC Alumni Oteas raises £1.4m from investors
Startup Funding Club (SFC) is pleased to announce that its portfolio company Oteas Limited has received funding from overseas investors. The company, which became part of the SFC portfolio in 2015 when it received investment from SFC’s award-winning network of investors and the SFC Funds, has now raised £1.4 million from business angels.
Read MoreSFC raises £300K for Shoppar
London, November 2017 – Startup Funding Club (SFC) and the London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF) have invested £300K into Shoppar, an Android-based software company that uses computer vision to capture customer engagement in-store to empower marketing campaigns with its data. The behavioural analytics startup was first introduced to the SFC Angel Network in September, when its founder Peter Ward presented Shoppar alongside the company’s CTO and CAO at the SFC Pitching & Networking event. The company sparked the interest of many attendees, which ultimately resulted in SFC Angels supporting it.
Read MoreSkyscanner acquires SFC Alumni Twizoo
We are delighted to announce the exit from SFC Alumni company Twizoo.
Read MoreSFC celebrates its November Pitching & Networking event
Earlier this week, Startup Funding Club celebrated its November Pitching & Networking event at Home House, London. The organisation introduced five tech-related startups that included two SFC Alumni in its Home House audience. Amongst the crowd were several members of the SFC Angel Network, which was named Best Angel Syndicate at last week’s Growth Investor Awards.
Read MoreSFC is crowned Best Angel Syndicate at GIAwards
Last Wednesday, at the Royal Lancaster in London, 450 leading decision makers from the UK’s vibrant SME investment ecosystem celebrated their stellar successes at the third annual Growth Investor Awards, organised by Intelligent Partnership.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club invests over £300K in British startups
Startup Funding Club invests over £300K in British startups Curamicus, Designed in Colour, icarusparts.com and Torsion Information Security
Read MoreReinventing Early-Stage Investment
Since its launch in 2012, the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and its older brother EIS have encouraged many investors to finance early-stage companies attracted by the schemes’ generous tax breaks. While investment firms typically rely on managing one single type of investment – angel, fund, or crowdfunding –, the London-based Startup Funding Club has reinvented early-stage investment by developing a unique co-investment model. The new strategy established by the firm allows High Net Worths to choose between investing in startups via its Angel Network or its funds, or by combining both modalities. With this approach, SFC maximises the investor’s potential returns while also helping startups maximise the potential of their funding rounds.
Read MoreSFC holds its Investor Event at NEX Exchange
Last Monday 16th, Startup Funding Clubheld its October SFC Pitching & Networking. Withers Worldwide and SFC Bennett Brooks backed the event, which took place at NEX Exchange.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club named Best Angel Syndicate finalist at 2017 Growth Investor Awards
Startup Funding Club nominated for the inaugural Best Angel Syndicate award.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club and Enterprise Investment Partners hold event about investing in the food and drink industry
Startup Funding Club and Enterprise Investment Partners hold educational event focused on investing in the food and drink industry at Home House
Read MoreHappy birthday to us!
What do the first five years of Startup Funding Club look like?
Read MoreStartup Funding Club launches the SFC Angel Fund at its first Investor Event of the season
Startup Funding Club has launched the SFC Angel Fund at its first Pitching & Networking event of the season at Runway East Moorgate
Read MoreWho won the first SFC Alumni Digital Marketing Awards?
Startup Funding Club has celebrated its 5th anniversary with its portfolio companies by holding the first SFC Alumni Digital Marketing Awards.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club invests in Northern Irish startup Intupod
Startup Funding Club’s network of business angels invests in Northern Irish startup Intupod
Read MoreStartup Funding Club celebrates its last Investor Event before the summer break
Startup Funding Club held on Monday its last Pitching and Networking Event before the summer break at NEX Exchange
Read MoreStartup Funding Club named as a finalist at 2017 Growth Investor Awards
Startup Funding Club will be competing against other finalists including Daedalus Partners and Symvan Capital in the Best SEIS Investment Manager category.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club invests over £300K in British startups
Startup Funding Club has invested over £300k in British startups alongside its network of business angels
Read MoreSFC invites special guest Paddy Ashdown to its pitching event
London, UK, June 2017 – Startup Funding Club (SFC), named Lead Angel Syndicate of the Year at UKBAA’s latest Angel Investment Awards, celebrated its latest Pitching and Networking event last Monday 19th June. The occasion, held at Mayfair’s Home House and sponsored by Withers Worldwide and SFC Bennett Brooks, showcased some of the latest early-stage companies SFC has worked with.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club announces the launch of its new Investor Platform at its latest event
Startup Funding Club announced the launch of its new Investor Platform at its latest Pitching & Networking event at citizen Tower of London
Read MoreStartup Funding Club takes part in the Asian Productivity Organisation’s Study Mission
Startup Funding Club was invited to present its company and four of its funded Internet-of-Things startups to delegates from the Asian Productivity Organisation
Read MoreStartup Funding Club holds its first Investor Event after the first close of the 2017 SFC Funds at The Ivy
Startup Funding Club announces the close of the first tranche of the 2017 SFC SEIS/EIS Funds at its last Investor Event at The Club at The Ivy.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club invests in 25 companies on its first close of the 2017 SFC SEIS/EIS Funds
Startup Funding Club invests in 25 companies across various sectors through its 2017 SEIS/EIS Funds
Read MoreStartup Funding Club raises funds for fintech startup Future Mobile Money
London, UK – 3rd April 2017 – Startup Funding Club has invested £200K into Future Mobile Money. The fintech startup has developed a virtual payment solution that enables customers to make payments from their phones without needing a bank account. The funds raised come from both the Startup Funding Club Fund and Startup Funding Club’s network of business angels, named the leading angel syndicate in the UK at the last Angel Investment Awards Gala by UK Business Angels Association. “We are very excited about the investment into Future Mobile Money.” declared Joseph Zipfel, Investment Manager at Startup Funding Club. “The funds will help the team further develop their ambitious project.”
Read MoreStartup Funding Club holds its last Investor Event before closing this year’s SEIS/EIS Fund
Startup Funding Club showcased five promising startups in its last Investor Event before closing this year’s SEIS/EIS Fund
Read MoreStartup Funding Club and Spark10 join forces to raise awareness about early-stage investments in UK and India
Startup Funding Club and Spark10 celebrate an educational event about early-stage investment in the UK and India.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club raises funds for food & drink startups Nom Noms and Arctic Power Berries
Startup Funding Club supports the food & drink industry by syndicating £220K into early-stage companies Nom Noms and Arctic Power Berries.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club’s latest Investor Event in Mayfair was yet another success!
Five high-potential startups pitched their businesses at our latest Investor Event in Mayfair earlier this week – and they did great!
Read MoreCognism receives investment from Startup Funding Club and other international investors
Cognism, a UK-based startup with an international team, has closed its seed investment round of $500,000 with the help of several institutional and angel investors.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club raises funding for British fashion brand Banvard & James
British fashion company Banvard & James raises £200K from Startup Funding Club’s network of international investors.
Read MoreStartup Funding Club Leads SEIS funding round into Petalite and Kashing! alongside Angel Investors
The developers of a superfast battery charging technology and a payment technology solution that simplifies life for micro-merchants are two of the latest UK-based startups that have recently closed SEIS investment rounds led by Startup Funding Club.
Read MoreNew Year, New SFC Investor Events at The Club at The Ivy!
To begin the 2017 Investor Events, we have gone back to one of our favourite venues: The Club at The Ivy! During this occasion, investors had the chance to meet six of the most promising British startups!
Read MoreLead Syndicate of The Year 2016 Award by UKBAA
Startup Funding Club awarded Lead Syndicate of the Year at 2016 Angel Investment Awards by UKBAA!
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Unforgettable evening at Home House! The first Investor Event after Summer break exceeds our expectations!
On the 19th of September, Startup Funding Club had an exciting opening of the “season” with an outstanding pitching & networking event at Home House that welcomed over 100 guests who crowded the venue long before the initial set time for our presenters who were eager to share their work with us.
Read MoreSFC’s Latest Investor Event at 12 Hay Hill Was Not Like Any Other!
Another successful evening bringing together start-ups and investors took place last Monday. For this month’s pitching & networking event, we brought our guests to 12 Hay Hill, an elegant venue in the heart of London’s Mayfair.
Read MoreSFC’s Newest Investor Event at Home House Came with Two Invitations!
On Monday the 7th we had the pleasure of joining forces with Home House to hold a new edition of the Crocodile Lair, the name with which SFC’s investor event are known in the prestigious club. When you join the winners of UKBAA’s Angel Syndicate of the Year Award and London Lifestyle Awards’ Members Club of the Year, there is only one possible outcome: success!
Read MoreStartup Funding Club leads SEIS round into CustomSell alongside angel investors!
We are happy to announce that Startup Funding Club has led an SEIS round into CustomSell Ltd!
Read MoreDecember Investor Event; Ending the Year with Something Special
The evening of Tuesday 6th of December marked the end of the 2016 season of Startup Funding Club’s investor events. For the occasion, the SFC team went back to Home House, London’s best Members Club of the year. Nonetheless, we did not take our guests to our usual spot in 20 Portman Square, but to number 21!
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