SFC Capital is celebrating 500 portfolio companies. As part of this series, we have sat down our leadership team who, over more than 10 years, have made SFC into what it is today. Hear from Stephen Page (Founder and CEO), Joseph Zipfel (Chief Investment Officer), and Angelika Burawska (Chief Operating Officer), moderated by Ed Prior (Head of Investors Services), as they reflect on SFC's journey, lessons learned, milestones, and what the future holds.
Stephen's Journey From Entrepreneur to Investor
Stephen Page’s entrepreneurial career as a founder of multiple software startups, marked by successes and challenges, led him to create SFC Capital in 2012. “One of my failed companies made me realise what startups really needed: money, not just services,” Stephen shared. The launch of the SEIS scheme that same year created the perfect environment for his vision. SFC’s early efforts included pitching events like “Crocodile Lair,” which eventually led to investments in transformative companies like Onfido.
“We started with small gatherings at Home House,” Stephen recounted, “and now we’ve grown to manage £150 million in assets, supporting some of the UK’s most innovative startups.”
Building an Ecosystem for Innovation
Reflecting on the early days, Joseph Zipfel admitted, “We didn’t have grand plans to be a £150 million fund manager. It was about learning, adapting, and building a strong foundation for investing in pre-seed companies.” Fast forward to today, SFC Capital is synonymous with excellence in SEIS investing, enabling startups to thrive with expert guidance and funding.
Angelika elaborated on SFC’s success in sourcing startups: “We’ve built a robust network of accelerators, venture builders, and universities, which ensures we’re always at the forefront of innovation.” This approach, combined with proprietary technology, allows SFC to manage a high volume of investments with precision.
Lessons Learned
“In any business, mistakes are inevitable,” Stephen noted. “The key is to learn from them without making fatal ones.” Joseph echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of analysing red flags and improving processes. “Our model now evaluates 30 to 40 data points to identify risks, enabling us to invest more effectively.”
The Future of SEIS and EIS Investing
As the largest SEIS fund in the UK, SFC Capital’s focus remains on delivering exceptional returns for investors. Stephen highlighted the critical importance of SEIS to the UK economy: “It’s a unique scheme globally, essential for fostering innovation. Any negative changes could jeopardise the UK’s position as a leader in early-stage investing.”
Joseph sees immense potential for growth: “Despite our success, awareness of SEIS and EIS is still low. The market is underutilised, and there’s an opportunity to bring in more investors and expand the impact.”
Why SFC Stands Out
Angelika underscored the team’s role in SFC’s success: “We’ve built a team of self-starters who share our entrepreneurial spirit. They’re the driving force behind our ability to deliver both value and innovation.”
The podcast also touched on the firm’s proprietary technology, which ensures transparency and accessibility for investors. “Our platform provides real-time updates on investments, enabling investors and advisors to track performance seamlessly,” Angelika explained.
Join the Journey
With over 500 startups backed and a vision to double that in the coming years, SFC Capital is shaping the future of early-stage investing in the UK. “Ultimately, our success will be measured by the returns we deliver to investors,” Stephen concluded.
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