Angel investor x Entrepreneur match makers
Country wide
EISA Ready, Steady, Grow!
Through their ‘Ready, Steady, Grow!’ events which take place annually throughout the UK and Northern Ireland, EISA bring their members – predominantly fund managers, lawyers, accountants and IFAs – to events where entrepreneurs can hear from founders who have successfully used EIS, and mingle with those who are looking to invest. Well worth signing up to this if you are an entrepreneur because attendance is free, and you can go to as many as you want!
Female-founded tech-focused businesses
Angel Academe
Specifically investing in female-founded tech opportunities, I have happily invested through them as they bring great innovation to investors.
Early stage, high growth, country wide
Adjuvo
Set up by former bankers Mark Foster-Brown and Louis Lundy, this team robustly review about 600 investment decks a year before introducing maybe 10 to their investors, who bring in particular retail experience to these founders. Great partners for founders, I’ve happily invested through them.
Angel Investment Network
Across multiple industries, they have been working for over 15 years raising funding for businesses mainly from a science background.
www.angelinvestmentnetwork.co.uk
Oxford Innovation Finance (OION)
OION is one of the oldest – and largest – investment networks in the UK. In 2023, Beauhurst Research recognized them as the most active angel network in the UK, and they are looking for businesses with high growth potential and a scalable business model. Submit your company details to win a place pitching your business at one of their showcase events which take place throughout the year.
www.oxfordinnovationfinance.co.uk
South of England
Dorset Business Angels Network
Members of the UKBAA (UK Business Angels Association), DBAN help early-stage businesses find equity capital mainly in the South of England which is their home turf.
www.dorsetbusinessangels.co.uk
Science and engineering
Cambridge Angels
Cambridge-based group, actively mentoring and investing in inno- vative teams and their ideas. With a small membership of just 60, 75 per cent of these are exited entrepreneurs looking to invest in other entrepreneurs. Focus is largely on science and engineering.
Bristol-based very early-stage businesses
Bristol Private Equity Club
Bristol-based, this group comprises business owners looking to give back through investment in businesses in the local area. Investing around £1 million per annum, this is great for early- stage investments.
www.bristolprivateequityclub.com
North of England
NorthInvest
A not-for-profit organization that helps find investment for tech and digital start-ups across the North of England. They also hold get-togethers throughout the year to see what they are about, and make introductions between investors and angels.
Scotland and beyond, early stage
Equity Gap
Equity Gap is an Edinburgh-based angel investment syndicate, established to help match investors with entrepreneurs looking for early-stage business funding. For Scottish businesses, they work with the Scottish Co-Investment Fund. They are an approved investor partner of Innovate UK (see below).