SFC Capital

As we close the chapter on 2024, CIO Joseph Zipfel reflects on another milestone year for SFC Capital: Here are some of the highlights: ⚡️ Invested nearly £20M in 110 startups and scale-ups. ⚡️ Closed 4 secondary deals with 10x, 6x, 4x, and 2.5x returns. ⚡️ Recognised as the UK's most active Deep Tech investor (Beauhurst). Excited for what 2025 holds! 🚀 Check out Joseph’s article for a deeper dive into our year: https://lnkd.in/dceFmbmh Capital at risk. For professional investors only.  Past performance is not indicative of future performance. 

🚀 Join SFC as a Venture Scout 🚀 Are you passionate about startups and early-stage investing? Do you have an eye for spotting the next big thing? SFC Capital is looking for 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 to help us uncover the UK’s most promising ventures. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀? 🌟 Expand your network in the UK’s startup ecosystem & connect with inspiring founders 🌟 Gain exposure to one of the UK’s most active early-stage VC firms with 450+ investments, including Cognism, Onfido and Transcend Packaging 🌟 Deepen your skills in deal sourcing, market analysis, and due diligence 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 Apply here via the LinkedIn job posting, or email us directly at champion@sfccapital.com with your CV and a brief explanation of why you’re a great fit. Join us in shaping the future of innovation! 🚀

Onfido's funding journey began with a pitch at our Crocodile Lair back in 2013. Watch Stephen Page share the story of their early days and the investor who slipped through their fingers! 🐊💰    This is a sneak peek from our fireside chat with Onfido co-founder Husayn Kassai and James Hurley. Don't miss the full conversation, coming up next Monday!    Capital at risk. For professional investors only.  Past performance is not indicative of future performance. 

Why Invest In SEIS? Our Head of Investor Services, Ed Prior, recently joined a Wealth Club panel to discuss this very question. He is joined by our portfolio founder, Elliott Herrod-Taylor of Bunch, as well as Fred Soneya of Haatch, as they discuss the benefits of #SEIS, which sectors are hot right now, and how SEIS helps founders to grow and thrive. Watch the video here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eeWzGWaX Capital at risk. For professional investors only. Tax benefits are subject to individual circumstances. Subject to changes.

🫱🏾🫲🏽 Advanced Subscription Agreement: A Quick Guide Our legal partners at Simons Muirhead Burton LLP have shared valuable insights into Advanced Subscription Agreements (ASAs). ASAs offer a streamlined approach to early-stage funding, providing a quick and efficient way for startups to secure capital – and for investors to invest. 📖 Delve into the key benefits, potential risks, and considerations for both startups and investors in this insightful blog post. 👇🏾

📢 Funding news vol. II 📢 As promised, here’s part two of our fundraising news recap, with six more announcements from the SFC portfolio: 🪸 Deep Blue BioTech raises $800k pre-seed round led by Sustainable Ventures, with participation from One Planet Capital, PCS International Limited, and SFC Capital, and including two Innovate UK grants. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/gBVnREea 🐈⬛ AI KAT, a pioneering brand-building company using AI technology to revolutionise brand creation and management, secures £290k in funding in a round led by SFC Capital. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/egAZ3THj 🌍 Climate insurtech startup Artio announces £550k raise from Lifetime Ventures and SFC to pioneer insurance solutions for early-stage carbon removal projects through its proprietary risk modelling platform. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/d2QAcHki 🩺 Cardiff-based Laennec AI Limited AI secures pre-seed investment from SFC Capital and OVC Ventures, along with grant funding from the Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government, Innovate UK, and the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research). 🔹 https://lnkd.in/dPWBVrSK  🧪 Chiron Health AI secures pre-seed Investment led by SFC to facilitate self-care interventions. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/eyQrTgjc 🚲 Kale AI raises its first institutional funding, supported by SFC Capital and Innovate UK Bridge AI, to drive the sustainable transition in urban logistics. 🔹https://lnkd.in/dCDN9jcF 👀 As always, keep an eye on this space for further news from the #SFCPortfolio! #fundingnews #seedfunding #vcfunding #investmentportfolio #grantfunding Capital at risk. For professional investors only.

📢 Funding news vol. I 📢 It's been an exciting few weeks for our investees – many SFC portfolio companies have announced their funding rounds and we're thrilled to share their news with you in this two-part special feature: 🧃🧋 Gillian Anderson’s G Spot has attracted The HEINEKEN Company’s attention and secured strategic investment to take the functional drinks startup into mainstream retail. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/eadX8Zkb 🧘🏾♀️ Liverpool-based workplace wellbeing platform MindClass raises £175k from SFC Capital. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/e56wffQJ 🤸🏾♀️ MAGIC AI raises £4m in a round led by led by IW Capital and its AI-powered fitness mirror makes Time Magazine's annual list of the 200 Best Inventions in the World. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/eTDKzkRn 🔬 The Development Bank of Wales takes an equity stake in Cardiff-based Llusern Scientific as part of a substantial six-figure funding round that is helping the University of South Wales spinout to commercialise its testing for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). 🔹 https://lnkd.in/dY4My3Nw 🧠 Reneural raises £200K in pre-seed funding round led by SFC Capital, with an additional £275K in support from Innovate UK. 🔹 https://lnkd.in/gxuutPjQ 👀 Stay tuned for part two tomorrow! #fundingnews #seedfunding #vcfunding #investmentportfolio #grantfunding Capital at risk. For professional investors only.

🚀 Startup Spotlight: Meet Cutbox In this week’s #StartupSpotlight, we’re showcasing the world’s first tech-led barber chain Cutbox. They focus on providing affordable haircuts with a consistent customer experience through standardised systems and processes. Read about Cutbox’s journey so far, its founder Osajie Oboh and what other high-performance activities he does in his free time. Find out more about Cutbox on their website 👉 https://cutbox.co.uk/ #investmentportfolio #SEIS #startups Capital at risk. For professional investors only.

🚀 Exciting news from our portfolio! MAGIC AI has raised a $𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, with follow-on support from SFC Capital. The MAGIC AI Fitness Mirror is levelling up home fitness with AI-driven exercise tracking and a range of training solutions. Highlights of their journey: 📈  Fastest-growing AI health tech in Europe. 🌍  5,000+ customers in 38 countries within a year. ⭐  Over 46,000 training hours logged and counting! This is a great milestone and shows the team’s vision and resilience. Congratulations to Varun Bhanot and the entire team! We’re excited to see what’s next for Magic AI. Read more on Sky News here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eB4VWtPu Capital at risk. For professional investors only. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

We are delighted to announce that Jason Druker, MBA has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer at SFC Capital. Since joining us two years ago as Portfolio Manager, Jason has been instrumental in supporting our portfolio companies, guiding them through fundraising, secondary sales, and full exits. In his expanded role as CCO, Jason will lead SFC's sales strategy, marketing, and investor relations, ensuring continued success for our investors and investees. His efforts will also focus on strengthening our relationships with investors and driving corporate finance initiatives. As SFC continues to grow, Jason will be pivotal in enhancing our impact within the early-stage investment landscape, alongside our established C-suite team of Stephen Page (CEO and Founder), Joseph Zipfel (CIO) and Angelika Burawska (COO). Please join us in congratulating Jason on this well-deserved promotion! 👏