
Don't invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Estimated reading time: 2 min
Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.
What are the key risks?
- You could lose all the money you invest
- If the business you invest in fails, you are likely to lose 100% of the money you invested. Most start-up businesses fail.
- You are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong
- Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance. Try the FSCS investment protection checker here.
- Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated firm, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.
- You won’t get your money back quickly
- Even if the business you invest in is successful, it may take several years to get your money back. You are unlikely to be able to sell your investment early.
- The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is bought by another business or lists its shares on an exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. These events are not common.
- If you are investing in a start-up business, you should not expect to get your money back through dividends. Start-up businesses rarely pay these.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
- Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.
- A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments.
- The value of your investment can be reduced
- The percentage of the business that you own will decrease if the business issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Most start-up businesses issue multiple rounds of shares.
- These new shares could have additional rights that your shares don’t have, such as the right to receive a fixed dividend, which could further reduce your chances of getting a return on your investment.
If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA’s website here.
EIS Investments
Help small companies grow and save income tax
When you invest in young, small companies that qualify for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) you could generate significant returns if the company prospers.
But that’s far from certain. Investing in this kind of business is risky and many will fail. Therefore, to encourage investment and to temper some of the risk, the government offers generous EIS tax reliefs:
- Up to 30% income tax relief – up to £3,000 saving on a £10,000 investment this or previous tax year
- Very generous allowance – up to £1 million per tax year (or £2 million if at least £1 million is in knowledge-intensive companies)
- Tax-free growth
- Capital gains deferral – defer capital gains from other investments, potentially indefinitely
- Loss relief – offset any EIS investment loss against your income tax or CGT bill
- Inheritance tax relief – potentially pass on your investment free of IHT
See all our current EIS fund offers below. If you're interested in an offer you cannot see here, please get in touch. In addition, many Single Company Investments qualify for EIS.
Important: The information on this website is for experienced investors. It is not a personal recommendation to invest. If you’re unsure, please seek advice. Investments are for the long term. They are high risk and illiquid and can fall as well as rise in value: you could lose all the money you invest. Tax rules can change and benefits depend on circumstances.
= Featured Offer
Fund name | Sector | Target return | Minimum investment | Targeted allotment | Next deadline | Invest now |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fuel Ventures Follow-on EIS FundMaking follow-on investments in companies Fuel previously backed and considers promising Find out more |
Technology
|
5x
|
£20,000
|
2025/26
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Fuel Ventures Scale-up EIS FundManaged by entrepreneur-turned-investor Mark Pearson, the fund targets early-stage digital businesses Find out more |
Technology
|
10x
|
£20,000
|
12 to 15 months
|
3 Oct 2025
|
|
Guinness EISTargets scale-up businesses already generating revenue, preferably £1 million or above Find out more |
Various
|
2x
|
£20,000
|
2025/26
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Haatch EIS FundEntrepreneur-led team targeting primarily software-as-a-service businesses Find out more |
Technology
|
3x
|
£20,000
|
2025/26
|
19 Sep 2025
|
|
MMC Ventures EIS FundFocuses on businesses improving existing technology, rebuilding tech infrastructure, or using data in innovative ways Find out more |
Technology
|
2-3x
|
£25,000
|
24 months
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Molten Ventures EIS FundFund targeting early-stage technology companies, managed by the same team as Molten Ventures VCT Find out more |
Technology
|
Unspecified
|
£25,000
|
12 to 18 months
|
3 Oct 2025
|
|
Parkwalk Opportunities EIS FundFund focused on UK university spinouts, managed by one of the UK’s most active spinout investors Find out more |
University spinouts
|
Unspecified
|
£25,000
|
12 to 18 months
|
Discretionary
|
|
Foresight Technology EISTargets early-stage, IP-rich Deep Tech companies Find out more |
Technology
|
Not specified
|
£10,000
|
18 to 24 months
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Mercia EISSeeks early-stage regional businesses with disruptive technologies in sectors including healthcare, software, and deep tech Find out more |
Technology & life sciences
|
2.5x
|
£25,000
|
12 months
|
19 Sep 2025
|
|
Northern Universities Venture FundFund from experienced manager targeting university spinouts from Northern England Find out more |
University spinouts
|
Unspecified
|
£25,000
|
12 to 24 months
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Par EIS FundSeeks revenue-generating technology companies usually in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North Find out more |
Technology
|
15% IRR
|
£25,000
|
2025/26
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Praetura EIS Growth FundEIS fund targeting regional businesses in the North, focusing on technology and healthcare Find out more |
Technology
|
2x
|
£25,000
|
6 months
|
31 Oct 2025
|
|
Startup Funding Club All-Star Follow-on Fund EISSeeking to make follow-on investments in the most promising seed companies previously backed by SFC Find out more |
Technology
|
3x
|
£10,000
|
2025/26
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Amadeus Early Stage EIS Fund |
Closed | VIEW PREVIOUS OFFER | ||||
Guinness AIM EIS |
Closed | VIEW PREVIOUS OFFER | ||||
Imperial College Enterprise Fund III |
Closed | VIEW PREVIOUS OFFER | ||||
University of Cambridge Enterprise Fund X |
Closed | VIEW PREVIOUS OFFER |
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