
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.
SEIS Investments
Invest in startups, receive up to 50% income and 50% capital gains tax relief
Like the EIS, the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) rewards investors with very significant tax savings when they invest in young and small companies that qualify for SEIS status.
The difference is SEIS-qualifying companies are even smaller and younger than EIS-qualifying companies, so even riskier. To help compensate for the additional risk, the government offers even more generous tax reliefs:
- Up to 50% income tax relief – up to £5,000 saving on a £10,000 investment this or previous tax year
- Generous allowance – £200,000 per tax year
- Tax-free growth
- Up to 50% capital gains reinvestment relief – halve the CGT due on gains from elsewhere
- Loss relief – offset any SEIS investment loss against your income tax bill
- Inheritance tax relief – potentially pass on your investment free of IHT
See all our current SEIS offers below. If you're interested in an offer you don’t see here, please get in touch.
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 SEIS FundFuel Ventures SEIS Fund aims to provide seed funding to very early-stage startups and mentor their growth Find out more |
Technology
|
5x
|
£20,000
|
2025/26
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Haatch SEIS FundEntrepreneur-led team targeting primarily software-as-a-service businesses Find out more |
Technology
|
5x
|
£10,000
|
2025/26
|
30 Sep 2025
|
|
Startup Funding Club SEIS FundFund investing in startups, managed by one of Europe’s most active seed investors Find out more |
Technology
|
3x
|
£10,000
|
2025/26
|
17 Oct 2025
|
|
British Robotics Start-Up FundSpecialist fund seeking to back startups in the robotics sector Find out more |
Technology
|
3x
|
£10,000
|
Within 12 months
|
Discretionary
|
|
OnePlanetCapital Climate Change SEIS FundTargets businesses tackling environmental problems and climate change in sectors including energy, transport, and mobility & logistics Find out more |
Sustainability Focus
|
3x
|
£10,000
|
2025/26
|
31 Oct 2025
|
|
QVentures SEIS Investment FundTargets enterprise software, marketplace and consumer technology startups addressing acute business problems Find out more |
Software
|
3-5x
|
£20,000
|
2025/26
|
10 Oct 2025
|
|
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