Here's a table that summarizes the overall VC data for a quick overview:
| VC Firm | Ticket Size | Stages | Founding Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercia Asset Management | £100K - £10M | Seed to growth-stage | 2014 |
| Business Growth Fund (BGF) | £1 million to £15 million | Growth Stage | 2011 |
| REL Capital Partners | Not publicly disclosed | Turnaround, Growth | Not Disclosed |
| Impax Asset Management | Not publicly disclosed | Growth Stage | 1998 |
| Solent Growth Fund | Varies per project | Various Stages | Not Disclosed |
| Portsmouth Creates | £30,000 | Seed, Early Stage | Not Disclosed |
| Blake Morgan | Not applicable (Legal Advisory Services) | Various Stages | Not Disclosed |
| South East Angels | £50,000 to £500,000 | Seed, Early Stage | 2020 |
| Crowdcube | Varies depending on the campaign | Seed, Early Stage, Growth Stage | 2011 |
| Foresight Group | £1 million to £5 million | Early to Growth Stage | 1984 |
1. Mercia Asset Management
Mercia fuels UK business expansion with venture capital, private equity, and debt finance of £100k to £10m. As an active asset manager, they invest in regional businesses outside the capital, providing capital and real-world expertise to help them scale. With 600+ businesses in their portfolio and a successful track record of growth investment, Mercia invests alongside founders to create long-term success from ambition.
- Website: mercia.co.uk
- Founding Year: 2014
- Investment Range: £100K - £10M
- Stage: Seed to growth-stage
- Sector: Technology, life sciences, and digital entertainment
- Geography: UK-wide
2. Business Growth Fund (BGF)
BGF is the most active investor in small and mid-sized businesses across the UK and Ireland. With £4B deployed across 600+ companies, they provide long-term, minority investment to help businesses scale without losing control. Backed by major UK banks, BGF supports founders with capital, expertise, and an extensive network to drive sustainable growth and lasting success.
- Website: bgf.co.uk
- Founding Year: 2011
- Investment Range: £1 million to £15 million
- Stage: Growth Stage
- Sector Focus: Diverse Sectors
- Geography: UK and Ireland
3. REL Capital Partners
REL Capital Partners invests in and purchases companies, specifically focusing on turnarounds, distress, and good trading businesses. They move quickly, making offers within 48 hours and finalizing purchases within 14 days. With active involvement, funding, and a team-driven model, they build businesses while holding on to current management teams. Their investments focus on long-term success, stability, and mutual growth.
- Founding Year: Not publicly disclosed
- Website: https://relcapital.co.uk/
- Investment Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Stage: Turnaround, Growth
- Sector Focus: Various Sectors
- Geography: UK-wide, including Portsmouth
4. Impax Asset Management
Impax Asset Management is a specialist investment firm focused on opportunities created by the transition to a sustainable global economy. Since 1998, they have been guiding investments in the environmental markets and delivering robust, risk-adjusted returns. Investing for the long term, they invest in companies that are creating positive change and driving research, collaboration, and sustainability.
- Founding Year: 1998
- Website: impaxam.com
- Investment Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Stage: Growth Stage
- Sector Focus: Sustainable Investments
- Geography: Global, including the UK
5. Solent Growth Fund
The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) drives economic growth by bringing together businesses, local government, and academia. Committed to a successful and sustainable future, they set regional priorities via the Solent 2050 Strategy, ensuring prosperity in the long term. Encouraging collaboration, innovation, and resilience, the Solent LEP empowers businesses, communities, and the potential of the region.
- Founding Year: Not publicly disclosed
- Website: solentlep.org.uk
- Investment Range: Varies per project
- Stage: Various Stages
- Sector Focus: Various Sectors
- Geography: Solent region, including Portsmouth
6. Portsmouth Creates
Portsmouth Create Markets honours Portsmouth's creative and cultural sectors, fostering growth, collaboration, and community engagement. Through providing means of showcasing work, developing skills, and animating spaces, they build a dynamic, inclusive city with a clear identity. By co-creation and partnership, they put Portsmouth on the map.
- Founding Year: Not publicly disclosed
- Website: portsmouthcreates.co.uk
- Investment Range: £30,000
- Stage: Seed, Early Stage
- Sector Focus: Creative Industries
- Geography: Portsmouth, UK
7. Blake Morgan
Blake Morgan is a UK-wide law practice with representation in offices across the country, providing specialist legal expertise to businesses, individuals, and the public sector. With over 90 partners and 500 staff, they combine technical expertise with business savvy to deliver the best result. Verified by government departments, leading companies, banks, and universities, Blake Morgan offers sector-focused legal advice for a broad range of sectors.
- Founding Year: Not publicly disclosed
- Website: blakemorgan.co.uk
- Investment Range: Not applicable (Legal Advisory Services)
- Stage: Various Stages
- Sector Focus: Various Sectors
- Geography: Nationwide, including Portsmouth
8. South East Angels
South East Angels is an award-winning angel syndicate investing in high-growth potential innovative businesses. The busiest angel network in the South East of England, they've invested £2.5M+ in 29 startups. With a community-led model, they focus on diversity, high-quality deal access, and investor education, allowing founders to make a difference while increasing the success of angel investing.
- Founding Year: 2020
- Website: southeastangels.co.uk
- Investment Range: Typically £50,000 to £500,000
- Stage: Seed, Early Stage
- Sector Focus: Various sectors
- Geography: South East England, including Portsmouth
9. Crowdcube
Crowdcube is Europe’s leading equity crowdfunding platform, helping investors back high-growth startups and scale-ups. Since 2011, they have raised over £1.4 billion for 1,300+ businesses, connecting founders with a community of over 1.7 million investors. With a simple, transparent process and strong regulatory backing, Crowdcube empowers individuals to invest in the next generation of billion-pound companies.
- Founding Year: 2011
- Website: crowdcube.com
- Investment Range: Varies depending on the campaign
- Stage: Seed, Early Stage, Growth Stage
- Sector Focus: Various sectors
- Geography: UK-wide, including Portsmouth
10. Foresight Group
Foresight Group invests in businesses pioneering a sustainable future. With a long history of over decades, they invest in businesses pioneering the change in energy, decarbonization, and economic growth. Their investments encourage innovation, recovery of nature, and long-term value creation, helping founders and investors to capitalize on transformative opportunities.
- Founding Year: 1984
- Website: foresightgroup.eu
- Investment Range: £1 million to £5 million
- Stage: Early to Growth Stage
- Sector Focus: Clean Energy, Infrastructure, SMEs
- Geography: UK
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Is VC high risk?
Venture capital is a type of investment that can be risky but has the potential for high returns. However, there is no guarantee of success. Investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money. Even though VC firms try to minimize risks, investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money. - What is the best country to set up a VC fund?
If you’re looking to set up a VC fund, many people think the United States has the best venture capital (VC) funds worldwide. This is because the US has a big economy, lots of money available, and many successful startups. - What cities have the most VC investments?
The top five cities for venture capital investment are San Francisco, New York City, Boston, San Jose, and Los Angeles. These cities together receive more than two-thirds (67.5%) of all venture capital investments. - What is the minimum amount for a VC fund?
Venture capital funds usually ask for a minimum investment of $250,000 to $500,000, and sometimes even more. Investing a small amount of money can still cost a lot. These funds are usually only open to wealthy people and big organizations that have a lot of money. - How do I choose a VC fund?
To choose a VC fund, check how much experience and success the venture capital firm has had before. Look at the companies they’ve invested in before to see if they match what your business does. This can help you figure out if they’re a good match for you.
Best of luck with your amazing ventures.
Please note that this list is filtered by various metrics, and all the data are collected through various third-party websites, mostly the VC website. Since data such as ticket size or industry may change, you are requested to visit the official website given in the blog for the latest and updated information.