For Founders

Building the VC we wish we had as technical founders

At SCVC, we back Deep Tech founders with the kind of support we needed when building our own companies. As exited founders with deep technical backgrounds, we understand both the complexity of the technology and the pressure of turning it into a scalable, fundable business.

We work hands-on with you from day one — co-developing your strategy, helping you de-risk your technology, refining your value proposition, and identifying the strongest commercial path through our technology-product-fit model. We’ll make sure your cap table is future-proof, help you win grants, access the right partners, and raise the next round with investors who add more than just capital.

We know the road — and we’re here to help you go further, faster.

Submit your deck

Building something big?

We back Deep Tech ventures with the potential to define new categories and deliver outsized returns.

Our sweet spot is early-stage UK companies with strong technical foundations, defensible IP, and the ambition to build something transformative. You don’t need a fully formed commercial plan — that’s where we come in. We partner from day one to help de-risk the technology, shape the strategy, and lay the foundations for scale.

We’re company builders at heart. From first experiments to first funding rounds, we work hands-on to help you turn breakthrough ideas into scalable, fundable businesses.

If you’re aiming big, we’re ready to build with you.

Partner with us

We invest in UK Deep Tech companies developing category-defining technologies.

If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Submit your pitch deck and complete a short questionnaire to start the conversation.

Next steps

Every founder’s journey is unique, so we don’t follow a strict template, but we’ll always be open and transparent about how things are progressing.

Once you submit, you’ll receive an automated response confirming whether your application aligns with our investment thesis.

While we are highly selective at this stage, we are committed to providing every applicant with a response. If you move forward, we’ll continue discussions until we’re ready to present to our investment committee — who you’ll engage with throughout the process.

Building something big?

Partner with us

Next steps

Our portfolio

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Materials

Biotech

Engineering

Biotech

Quantum/AI

Biotech

Engineering

Biotech

Biotech

Quantum/AI

Biotech

Biotech

Biotech

Biotech

Engineering

What founders say about us

Lia Li, Founder & CEO

“Early-stage investing is tough — you need investors who get the challenges, give honest advice, and back you through the next fundraise. SCVC does exactly that because so much of their team has been in the founder’s seat themselves. Their due diligence process is rigorous, not just because of their technical expertise but also the strength of their advisor network, which ensures the right fit on both sides.  SCVC’s deep expertise means they don’t just invest — they have the skills to back your technology’s commercialisation and push ambition higher.”

Andy Heron, Founder & CEO

“SCVC have been invaluable partners in all stages of setting up our company and raising further funding. We have found their extensive experience and expert network incredibly helpful, and we continue to benefit from their founder-friendly support and enthusiasm for the disruptive technologies we are developing.”

Ash Toye, Founder & CSO

"SCVC was pivotal as we worked closely with Harry's team for 12 months before spinning out. They understood the science and helped develop the commercial strategy."

FAQ’s

Do you lead investment rounds?

Yes. We typically lead or co-lead rounds at pre-seed and seed stage, taking a hands-on role and often joining the Board. This allows us to actively support founders in strategy development, technology and commercial de-risking, and fundraising preparation.

Do you co-invest with other investors?

Yes. We regularly co-invest alongside other high-quality investors. We aim to bring in value-adding capital at the right stage, often helping to introduce sector specialists or later-stage VCs who can support future scale-up.

What’s your typical cheque size?

Between £500K and £2.5M, depending on the stage and structure of the round. We reserve capital for follow-ons and work with founders to shape rounds that are right-sized to deliver key technical and commercial milestones.

Does SCVC invest in companies outside of the UK?

We only invest in companies that qualify for the UK’s Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). This means companies must have a UK base and meet certain criteria — more detail can be found on the UK government website.

What’s your typical timeline to making an investment?

It depends on the stage and maturity of the company. For very early-stage companies — especially those we’re helping to shape pre-formation — it can take over a year from first meeting to investment. For companies with a clearer proposition and active round, the full process typically takes 2–3 months, including due diligence and legal completion.

Can you help with IP licensing or negotiating spinout terms with universities?

Yes. We have significant experience working with spinouts and navigating university tech transfer processes. While we don’t set spinout terms ourselves, we understand the challenges founders face and can help you prepare, ask the right questions, and connect with others who’ve been through the process. We also advise government on spinout policy and are committed to improving outcomes for founders in the UK.

Do I need a warm introduction to be considered for investment by SCVC?

No. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. You don’t need an introduction — we review every pitch deck submitted through our application form that fits our thesis and respond to all founders.

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If someone referred you to us, you can mention their name in the “How did you hear about SCVC?” section of the form.