For investors
If you are interested in becoming an investor, please get in touch with one of our founding partners
What we do
We provide investors with a diversified portfolio
Providing investors with a diversified portfolio of SEIS and EIS investments, managed by us. Our investors can choose between investing via our EIS portfolio service, SEIS fund or a combination of both.
Services
Our options for investors
EIS Investment Service
- 30% income tax rebate and capital gains exempt on qualifying investments
- We provide investors with the risk-balanced portfolio without the commitment of a fund
- There are no ongoing fees to be an investor in our EIS network and receive our deal flow
- Investors benefit from a flexible investment range of £2,500 up to six-figures per deal
SEIS Fund
- 50% income tax rebate and capital gains exempt on qualifying investments
- We raise annual SEIS funds to be invested during individual tax years
- Commitments are made upfront but investment cash is drawn down only when investments are made
- Minimum investment amount of £10,000 per annum
WHY INVEST
Why invest with DSW Ventures
The DSW Ventures investors benefit from a fully-managed service – The DSW Ventures team validates the propositions of the very best companies we meet and negotiates a balanced deal based on decades of venture capital and corporate finance experience.
Our Investment Committee, comprised of highly respected entrepreneurs, senior executives and investors, provide further insight to the investment team and founders in scoping due diligence and refining the strategic and operational aspects of founders’ business plans.
The DSW group partners and staff invest personally in each deal.
We handle the entire process, from sourcing deal flow to exiting investments
We review on average 500 opportunities for every deal we present to our investors.
As the launch partner of the BBB’s Regional Angel Programme, we invest alongside a £10 million allocation of co-investment funds.
We work closely with our portfolio companies during the lifetime of the investment.
We target top-tier gross returns which are boosted further by SEIS/EIS relief.
We target regional, technology-based investments which remains a non-competed asset class in the UK.
We produce full reports and valuations for our portfolio companies so our investors can stay up to date with how their investments are performing.
Contact
Interested in becoming an investor? Get in touch with one of our founding partners
If you are interested in becoming an investor, please get in touch with one of our founding partners:. Our experienced and growing investment team is responsible for the origination, diligence and management of our investments
FAQS
Below you’ll find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Our typical investment is from £100,000 up to £1 million at the pre-Series A stage, typically as a single or lead investor. Our primary focus is on software, science and consumer technology businesses, but we will invest in businesses in other sectors with a scalable model, protectable market positions and talented founders. We take minority stakes, typically of less than 30% of equity and our investments are usually compliant with the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) or Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
Our key investment criteria are as follows:
– UK-based, regional companies
– Revenue-generating or demonstrable commercial traction, or in the case of deep technology, IP-rich with early validation of the technology
– Total round size below £2.5 million
– Valuation below £10 million
– SEIS/EIS qualifying
– Exceptionally strong and capable founder teams
We work closely with our portfolio companies in order to add genuine value to our investments. We go beyond just ‘the money’; our founder teams benefit from the network and experience of the DSW Ventures team, as well as that of our Investment Committee and individual angels.
SEIS and EIS are government schemes which encourage equity investment in early stage growing businesses by offering tax reliefs to individual investors, the most important being:
– 50% (SEIS) or 30% (EIS) of amount invested deducted from personal income tax on qualifying investments
– No Capital Gains Tax due on exit if (S)EIS relief maintained
– Loss relief available on personal income tax at the highest rate paid
See our full page on SEIS and EIS investments for further information. Individuals are advised to seek the assistance of a suitably qualified finance professional to assess their suitability for investments of this nature.
If you are interested in investing with DSW Ventures, please contact our partners for further information.