For Investors

Built for category-defining returns

SCVC backs the UK’s most promising Deep Tech startups at the earliest stages — where the greatest returns are made.

We invest in companies built on cutting-edge science and engineering, with defensible IP and the potential to create entirely new product categories. Our portfolio includes ventures developing transformative technologies in fields such as AI, quantum, synthetic biology, and advanced materials.

What sets us apart is our ability to spot breakout potential early — and help realise it. Our team of exited founders and technical experts works hands-on with founding teams to de-risk both the technology and the commercial strategy. Central to this is our technology-product-fit model — a structured approach to identifying the strongest commercial applications for a given technology before locking into a market. This reduces execution risk and significantly improves downstream investability.

We’re building a focused portfolio of high-conviction investments, with the ambition of delivering category-defining returns.

Find out more

We are exited founders

SCVC was founded by exited deep tech entrepreneurs. We’ve built from scratch, navigated spinout negotiations, secured funding, scaled teams — and successfully exited. That experience gives us a unique edge in spotting high-potential opportunities early and knowing what it really takes to build enduring value.

This first-hand insight shapes how we invest and how we support. From technical risk to commercial strategy, we partner with founders to tackle the real challenges of commercialisation — not just the ones that show up in a pitch deck.

We invest exclusively in Deep Tech and are unapologetically focused on technologies with the potential to deliver outsized returns and define entirely new markets.

We are all technical

In Deep Tech, technical depth isn’t optional.

Everyone in the SCVC team has a deep technical background — we’re scientists and engineers with the expertise to evaluate cutting-edge science at its earliest stages.

This gives us the ability to assess complex technologies with rigour, ask the right questions, and spot technical inflection points before they become obvious to the market. It also gives us strong founder pull — the best technical teams want to work with investors who truly understand their tech.

‍

We know spinouts inside out

We have deep experience working with academic founders and research institutions to turn breakthrough science into successful companies.

From negotiating IP licences and navigating university processes to securing early-stage funding, we understand the complexities of spinning out — and how to get it right. We’ve worked across multiple institutions and advised on national spinout policy, giving us both on-the-ground insight and a system-level perspective.

Spinouts are rarely straightforward — but we know how to make them happen and set them up for long-term success.

We are exited founders

We are all technical

We know spinouts inside out

Our portfolio

View all members

Biotech

Biotech

Quantum/AI

Biotech

Biotech

Biotech

Engineering

Biotech

Engineering

Biotech

Engineering

Biotech

Biotech

Materials

Quantum/AI

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

What differentiates SCVC from other VC firms?

SCVC is led by exited founders who’ve built and sold deep tech companies. That first-hand experience gives us rare insight into what it takes to create long-term value from complex technologies — and makes us a trusted partner to founders from day one.

Our Investment Committee has deep technical expertise, enabling us to independently evaluate scientific and engineering fundamentals — not just commercial narratives. This allows us to invest earlier and with greater conviction than most.

We bring a structured, hands-on approach to early-stage company building, centred around our technology-product-fit model — a de-risking framework designed to align groundbreaking technologies with the right commercial opportunities from the outset, setting them to delivering category defining returns.

What sectors does SCVC invest in?

We’re sector agnostic but technology-led. Our portfolio spans areas such as AI, quantum, synthetic biology, advanced materials, and robotics — with many technologies applicable across multiple industries.

We focus on breakthrough science and engineering with the potential to create entirely new product categories and deliver outsized returns.

What is SCVC’s approach to portfolio management?

We take an active approach, typically taking a Board seat — but our involvement goes well beyond formal governance.

As a firm led by exited founders, we know what early-stage founders need because we’ve been there. That connection builds trust — and earns us a real seat at the table. We’re on hand to help shape strategy, track technical and commercial progress, support hiring and fundraising, and guide teams through the moments that matter most.

We spend meaningful time with our founders and are always on the other end of the phone. We’re hands-on during the early stages when support has the biggest impact, then step back as later-stage investors come in and the business scales.

Does SCVC offer EIS-eligible investments?

Yes. Some of our funds are structured to qualify under the UK Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), offering tax-efficient investing for UK individuals.

How often do you report on fund performance and portfolio progress?

We provide investors with formal portfolio and fund performance updates every six months. In between, we share more regular insights through exclusive newsletters and investor webinars, including deal highlights, follow-on activity, and emerging trends.

For Investors

Built for category-defining returns

We are exited founders

We are all technical

We know spinouts inside out

Our portfolio

What founders say about us

FAQ’s

With SCVC