SFC Capital is an early-stage investment firm providing capital and support to British startups
Between £100k and £300k
Pre-seed
SFC Capital is a leading early-stage investment firm dedicated to supporting the next wave of UK innovation. The firm specialises in backing ambitious startups through its award-winning funds and angel syndicate, providing critical seed capital and hands-on support to help founders transform their ideas into successful businesses. SFC Capital is committed to accelerating breakthrough technologies and solutions by investing in entrepreneurs who leverage creativity, technology, and scientific advancements to address complex challenges and create lasting positive impact across diverse sectors and regions.
SFC Capital’s mission is to nurture the UK’s innovation ecosystem and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs by providing vital early-stage investment and support to high-potential startups. The firm is dedicated to backing ambitious founders who use creativity, technology, and science to develop solutions that address real-world problems and deliver positive economic and social impact. SFC Capital strives to be the driving force behind innovative companies with the potential to shape industries and benefit society as a whole.
Goals
SFC Capital aims to:
Values
SFC Capital’s core values are rooted in inclusivity, transparency, and responsible investing. The firm champions diversity, equitable access, and open communication throughout its investment process, believing that the best ideas can come from anywhere. SFC Capital is committed to acting with integrity and professionalism, placing the long-term success of founders and investors ahead of short-term financial returns. The team fosters a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture, striving to set the standard for ethical and effective support of the UK’s most promising startups.
Stephen Page is the founder and CEO of SFC Capital, the UK’s most active early-stage investor specialising in SEIS and EIS funding. Initially trained as an accountant, Stephen spent around 30 years as a software entrepreneur, founding and successfully exiting several software companies, including DataEase, a global database management system with over three million copies sold worldwide. In 2012, he founded SFC Capital after identifying a funding gap for early-stage start-ups and recognising the potential of the then newly introduced SEIS scheme.
Stephen started SFC Capital as a small angel syndicate, which quickly grew into a leading investment platform combining direct investments and managed funds. To date, SFC Capital has backed over 500 portfolio companies, including notable successes like Onfido, where Stephen also served as an early investor and board member. He is a recognised figure in the UK start-up ecosystem, a founding member of the Company of Entrepreneurs (also known as the Guild of Entrepreneurs), and has received multiple industry awards for his contributions.
Stephen’s vision has been central to creating a model that democratises early-stage investment across UK regions and sectors, supporting diverse founders and enabling them to scale their businesses. Beyond investment, he is actively involved in providing strategic advice to portfolio companies and championing diversity and regional inclusion in the UK venture scene.
Explore the founders professional journey: Stephen Page.
SFC Capital invests in early stage UK startups with strong growth potential, focusing on companies that harness innovation and technology to address real economic and societal challenges. The firm’s objective is to support founders developing impactful solutions, whether through new technologies, digital platforms, or scalable business models, across a broad range of sectors.
Geographic Scope
SFC Capital invests exclusively in startups based in the United Kingdom, with a particular emphasis on addressing regional funding gaps beyond London. The firm seeks out promising founders from across all UK regions, nurturing a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and fostering economic growth nationwide.
Sectors of Interest
SFC Capital is sector agnostic, backing startups in diverse fields including:
The firm prioritises ventures that offer innovative, scalable solutions with a clear pathway to market impact, supporting everything from science based spin outs to technology enabled service businesses.
To be considered for investment, companies should:
These criteria ensure that SFC Capital backs high potential UK startups capable of turning early innovation into sustainable and impactful businesses.
SFC Capital employs a structured, multi stage assessment process to identify and invest in high potential early stage UK startups. The process begins when founders submit an online application outlining the business model, market opportunity, team, and evidence of early traction such as initial revenue, a working prototype, or clear product market fit. Initial meetings with the investment team are held to ensure understanding of the business and to gauge founder ambition, sector knowledge, and market potential.
Following successful initial meetings, SFC Capital’s investment team conducts follow up conversations to delve deeper into fundraising strategy, operational capabilities, and the distinctiveness of the company’s offering. This is followed by a rigorous due diligence phase, which assesses business viability, technology differentiation, market demand, competition, financials, and the startup’s ability to scale. Opportunities are scrutinised for their eligibility under UK SEIS and EIS rules and alignment with SFC Capital’s criteria as first institutional investor.
When a company’s case is strong, the opportunity is presented to SFC’s investment committee for final evaluation. The committee reviews all findings, focusing on growth prospects, risk return profile, and fit with SFC’s sector agnostic, impact driven approach, before issuing a term sheet detailing investment terms and proposed round size. SFC often leads rounds and introduces founders to its network of over 500 angel investors and co investors, further broadening support and exposure.
After investment, SFC Capital provides ongoing guidance, operational support, access to follow on funding, networking, and founder mentorship through regular events and check ins. The assessment process is designed to ensure SFC backs founders with both potential and readiness to build scalable, impactful companies, supported by SFC’s operational expertise and extensive ecosystem connections.
SFC Capital has built a diverse portfolio of innovative UK startups across sectors including greentech, biotech, and digital innovation. The following companies best exemplify SFC Capital’s investment goals, particularly its commitment to regional growth, technology-driven solutions, and positive societal impact. All highlighted companies are operational as of 2025.
Transcend Packaging
Transcend Packaging is a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions designed to reduce single-use plastics in foodservice, retail, and consumer products. The company manufactures eco-friendly products such as paper straws and fully recyclable packaging, supporting the transition to a lower-carbon, circular economy. Transcend Packaging serves major international brands and is a pioneer in the UK’s greentech sector. Visit Transcend Packaging .
4D Biomaterials/4D Medicine
4D Biomaterials develops advanced biodegradable polymer materials for use in medical devices and tissue engineering. Their unique technology supports more effective, sustainable healthcare solutions and is at the forefront of green innovation within life sciences. Based in Nottingham, 4D Biomaterials was most recently added to the SFC Capital portfolio and continues to scale its impact in the medtech and greentech sectors. Visit 4D Biomaterials/4D Medicine .
Onfido
Onfido uses AI and biometric verification technology to enable secure, remote identity verification for companies and institutions worldwide. By reducing the need for physical paper and in-person ID checks, Onfido supports the digitisation of critical business processes and improves access to services across numerous sectors. Headquartered in London, Onfido is widely recognised as one of SFC Capital’s most successful investments. Visit Onfido .
Discover more successful investments: SFC Capital portfolio.
SFC Capital is supported primarily through private investment vehicles combined with public-private partnerships. The firm raises capital via its award-winning SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme) and EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) funds, which provide tax-efficient opportunities for investors to back early-stage UK startups.
A significant proportion of SFC Capital’s funding comes from private investors including angel syndicates, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals committed to supporting innovative British founders. Additionally, SFC Capital benefits from strategic partnerships with public sector entities, most notably British Business Investments, which has committed £25 million under the Regional Angels Programme to address regional funding imbalances across the UK and expand access to equity finance for startups outside London.
SFC Capital often co-invests alongside other venture funds and angel networks, using a blended approach to maximise capital available to its portfolio companies. This combination of private capital and supportive public funding programmes enables SFC to deliver both financial returns and positive social and regional economic impact, maintaining a diversified funding base that fuels growth across numerous sectors and geographies in the UK.
Stages:
SFC Capital primarily focuses on early-stage investments, typically targeting pre-seed and seed rounds in the UK startup ecosystem. The firm often acts as the first institutional investor for companies that have moved beyond the initial idea stage to demonstrate early traction such as prototypes, initial revenue, or market validation. SFC continues to support high-potential portfolio companies through follow-on rounds, bridging the funding gap from seed to later growth stages.
Equity:
SFC Capital generally invests between £100,000 and £300,000 in initial rounds, usually taking minority equity stakes of around 10 to 20 percent. The firm leads or co-leads rounds and provides active support through board representation and extensive operational involvement, aiming to accelerate growth and scale. Follow-on investments are often made from dedicated EIS funds to maintain and grow positions in its best-performing companies.
Funds:
SFC Capital manages a range of SEIS and EIS funds designed to provide tax-efficient investment opportunities to back early-stage UK startups. The firm’s capital base has recently expanded with an additional £10 million commitment from British Business Investments, increasing the total under the Regional Angels Programme to £25 million, which supports startups nationwide. This capital deployment aims to unlock a total of around £100 million in funding for up to 100 early-stage businesses across the UK.
Recent Developments:
SFC Capital has surpassed 500 invested companies, including notable names like Onfido and Cognism, reflecting its position as the UK’s most active early-stage investor. Its recent investments span emerging sectors such as biotech, software, and greentech, with ongoing successes in follow-on funding and exits that deliver returns to investors. The firm’s strengthened partnership with public entities like the British Business Bank exemplifies its commitment to supporting startups in underserved UK regions.
SFC Capital’s strategy emphasises partnering with ambitious founders at the crucial early stages, offering both patient capital and expert operational support aimed at scaling innovative businesses and generating lasting positive impact across the UK’s diverse markets.
SFC Capital is committed to generating meaningful social and economic impact alongside delivering strong financial returns. The firm focuses on backing UK startups that develop innovative solutions addressing real-world challenges across diverse sectors, including green technologies, health, and digital innovation. SFC Capital actively promotes responsible business practices throughout its portfolio, encouraging founders to uphold high standards of governance, sustainability, and ethical conduct.
The firm measures impact by supporting companies that contribute to regional economic growth, job creation, and inclusive innovation. SFC Capital aims to back startups that create sustainable value for their communities, industries, and the broader UK economy, ensuring that its investments drive positive, lasting change nationwide.
SFC Capital fosters a vibrant and inclusive community of founders, investors, and innovation partners across the UK. The firm brings together a wide network of angel investors, corporate collaborators, accelerators, universities, and public sector bodies who share a commitment to supporting early-stage startups and driving regional economic growth. SFC Capital organises regular events, workshops, and networking opportunities that facilitate knowledge exchange, deal flow collaboration, and founder mentorship.
In addition, SFC Capital works closely with its portfolio companies by offering continuous strategic guidance and access to its extensive network of co-investors and industry experts. This collaborative community approach helps startups navigate challenges, scale effectively, and maximise their impact. Through these efforts, SFC Capital contributes to building a dynamic UK innovation ecosystem that nurtures entrepreneurship and supports the growth of disruptive new businesses.
SFC Capital is led by an experienced management team with deep expertise in early-stage investing, entrepreneurship, and supporting high-growth startups across the UK. The leadership combines strong backgrounds in venture capital, startup acceleration, and innovation ecosystems to provide founders with the guidance and resources needed to scale successfully.
Key Leadership:
Angelika Burawska manages SFC Capital’s operational strategy, ensuring efficient delivery of investment processes and team collaboration. With broad international experience, she is responsible for process optimisation, resource management, and digital initiatives that support the firm’s growth. Angelika’s role is key to enabling seamless fund operations and scaling support for a diverse portfolio of early-stage startups.
Additional Team Members
SFC Capital’s wider team includes investment managers, analyst experts, and portfolio support professionals who work collaboratively to provide strategic advice, network access, and operational support to founders. The team’s diverse backgrounds span multiple industries and investment disciplines, helping SFC maintain a broad and effective investment platform.
Discover more about SFC Capital’s team and their expertise at the official SFC Capital website under the 'Meet the Team’ section.
Are you a UK founder building an innovative startup with the ambition to transform industries and make a real-world impact? Discover how SFC Capital can support your entrepreneurial journey by visiting SFC Capital’s website.
Stay connected and keep up to date with SFC Capital’s latest investments, portfolio news, and industry insights by following SFC Capital on LinkedIn.
Explore more UK opportunities for greentech investment at Adopter’s Greentech Investors Map.
