What VCs Look For in an Early-Stage Startup
What do VCs look for in a startup at pre-seed and seed: the team, market size, traction, moat, unit economics and the deal, from the investor’s side.
The Pre-Seed Pitch Deck: The 11 Slides UK Investors Actually Read
A pre-seed pitch deck template for UK founders: the 11 slides angels and pre-seed VCs actually read, what each must show, and where SEIS fits in.
How to Find Angel Investors in the UK: Networks and Intros
A practical guide on how to find angel investors UK founders can actually reach: angel networks, syndicates, platforms, warm intros and SEIS/EIS as a draw.
London Startup News: Mid-June 2026
London Tech Week closed with more than £6bn of AI investment, big compute commitments from AMD and Nebius, and a record UK quantum raise.
The Most Active Seed VCs in London Right Now (and What They Back)
A founder’s guide to the seed VC firms genuinely writing cheques in London, the sectors they back, and how to work out who is active before you pitch.
Startup Valuation at Pre-Seed and Seed: How UK Founders Set a Number
A practical guide to how UK founders actually set pre-seed and seed valuations, covering dilution maths, pre-money versus post-money, SEIS and EIS, SAFEs and red flags.
Equity vs Convertible Loan Notes vs SAFEs: Which to Use in the UK
A UK founder’s decision guide to priced equity, convertible loan notes, SAFEs and ASAs, including the SEIS and EIS rules that decide which one you can use.
From Seed to Series A: What UK Startups Need to Hit Before the Raise
What UK investors actually expect between seed and Series A in 2026: verified round sizes and timing, ARR and retention benchmarks, governance expectations, EIS and R and D specifics, and a preparation timeline that works backwards from the raise.
How to Raise a Seed Round in London: What Investors Expect in 2026
A founder’s guide to raising a seed round in London in 2026: cheque sizes, the metrics investors expect, SEIS and EIS, and how long the raise really takes.
SEIS Advance Assurance: How to Apply and What HMRC Wants to See
How to get SEIS advance assurance from HMRC: the limits since April 2023, the named-investor requirement, the documents you need, and why applications get refused.