BBI Boosts SFC Capital's Regional Funding to £25m for UK Startups
Funding | Feb 12, 2025 | UK Tech Funding
British Business Investments (BBI), a subsidiary of the British Business Bank, has increased its funding commitment to SFC Capital, bringing the total to £25m. This funding is part of the Regional Angels Programme, which aims to mitigate regional disparities in access to early-stage equity funding. The additional £10m injection follows a previous £15m commitment made in 2020, which has been invested in over 150 companies. Joseph Zipfel of SFC Capital credits this commitment to strong performance among existing portfolio companies. Both Adam Kelly of BBI and Zipfel emphasize the programme's success in fostering collaboration between the private and public sectors to support UK startups. Since 2012, SFC Capital has invested in more than 500 startups, including Onfido and Cognism, with recent investments in 4D Biomaterials, Neurosight, and Careloop.
Sectors
- Venture Capital
- Banking and Financial Services
- Technology Startup Ecosystem
Geography
- United Kingdom – Focus on reducing regional funding discrepancies within the UK and supporting domestic startups.
Industry
- Venture Capital – Relevant as SFC Capital is acting as a venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies.
- Banking and Financial Services – Involves British Business Investments, part of British Business Bank, providing financial backing.
- Technology Startup Ecosystem – The investments target regional tech startups, pushing growth in the technology sector.
Financials
- £25m – Total funding committed by BBI to SFC Capital through the Regional Angels Programme.
- £10m – Additional funding announced to further support regional startups.
- £15m – Previous funding commitment made in 2020 by BBI to SFC Capital.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Business Investments | Funding Provider | Company | A subsidiary of the British Business Bank, involved in financing initiatives like the Regional Angels Programme. |
| British Business Bank | Parent Company | Company | An organization that supports economic growth by providing financial products to smaller businesses. |
| SFC Capital | Venture Capital Firm | Company | A venture capital firm receiving funding to invest in early-stage UK startups. |
| Joseph Zipfel | Chief Investment Officer | Person | CIO of SFC Capital, discussing the impact and success of the funding programme. |
| Adam Kelly | Managing Director | Person | Managing Director of British Business Investments, highlighting the programme’s aim to mitigate funding imbalances. |