Introducing SFC Capital

Events and Initiatives

20/08/2020 by The Red Tree

SFC Capital (formerly Startup Funding Club) is a leading early-stage investment firm providing capital and support to British startups.

SFC was originally started in 2012 as a club of angels. They ran regular pitching events at Home House and other private members’ clubs, and backed some very successful startups – such as Onfido. That angel network grew from 20 members to now more than 500, and was named Syndicate of the Year twice, at the UKBAA Awards and the Growth Investor Awards, in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

As the company grew, they added more strings to their bow. With their first SEIS fund – launched in 2014 – they became investors themselves. Since March 2020, SFC is a partner of British Business Investments (part of the British Business Bank). This partnership has helped them to support high growth-potential businesses across all regions of the UK, particularly at a time when the business experience and financial support delivered by angel investors is needed more than ever.

Through a combination of their funds and their investor network, SFC have now invested more than £50 million into well over 220 companies. For the past two years, Pitchbook Data has named SFC the Most Active Seed Investor in the UK and one of the most active globally, alongside major names such as Y Combinator and Techstars.

They are active, early-stage investors and provide investment to around 50 companies every year, including 30-40 “new” startups raising their first funding round.

Diversity has always been at the core of what they do, as they believe it will translate into better returns for their investors. They invest across a wide range of sectors and in entrepreneurs of various backgrounds: over a third of SFC portfolio companies are led by female entrepreneurs, and almost half are based in the regions. As an approved Home Office Endorsing Body, they can also support entrepreneurs from abroad who aspire to start up and run their innovative businesses in the UK.

Building on their experience and achievements over the last eight years, they are well positioned to climb yet another, bigger mountain. Their goal is to increase the number of innovative, scalable, and viable businesses that they invest in every year, and to reach 1,000 portfolio companies over the next decade. So, if you’re an entrepreneur with an innovative proposition and raising your first funding round, they would love to hear from you!

SFC and The Red Tree have had a close working relationship for over five years. The Beauty Accelerator™ is a joint initiative that will see one emerging independent beauty brand receive £150,000 equity investment as well as a year long collaborative partnership with The Red Tree with its high level global beauty experience, strategic insights and its access to a wide network of beauty industry contacts.

SFC Capital. Investing today in the innovations of tomorrow.

The Red Tree is the UK’s leading international beauty brand consultancy and a powerhouse of ideas, insight and inspiration. For an informal discussion on how we might help you, please contact us.