Venture Capital Guides

Guides to the venture capital ecosystem — funding stages, fund structures, evaluation frameworks, and access routes for individual investors.

4 guides

Beginner

14 min

Venture Capital: A Complete Guide

Understanding the venture capital ecosystem, from funding stages and fund structures to evaluation frameworks and access routes for individual investors.

Beginner

14 min read

The Insider's Guide to UK Pre-IPO Investing

A comprehensive introduction to Pre-IPO investing in the UK: what it is, how the IPO journey works under the 2026 regulatory framework, and the six main routes to gaining exposure.

Intermediate

16 min read

Where to Buy: The UK Pre-IPO Market Map (2026 Edition)

A practical guide to the platforms, venues, and fund structures that give UK investors access to Pre-IPO shares—from £10 crowdfunding rounds to institutional private-market mandates.

Advanced

16 min read

The Pre-IPO Checklist: Risks, Rules, and Rewards

A practical guide to the tax rules, legal protections, fee structures, and hidden risks of UK Pre-IPO investing—covering EIS clawbacks, liquidation preferences, dilution, lock-up periods, and a 10-point due diligence checklist.

Explore Venture Capital Platforms

Republic Europe (formerly Seedrs)

Republic Europe (legal name Seedrs Limited) is an FCA-authorised equity crowdfunding platform co-founded by Jeff Lynn and Carlos Silva in 2009, with its public launch in 2012. Acquired by US-based Republic in 2022 and rebranded in July 2024, the platform has facilitated approximately £2.8 billion in capital raises across 2,200+ deals with 50+ exits to date. It operates Europe's first private company secondary market (live since 2016) and uses a nominee structure (Seedrs Nominees Limited) to hold shares on investors' behalf. The platform has a community of over 700,000 registered investors.

Crowdcube

UK equity crowdfunding platform founded in 2011 by Darren Westlake and Luke Lang. Directly authorised by the FCA as a Public Offer Platform (POP). Over £1.5 billion raised for 1,300+ businesses, with 1.7 million registered members. Notable raises include BrewDog, Monzo and Revolut.

Crowd2Fund

Debt and equity crowdfunding for established SMEs. Focus on companies with revenue and trading history.

Growthdeck

Private investor network for EIS/SEIS qualifying startups. Curated deal flow with co-investment alongside angel investors.

Envestors

Early-stage investment ecosystem connecting startups with angels and VCs. Focus on high-growth technology companies.

QVentures

Members-only private investment club for sophisticated investors. High-quality deal flow with thorough due diligence.

Browse all Venture Capital platforms