Finding good SEIS investment opportunities requires more effort than buying a listed share. There is no exchange to browse, no universal database, and the quality of deal flow varies enormously between channels. This guide covers the main routes to finding SEIS-qualifying investments and what to look for in each.
Crowdfunding platforms
Seedrs (now Republic Europe) and Crowdcube are the largest UK equity crowdfunding platforms. Both list SEIS and EIS qualifying raises. The advantage is breadth — dozens of new opportunities each month, with structured pitch materials, basic financial information, and the ability to invest from as little as £10 or £100. The disadvantage is that deal quality is highly variable and the due diligence burden falls largely on the investor.
For investors new to SEIS, crowdfunding platforms provide good exposure to the range of companies that seek SEIS investment and allow small-ticket diversification while you learn the market.
Angel networks and syndicates
Angel networks — organisations that bring together experienced investors to co-invest in early-stage companies — typically offer higher-quality deal flow than crowdfunding platforms. Members share due diligence, meet founders directly, and co-invest alongside other experienced angels. The UK Angel Investment Network, the British Business Angels Association, and numerous regional and sector-specific groups operate in this space.
Syndicates — smaller groups of investors, often assembled around a specific lead investor with domain expertise — offer a middle ground between direct investment and fund investment. The lead investor typically does more due diligence and may take a board seat; co-investors follow with smaller tickets.
SEIS fund managers
Professional SEIS fund managers pool investor capital and deploy it across a portfolio of qualifying companies. The investor benefits from diversification, professional deal selection, and ongoing portfolio management. The cost is a management fee (typically 1.5% to 2.5% per year) and a performance fee on profitable exits (typically 20% above a hurdle).
Fund investment is appropriate for investors who want SEIS exposure without the time commitment of direct investment, or who do not have the deal flow access or due diligence capability to invest directly.
Direct investment and relationships
Some of the best SEIS investment opportunities never appear on crowdfunding platforms or in fund pipelines. They come through direct relationships — with founders, with other investors, with professional advisers. Building a network in the early-stage ecosystem — attending events, engaging with founders, joining relevant communities — is the highest-effort but potentially highest-return route to deal flow.
What to look for when evaluating SEIS opportunities
- HMRC Advance Assurance: Has the company received it? Ask to see the letter.
- Team quality: Have the founders done this before? Do they have relevant domain expertise?
- Market size: Is the addressable market large enough to support the kind of exit that would justify SEIS-level risk?
- Use of funds: Is the amount being raised proportionate to what the company needs to reach the next meaningful milestone?
- Valuation: SEIS companies are often valued on forward potential rather than current traction. Is the valuation defensible?