Built for Cambridge's businesses
Cambridge has real strength in biotech, deep tech and university spinouts, and startups here don't need a generalist down the road — they need specialists who answer quickly and price fairly. Because we work online, you get exactly that, plus a nudge towards the right local support: the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is a good first stop for grants and advice, and our Swoop-powered funding portal searches 1,000+ lenders and grant schemes on top.
What do Cambridge spinouts need in place before they raise?
Cambridge runs on early-stage science, and early-stage science runs on other people's money. SEIS allows a company to raise up to £250,000 and EIS considerably more, but both depend on the company qualifying at the time of investment, on advance assurance being obtained from HMRC first, and on the shares being ordinary, full-risk and carrying no preferential rights. Get the share class wrong and the relief disappears, which usually costs the round. Spinouts add a second layer: the institution's stake, the founders' equity and the option pool all want settling before an investor looks at the cap table. Add EMI options for the first hires and R&D relief on the science itself, and the paperwork earns its keep.
