The EIS & VC Navigator

For a business that looks so much at technology, venture capital is often poor in applying it. How should they use AI? Empirical Ventures has already embedded it into their investment process, so we asked Co-founder and General Partner Johnathan Matlock to tell us about what they are doing. We also discussed their approach to deeptech investing. Amongst other topics, we talk about: using AI in an...

There are lots of concerns about how AI will affect software companies, but could deeptech give investors some insulation from that? EMV Capital CEO, Ilian Iliev, certainly thinks so. In this episode we examine the challenges that software may be facing and how deeptech is more of a beneficiary. Amongst other topics, we talk about: the current worries about how AI will affect software how robust B...

You don't need to look too hard to find negative views about AIM, but is it overdone? Oliver Bedford, Lead Manager of the Hargreave Hale AIM VCT certainly thinks so and in this episode we give him a chance to make his case. Amongst other topics, we talk about: the challenges AIM has gone through how undervalued AIM is why Britain is not broken listing in London versus elsewhere the impact of priva...

Founding a new VC firm isn't easy, and one headed by two women is exceptionally rare in the UK. Jessica Rasmussen co-founded Two Magnolia to invest in underrepresented founders and the regions so can tell us all about the challenges of founding and building a female-led firm. Amongst other topics, we talk about: how Jessica got into angel investing why she started a VC firm the gaps she found in t...

Deep maketech is not well known to investors, but is the theme that Everquest Capital Partners focus on. In this episode, Partners Stephane Mery and Hannah Wade discuss this blend of technology and manufacturing and its attractions to investors. Amongst other topics, we talk about: what deep maketech is what's needed to make restoring of manufacturing work the current schemes around to support thi...

Now the successful Basics series is past, we return to normal programming with our usual year-end panel. An all-star group of experts get together to discuss what happened in 2025 and the prospects for 2026. This year, Philip Hare, Partner at Philip Hare & Associates; Kealan Doyle, CEO & Director of Symvan Capital and Ewoud Karelse, Specialist-Product at Evelyn Partners bring their knowled...

In the last in the EIS & VC basics series for the EIS Navigator podcast we discuss exits and why they matter to investors. Symvan Capital are building a track record of successful exits. Co-founder Kealan Doyle also has prior experience in capital markets so has lots of knowledge of the different kind of exits, as well as some of the wrinkles that investors need to watch out for. Kealan covers...

In the latest in the EIS & VC basics series for the EIS Navigator podcast we discuss how investors and advisers can pick the right EIS fund or VCT. SyndicateRoom have moved into third-party management, so have good insight into how to pick a fund. Co-founder Tom Britton joins us to give his views on what investors need to look at and how. Tom covers lots of areas that investors and advisors ne...

In the latest in the EIS & VC basics series for the EIS Navigator podcast we discuss how companies can find the right EIS or VCT manager for investment. Symvan Capital has been investing through EIS for over a decade so has seen what happens when companies handle it well and badly. Investment manager, Michael Theodosiou talks us through the angles. Michael covers lots of important issues for f...

In the latest in the EIS & VC basics series for the EIS Navigator podcast we discuss how investors should choose between EIS and VCTs. Calculus Capital manage products under both schemes, so their Head of Investor Relations, Francesca Rayneu, is ideally placed to discuss the arguments for both. Francesca covers lots of different areas that may need to be considered. These include: how both hav...

In the latest in the EIS & VC basics series for the EIS Navigator podcast we discuss Knowledge Intensive EIS funds, sometimes called KI funds. These are still relatively new in the market, so it's good to get a full explanation. Committed Capital have launched a few KI funds now, so we asked their Head of Business Development, Glen Stewart, on to explain them. Glen covers all you need to know...

In our latest in the EIS & VC basics series for the EIS Navigator podcast we discuss the tax reliefs for the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). Despite only launching its first SEIS fund a few years ago, Haatch Ventures has been successful in attracting funds and, now, getting exits. Director Olivia Drinnan joins the podcast to explain everything. Olivia covers all the tax reliefs for S...

In the fifth of the basics mini-series for the EIS Navigator we discuss the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). Jenson Ventures is one of the longest standing SEIS managers, and Jeffrey Faustin has been with them for over a decade so has lots of knowledge to share about the scheme. Jeffrey gives a good introduction to SEIS, covering what an investor needs to get started. The topics we cover...

In the fourth of basics mini-series for the EIS Navigator we discuss Venture Capital Trust (VCT) tax reliefs. Mercia manage the three Northern VCTs, so we asked their head of investor relations, Paul Mattick, to come on and explain how they work. VCTs are the most popular of the tax advantaged schemes, so it's great to get someone with such deep knowledge to explain the reliefs. The topics we cove...

In the third of basics mini-series for the EIS Navigator we introduce Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs). Foresight Group manage four VCTs, so we asked Nel Isaac to come on and explain what they are about. VCTs are the most popular of the tax advantaged schemes, so it's great to get someone with such deep knowledge to give us a primer. The areas we cover in the discussion include: what is a Venture Cap...

This is the second in the new basics mini-series for the EIS Navigator. This episode follows on directly from episode 115 and we go into the tax reliefs that are available on investments using Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). For many investors, these are one of the main attractions of the scheme and the reliefs are amongst the most generous in the world. Remember, video is also available along...

This is the first in a new mini-series for the EIS Navigator on basics. We had some feedback from listeners that they would like to have more introductory material to EIS, VCTs and SEIS. In the EIS Navigator Basics, we will do shorter episodes discussing the how the schemes work, the tax reliefs available, what restrictions there are and how you invest. Episodes will run weekly and we are also tri...

The EIS Navigator host is taking a break, so there will be no episodes of the podcast. We will re-release a few episodes from the back catalogue. We'll be back in the autumn and are planning a great new series on EIS basics, so watch out for that. Have a great summer! Links Check out back episodes at https://hardmanandco.com/podcast/. Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: h...

While software may not eat the world, sometimes it seems like it has eaten the venture industry. However, hardware has its merits too. Climatetech investor OnePlanetCapital invests in both, so CEO Matt Jellicoe is well placed to compare them. Amongst other topics, we talk about: finding skilled teams for hardware companies building and scaling hardware companies sources of IP and protecting it whe...

With climatetech being one of top areas of investor interest, it was time we checked in to see how things are. Dr Nicky Dee is co-founder and CEO of venture builder and fund manager Carbon13. With 25 years of experience in the space, she is very well placed to take a perspective beyond the here and now. Amongst other topics, we talk about how venture building programmes work how climatetech has be...

Richard Hoskins has worked in several roles in his two decades in the EIS industry. We talk about his perspective on how it has changed and what more we can do to grow UK venture capital. He also has some exciting news about his business, Kin Group, which he shares with listeners. In a wide ranging discussion we talk about: how EIS has evolved over the past 20 years where the EIS rules need stream...

We have been talking about the lack of women in venture capital for far too long. Although we have tried to add to that on the #EIS Navigator podcast, its taken several attempts to get something out. We are delighted that entrepreneur, investor and soon-to-be Investment Committee member at Sustainable Ventures, Julia Groves joins us to discuss where we are, why this is still a thing and what shoul...

Although we generally focus on the investment aspects of EIS and VCTs, the recent budget brought a renewed spotlight onto the tax benefits. Rakesh Murria, COO of Ascension Ventures, has been looking at how the to use the reliefs in a more sophisticated way than the simple scenarios that generally get discussed. In this episode, he runs through some scenarios for us, illustrating how tax advantaged...

In this episode, we welcome back Henry Whorwood, Head of Research & Consultancy at Beauhurst. With access to the broad data that Beauhurt collects, Henry has a great overview of trends in the venture capital market over the past couple of years and where we are now. In a wide ranging discussion we talk about: tourist venture investors whether this is a healthy correction the lack of failures a...

This episode is our usual year-end panel. An all-star group of experts get together to discuss what happened in 2024 and the prospects for 2024. This year, Christiana Stewart-Lockhart, Director General of the EIS Assocation; Kealan Doyle, CEO & Director of Symvan Capital and Ewoud Karelse, Specialist-Product at Evelyn Partners bring their knowledge and insight. In a wide ranging discussion we...