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 investment processhow well AI works in niche areaskeeping the focus on real peopleusing a YouTube channel with millions of subscriberswhat a venture scientist isthe value of execution over ideasgetting the right founderfiltering our weak opportunitiesJohnathan and Empirical have been thoughtful about their investment process, including using AI, so there's lots of insights into effective investing. Enjoy!00:50 Johnathan introduces himself05:00 how angel investing developed into Empirical Ventures07:45 what Empirical Ventures does09:00 what is a venture scientist?16:30 getting the right founder18:30 talent scouting in pools of PhD talent22:00 value in execution not ideas26:00 challenges in getting good feedback27:30 using AI in investment process32:00 how well Ai works in niche areas35:00 keeping the focus on the real people38:30 how far can the use of AI go in venture capital?41:30 using a successful Youtube channel43:00 filtering out weak opportunities46:00 using YouTube to help existing portfolio companies50:00 favourite questionsLinksEmpirical Ventures website: https://www.empiricalventures.vc/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaClear Thinking: The Art and Science of Making Better Decisions by Shane ParrishBioJohnathan Matlock, Co-founder and General Partner, Empirical VenturesWith a PhD in Organic Chemistry and 15 years at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and capital, Johnathan helps build and back technologies that define the next century, focused on Atoms > Bits.InvestorHe is Co-Founder and General Partner at Empirical Ventures, a UK-based DeepTech fund backing entrepreneurial scientists at pre-seed and seed.-- > £20m AUM | 25 portfolio companies | Top decile TVPI (2022 vintage)-- > Secured £5m from the British Business Bank as a Regional Angel Programme delivery partnerPortfolio companies have raised £30m in follow-on capital to date, employee 200 people and have an collective enterprise value of £200m (Nov 2025).Beyond the fund, he has built a 50-company angel portfolio across DeepTech and Life Sciences and made 5 LP commitments to next-generation VC funds.OperatorPrior to founding Empirical Ventures, he was employee #7 and inventor on the patent behind Ziylo, a University of Bristol spin-out developing a glucose-sensitive insulin, that was acquired by Novo Nordisk for £623m (2018). The largest exit for a University spin-out via acquisition until 2025 (Organox).In 2024, he co-founded Tru Fit Training UK, a small-group training facility and have currently scaled this business to £250k annual revenue and 140 members (Nov 2025).He also founded Tru Fit Asset Management in 2024, a commercial property investment business in Bedfordshire that owns 2 x 4,200 sq ft facilities. Built and developed one of those barns with completion in 2025.Scientist-- > Published 11 papers, inventor on 4 patents, 5 academic awards-- > Chartered Chemist (CChem), Royal Society of ChemistryDriven by a belief that scientific discovery and entrepreneurial drive is the greatest lever for human progress, he now focuses on enabling the next generation of scientist-founders to translate breakthrough research into globally impactful companies.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

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 softwarehow robust B2B SaaS could behow AI affects competition for startupshow AI can help scientific innovationexamples of how portfolio companies use AIhow small companies compete with large companies in hardwarehow AI affects IP strategiesexamples of naive IP approachesIlian has been working in this space for a long time and gives great insight into the world of deeptech. Enjoy!00:50 Ilian introduces himself03:15 Change in EMV Capital (EMVC)06:00 What is happening with SaaS and AI10:00 Is B2B SaaS too deeply embedded to replace?14:00 Changes in the dynamics of competition15:45 How far AI can help scientific innovation?19:15 Dangers of increased slop21:30 Examples of how investee companies use AI23:00 Use of AI in patents27:00 Will small companies be able to compete in hardware29:30 How is AI impacting IP strategies33:30 Could AI undermine patent protection?35:50 How valuable is hardware IP?39:10 Examples of a naive approach to IP40:30 favourite questionsLinksEMV Capital website: https://emvcapital.com/EMV Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emvcapital/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaTime Shelter by Georgi Gospindov21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah HarariChurchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew RobertsPolitics On the Edge by Rory StewartBioIlian Iliev, CEO, EMV CapitalIlian founded EMV Capital in 2018. After its acquisition by NetScientific PLC (now EMV Capital PLC), he became group CEO. Previously he co-founded and was CEO of CambridgeIP Ltd, which he built into a leading IP strategy and patent data analytics provider. He also worked as a strategy advisor for various corporate blue chip clients and public policy. Previously he founded and co-led a family business in industrials and electric engineering in Southern Africa. He is a Board member on behalf of the Group at many portfolio companies, including , Glycotest Inc. (Chair), Sofant Technologies, PointGrab, Q-Bot, Martlet Capital, DName-iT, Vortex and Wanda Health. He is a Board member of NASDAQ-listed PDS Biotech Inc.Ilian holds a PhD from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School with a focus on Venture Capital and science commercialisation models; Master’s in Economics and BA Politics, Economics and International Relations from the Witwatersrand University, South Africa. He was an Associate Fellow at Chatham House with a focus on sustainability and renewables. He has authored numerous academic, policy and industry reports.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

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 throughhow undervalued AIM iswhy Britain is not brokenlisting in London versus elsewherethe impact of private equitywhy IPOs are not a good goal in themselveswhy its the companies not the macro picture that will changehow the valuation gap doesn't need to fully close to outperformthe effect of the recent changes to VCT rulesOliver has thought about the issues deeply and that shows in the very considered perspective that he brings. Enjoy!00:50 Oliver introduces himself03:00 When companies are better being private than public07:50 The challenges that AIM has gone through10:00 the undervaluation of AIM13:30 Britain is not broken15:10 Why quality matters more than quantity of AIM listed companies20:00 Why list in London versus the US/NASDAQ23:00 Impact of private equity24:00 IPOs are not a goal in themselves25:30 Is being bullish on AIM contrarian?28:00 Is looking for a big macro change the wrong idea?30:00 the recent better period for AIM34:00 How only a partial rerating is needed35:45 How the recent legislative changes affect VCTs and investing on AIM43:00 A further change that would increase capital availability46:00 favourite questionsLinksHargreave Hale AIM VCT website: https://www.hargreaveaimvcts.co.uk/Hargreave Hale AIM VCT on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hargreave-hale-aim-vct/?viewAsMember=trueSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaThe Undoing Project by Michael LewisHillbilly Elegy by J.D. VanceBioOliver Bedford BSc MCSI, Lead Manager, Hargreave Hale AIM VCTOliver Bedford graduated from Durham University with a degree in chemistry. He served in the British Army for nine years before joining the Investment Manager in 2004. After initially working as an analyst in support of the VCT, Oliver was appointed as co-manager in 2011 and then lead manager in 2019.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

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 investingwhy she started a VC firmthe gaps she found in the marketthe challenges of there being no playbook for starting a fundraising money to invest in underrepresented foundersthe investment casedeveloping the right investment pipelinehow VCs just need to do the right thing!comparing first and second time fundraisingJessica's journey has been really interesting and she gives great insight into what she has learnt along the way. Enjoy!00:50 What is Two Magnolias03:10 how Jessica got into angel investing06:50 why start a venture capital firm09:00 how she identified a gap in the market10:15 why choose running GP/LP over EIS fund or VCT13:10 the lack of a playbook for starting a VC fund18:00 is UK venture capital protectionist?21:20 the challenges of raising money to invest in underrepresented founders and regions26:40 investment case for underrepresented founders29:00 how do you find companies with underrepresented founders30:45 support for companies in the regions - role of government and local networks33:40 has support for underrepresented founders stalled recently?37:00 changing the numbers - just do the right thing38:40 comparing fundraising for a first & second fund40:00 favourite questionsLinksTwo Magnolias website: https://www.twomagnolias.co.uk/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaTrillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg & Alan EagleBioJessica Rasmussen, Co-Founder & CEO, Two MagnoliasJessica Rasmussen is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Two Magnolias, an early-stage UK venture capital firm established to address structural opportunity gaps within the UK venture ecosystem.Prior to founding Two Magnolias, Jessica spent three decades in investment banking as a Global Markets specialist in Fixed Income. She held senior leadership roles across international markets, including ten years at Bank of America where she led Macro Sales within the Fixed Income Division, covering both Foreign Exchange and Rates. Her career was defined by managing complex market risk, advising institutional clients, and building high-performing teams in highly regulated, global environments.Since co-founding Two Magnolias in 2019 with Marie Korde, Jessica has led the firm from its origins as an angel investment platform to its successful launch as an institutional early-stage venture capital fund. Under her leadership, Two Magnolias completed the final close of Fund I in early 2024, establishing a differentiated investment strategy rooted in conviction, discipline, and long-term public value.Two Magnolias was purpose-built to support underrepresented founders developing solutions in sustainability and human health, exclusively within the UK. Jessica has played a central role in shaping the firm’s investment philosophy, governance, and market positioning, ensuring that female and ethnically diverse founders are afforded equal access to capital, credibility, and decision-making power.A recognised advocate for diversity and inclusion across the UK venture and private equity landscape, Jessica is committed to demonstrating that inclusive capital allocation is not only a social imperative, but a driver of stronger innovation, better risk-adjusted returns, and more resilient economic outcomes.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

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 iswhat's needed to make restoring of manufacturing workthe current schemes around to support thisworking with university spinoutshow to help companies optimise manufacturing processesthe challenge of building robust supply chains in the current environmentmanaging capital intensity in businessesbringing the right partners on boardhow AI is being usedStephane and Hannah brings great insights with lots of real life examples from their investments. Enjoy!01:00 Stephane and Hannah introduce themselves02:25 introduction to Everquest and CPI04:15 What is deep maketech?06:00 How reshoring manufacturing can work08:45 What is Catapult Network and why it matters10:40 Challenges of getting good management teams spin outs12:30 How working with companies can give good diligence14:45 How to select areas of focus for investment15:45 Example of how to optimise processes20:30 Challenges of building robust supply chains22:30 Managing capital intensity in manufacturing25:40 Finding the right partners26:40 How this can generate partial exits28:00 Role of AI in manufacturing32:30 What areas are still hot?39:10 Favourite questionsLinksEverquest Capital Partners website: https://www.everquestcapital.com/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaThe Medici Effect by Frans HohanssonWelcome to the War Economy by David BaverezBioDr Stephane MeryStephane has over 20 years’ experience in private equity and entrepreneurship.He was CEO of BBSF an early-stage fund behind the success of Spirogen (sold to Astra Zeneca for $400m) and Endomagnetics (sold for $310m to Hologic). He was also partner at Beringea leading investments in Life Sciences and Renewables including Biovex (sold for $1bn to Amgen).Stephane turned around and successfully exited a company manufacturing and selling laboratory monitoring equipment.Stephane is a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine, a Veterinary Pathologist and holds an MBA from INSEAD.Hannah WadeHannah is a Partner and has over 20 years experience.She is also Managing Director at CPI Enterprises and established CPI’s investor engagement and ventures arm in 2019. Under her leadership, CPI has built a strong portfolio of investments.Through her long engagement at CPI, she has developed a strong network within the innovation sector. She leverages this network to cultivate a strong pipeline of investment opportunities for investors, attract strategic partners and connect portfolio companies into the infrastructure and research organisation ecosystem for technical, business and funding support. She is also passionate about promoting female entrepreneurship and is a member of the Lifted Project’s North East board.A qualified lawyer, Hannah has a law degree from Leeds University and was a solicitor in private practice for nearly 10 years before joining CPI as in house legal counsel.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

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 knowledge and insight.In a wide ranging discussion we talk about:how investments and valuations are lookingwhether investors are keeping their hand in their pocketshow K-shaped the market is reallywhether we are really in an AI bubblethe return of exitstimescales to achieve exitsthe state of fundraising for EIS and VCTshow the budget changes affect the marketwhy the budget could help AIMwhere ESG has gonewhat will happen in 2026As usual, the panel bring a lot of knowledge and insights. A lot happened in 2025, so listen and find out what it all means for investors and advisers.00:50 Introductions01:45 The investing side of the market06:00 Are we in a K-shaped market?08:00 Comparing the current market with the tech bubble10:50 AI first companies and managers with experience13:20 Are we in an AI bubble?20:15 The return of exits25:00 Time to exit and fund lifespans28:15 How is fundraising?31:00 VCT fundraising and budget changes38:50 Effect of raising company investment limits in budget46:00 Effect on AIM companies49:00 Where has ESG gone?54:00 looking forward to 2026 - consultation60:00 The panel makes predictions!LinksEIS Assocation - https://eisa.org.uk/Symvan Capital - https://www.symvancapital.com/Evelyn Partners - https://www.evelyn.com/Philip Hare & Associates - https://philiphareassociates.tax/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenBioKealan DoyleKealan is CEO and co-founder of Symvan Capital. He has worked with venture capital companies for 15 years, both in a corporate finance advisory capacity as well as a fund manager. He prefers to invest in a wide range of technology companies, but is also very interested in finding synergies within the Symvan portfolio of companies. Company interests include big data analytics, fintech, SaaS, 3D printing and network security. Before his involvement in venture capital investing, Kealan previously lead a structured equity products team at HSBC, and has worked at Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and UBS. Together with Nicholas, he has since founded his own entrepreneurial businesses to focus on VC investing. Kealan holds degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Toronto.Philip HarePhilip Hare is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser. He spent 25 years with PwC, fifteen as a senior tax manager. From 2006 to 2014, he led PwC’s team providing services to Venture Capital Trusts, Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme companies, investment fund managers and investors. Philip is a board member of the EIS Association (EISA) and chairs the EISA Tax Committee. He is a member of the VCT Forum of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) and our firm advises the VCT Association.Ewoud KarelseEwoud started his career in financial services with Allenbridge in 2000 and joined Towry Law in 2008 before joining Tilney in 2016, and Evelyn Partners in 2022. Ewoud is responsible for the research and selection of Venture Capital Trusts; (Seed) Enterprise Investment Schemes; Business Relief for Inheritance Tax Planning (AIM and non-AIM), and Social Investment Tax Relief products. He is also well versed in the use of Business Investment Relief for International clients.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

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 all the different kinds of exits that an investor might come across. These include:why exits matter to EIS and VCT investorsfailures are still exitswhy failures come before successeshow trade sales workgetting shares versus cashwhat is a secondary salewhy IPOs are less popular than beforehow timing mattersKealan has had some unusual exit experiences in the past couple of years, so has some interesting examples to throw into the mix. Enjoy! LinksSymvan Capital - https://www.symvancapital.com/HMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. https://youtu.be/gRXiZ8pTkwQThe playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioKealan Doyle Co-founder and CEO, Symvan CapitalBefore co-founding Symvan Capital and moving into venture capital investing, Kealan led a structured equity products team at HSBC, where he was responsible for developing and managing innovative investment solutions.Kealan holds degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Toronto and his earlier career included roles at Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, and UBS - where he gained extensive experience in capital markets and complex financial products.For over 20 years, he has worked closely with venture capital-backed businesses, initially in a corporate finance advisory capacity and more recently as a fund manager. This dual perspective has given him a deep insight into the challenges early-stage companies face and how best to support their growth and long-term success.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 need to consider. These include:the high level filtersstrategies and sectorswhat is the deployment timehow does it affect your venture portfolio diversificationwhere past performance and exits fitthe more detailed diligence after filteringthe existing portfolio and how it fits into current trendslooking at the fund manager and its stabilitydifferences in fees and fee structuresextra factors for VCTs - dividends and buyback policies, cash levelsWe cover a lot of ground so get your notebooks ready! Tom definitely has distinctive views, but also great knowledge so it's well worth a listen. Enjoy! LinksSyndicate Room - https://www.syndicateroom.com/Tom Britton - tom@syndicateroom.comHMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. https://youtu.be/27sHsBQRY70The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioTom Britton Co-founder, SyndicateRoomAfter completing his MBA in Cambridge, Tom co-founded SyndicateRoom to give a wider audience access to venture capital investment. As co-founder, Tom works across all aspects of the business, with an emphasis on product development and marketing strategy, and as much direct contact with our super angels and investors as possible. He enjoys being plugged into the wider industry and sits on the board of the UK Business Angel Association. He also hosts SyndicateRoom’s Angel Insights podcast, interviewing key industry figures. Prior to founding SyndicateRoom, Tom was Product Manager at TheTrainline, where he headed up the launch of its mobile applications.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 founders and management. These include:how do companies approach the idea of raising moneythe benefits and expectations of getting venture capitalthe different types of managers sector and stage differenceshow targeting can make fundraising more efficientwhen companies should think about starting a fundraisinghow to approach fund managershow to choose between different offershow terms and value add can varyIt can seem daunting to a founder who is new to fundraising, but with a little guidance they can manage an effective process without making it too complicated. Enjoy!LinksSymvan Capital - https://www.symvancapital.com/HMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. https://youtu.be/ImJJuHxGbm0The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioMichael TheodosiouInvestment Manager, Symvan CapitalDisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 have the same aim and company ruleswhy the different wrappers lead to different portfolios for investorswhat affects different investor profiles, such as risk profile, tax and liquidity or income needshow each gives different portfolio visibility and investee company contactthe different stage of investmenthow CGT or IHT reliefs figure into factorshow to look at feesWhile we cover a lot of areas, investors may wish to take financial advice to see how each applies to their own situation. They may wish to listen to or watch episodes 113 to 116 before this if they are less familiar with the schemes. Francesca gives a good explanation of what investors should think about. Enjoy!LinksCalculus Capital - https://calculuscapital.com/HMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. https://youtu.be/zJxAr_OfhnkThe playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioFrancesca RayneauHead of Investor Relations, Calculus CapitalFrancesca joined Calculus in 2015 and leads the Sales and Marketing team, overseeing all aspects of fundraising, marketing, and investor communications. She began her career in financial services in Geneva, Switzerland.She holds a degree in International Management from the University of Manchester, during which she also studied at Bocconi University in Milan. Francesca has also earned the CISI Certificate in Wealth Management and the Client Assets and Money qualification.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 about KI funds and some things to be careful about when selecting one.. We cover:what is a knowledge intensive company?restrictions on what the company can be/dothe increased investment limits that KI companies havewhat is an approved knowledge intensive fund?how does the timing for income tax relief work?what is the EIS5 tax certificate?how does this structure affect the other tax reliefs?what are the attractions of KI funds for advisers and investors?what are the disadvantages?Glen gives a full picture, but those new to EIS may wish to watch episodes 115 and 116 for the basic structure and tax reliefs too. Enjoy!LinksCommitted Capital - https://committedcapital.co.uk/email - info@committedcapital.co.ukTelephone - 0207 529 1350HMRC page on KI EIS funds: https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/venture-capital-schemes-manual/vcm16050HMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. https://youtu.be/ZYz4ZZmMJX0The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioGlen StewartHead of Business Development, Committed CapitalGlen has been raising capital for the best part of the last 20 years for businesses; utilising tax efficient investment wrappers such as Enterprise Investment Schemes and Venture Capital Trusts. During this time, he has raised capital for a number of diverse businesses and asset classes including multi-media, property, renewable energy and AIM listed companies ranging from startups to well established and profitable companies. Prior to this Glen spent the previous ten years at Coopers & Lybrand qualifying as a tax adviser, PwC and Deloitte specialising in High Net Worth, Expatriate tax, and cross border advice.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 SEIS, how they work and how they link together. The topics we cover in the discussion include:what is SEIS income tax relief?the limits on the tax reliefhow carry-back workswhat is capital gains tax relief for SEIS?is CGT payable on exit?how loss relief workshow the reliefs add updividends in SEIS companieshow IHT relief works for SEIS companiesAs well as explaining the reliefs, Olivia gives lots of examples to make things really clear. Enjoy!LinksHaatch Ventures - https://haatch.com/HMRC page on SEIS: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-apply-to-use-the-seed-enterprise-investment-schemeHMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioOlivia DrinnanDirector, Advisor Fundraising, Haatch Ventures**DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 discussion include:what is the aim of SEIS?how does the government ensure companies get new money?what sort of companies can investors buys shares in?what sectors are normalhow investors can access SEIS investmentshow do investors get their return? Watch out for the next episode which covers SEIS tax reliefs. Enjoy!LinksJenson Ventures - https://jensonventures.comHMRC page on SEIS: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-apply-to-use-the-seed-enterprise-investment-schemeHMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. https://youtu.be/**The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioJeffrey FaustinManaging Partner, Jenson VenturesJeffrey Faustin is Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Jenson Ventures with overall responsibility for the investment strategy and portfolio management of the Fund’s investments. With over 10 years of experience in venture capital, he has worked with over 150 early-stage high-growth technology companies across all sectors working with management teams to deliver growth through business strategy and board advisory support.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 cover in the discussion include:what is income tax relief?what are the limits on the tax reliefhow offer periods interact with thatwhat is the tax position on dividendswhat dividend strategies do we see in the marketwhether capital gains is payableAs well as explaining the reliefs, Paul brings in a few important nuances which will help many investors. Enjoy!LinksMercia Asset Management - https://mercia.co.uk/HMRC page on Venture Capital Trusts: https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/venture-capital-schemes-manual/vcm50000HMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioPaul MattickHead of Sales and Private Investor Relations, Mercia Asset ManagementDr Paul Mattick heads the Sales and Investor Relations team for the Mercia EIS Funds and VCTs. He works directly with private clients and advisers to build the EIS fund raising capacity of Mercia. Paul oversees the administration and development of the EIS funds, and ensures that investors receive a high level of service, much of which is delivered through Mercia’s award-winning Investor Centre.Paul has a variety of experience in early-stage businesses (including being a founder), and formerly worked at another leading EIS fund manager, where he built close relationships with top tier clients, and significantly grew both fund and single company assets under management. Paul has a PhD and Post-Doctorate from the University of Oxford and a 1st Class Bachelor of Science from the University of Leeds.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 Capital Trust?what a VCT can invest in?the restrictions on a VCT's cash holdingsthe different strategies that we see in VCTswhat areas VCT managers invest intocomparing EIS and VCT strategieshow an investor can buy sharesreturns from dividendshow to sell sharesAs well as explaining the reliefs, Nel brings in lots of examples. Enjoy!LinksForesight Group - https://www.foresight.group/Contact Nel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nel-isaac/ HMRC page on Venture Capital Trusts: https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/venture-capital-schemes-manual/vcm50000HMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. BioNel IsaacSenior Strategic Partnerships Manager, Foresight GroupNel Isaac is a Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager at Foresight, based in London. Nel has been with the business for 10 years and is currently responsible for managing relationships with key networks and national advice firms across the UK.Nel holds a BSc in Anthropology from the University of Southampton and the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) qualification part one.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 alongside the Hardman Talks videos on youtube so check them out there.In this episode, host Brian Moretta flies solo, giving a run through of the reliefs. These include:what is income tax relief?how capital gains deferral relief workswhat is loss reliefwhat is the tax position on dividendshow Business Relief can give EIS investments exemption from IHT As well as explaining the reliefs, Brian brings in lots of examples. Enjoy!LinksHMRC page on Enterprise Investment Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-apply-for-the-enterprise-investment-schemeHMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsSubscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here. The playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl7R2kXs_0I&list=PLuaVVfQg5eE8sL-3R2c25u7jcIgqJAxLvBioBrian MorettaHead of Tax Advantaged Research, Hardman & CoBrian Moretta is the Head of Tax-Advantaged Research at Hardman & Co, and also covers Financials stocks and Investment Funds.In addition to his role with Hardman & Co, Brian is an Honorary Fellow at Heriot-Watt University, where he lectures on actuarial science and financial economics. He has also been an examiner for the Faculty & Institute of Actuaries.Brian has had a 25-year career in Financial Services, including more than a decade as a fund manager. He specialised in analysing financial services companies at SVM Asset Management, as well as managing two traded endowment funds and an equity fund, and working on hedge funds. He has also been a Trustee and Board Member for Scouts Scotland.Brian joined Hardman & Co in 2013. A qualified actuary, he holds a PhD in Applied Probability and a BSc in Actuarial Maths and Statistics from Heriot-Watt University.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimer

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 trialling video alongside the usual audio releases. Video will be available alongside the Hardman Talks videos on youtube so check them out there.For our first episode, we have an introduction to the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) with Nic Pillow who is Senior Ventures Manager at Blackfinch Ventures. He has lots of experience in the industry so is well placed to tell us what its all about.Amongst other topics, we talk about:what is the aim of the EIS?what sort of companies can you invest in under the scheme?what is a knowledge intensive company?what are the size or other limits on companies?how do you find EIS companies to invest in?the need for Advance Assurancewhat are realistic holding times?As well as explaining the scheme, Nic brings in lots of examples. Enjoy!LinksHMRC page on Enterprise Investment Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-apply-for-the-enterprise-investment-schemeHMRC page on tax reliefs for venture schemes: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investorsBlackfinch Ventures website: https://blackfinch.ventures/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenYou can see this episode on video too here.Please note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation. Listeners must make their own independent decisions and obtain their own independent advice regarding any information, projects, securities, tax treatment or financial instruments mentioned herein.For more information, please read our full disclaimers:www.hardmanandco.com/research-disclosures www.hardmanandco.com/disclaimerThe playlist for all the videos of the Basics series will be found here.BioNic PillowSenior Ventures Manager, Blackfinch VenturesNic has over two decades of experience in creating value for start-up, fast-growth and multinational B2B technology companies. Since joining Blackfinch Ventures in 2019 he has helped launch and manage the Blackfinch Spring VCT, he has supported over 100 investments into high-tech Seed and Series A stage companies, and he has been an observer on the boards of numerous portfolio companies. Previously, Nic co-founded his own startup, Rhizome Live, a Software-as-a-Service business in the Education Tech sector. He raised £400,000 and gained access to a top accelerator. Prior to that he led a global team at Nokia which exercised portfolio control over 15 software products that grew in annual revenue from £50 to £250 million. He has also held roles including Product Manager at Logica and Solution Architect at Portal Software. Nic holds a first-class degree in Engineering & Computing from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. in Computer Vision from the Robotics Research Group at the University of Oxford.

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!LinksCheck out back episodes at https://hardmanandco.com/podcast/.Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaNine Lives: My Time As MI6's Top Spy Inside al-Qaeda by Aimen Dean

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 companiesbuilding and scaling hardware companiessources of IP and protecting itwhether to work with partners or notwhere the real challenges in supply chains aredealing with cash requirements at different stagesthe support available in the UK for hardwarehow climatetech products need to be no-brainersgetting good gross marginsscaling climatetech companiesMatt brings great insights with deep use of several real life examples to make his points clearer. Enjoy!00:45 Matt introduces himself and OnePlanetCapital03:15 Framing hardware vs software07:00 Finding skilled teams 12:00 Sources of IP and protecting it15:30 How partners affect options for exit18:10 Supply chains - where the real challenges are21:15 Timescales for hardware vs software24:00 How technology is affecting development times26:15 Cash requirements at different stages27:30 InnovateUK, grants and support within the UK30:30 Funding at later stages33:00 The need for climatic products to be no-brainers36:15 Getting good gross margins38:00 Challenges of bringing climatetech solutions to market at scale40:30 Are the trends still going in the right direction? Effect of venture bubble44:00 favourite questionsLinksOnePlanetCapital website: https://www.oneplanet.capital/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaPsychology of Money by Morgan HouselBioMatt JellicoeCEO, OnePlanetCapitalAfter a corporate career in public companies, Matthew founded and successfully exited two technology businesses in 2012 and 2018 respectively. He has been an active technology investor since 2012 and serves as a Non-Executive Director for two technology businesses. In more recent years he has specialised in sustainable investments.Matt Jellicoe is one of the founding directors of OnePlanet.Capital - a climate change focused EIS Investment Fund. The fund aims to combine strong investment returns with climate and environmental impact.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments.  Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.  Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

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 abouthow venture building programmes workhow climatetech has become more commercialthe role of government in developing the spacewhat are the clear trends just nowopportunities in carbon credits, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and Extended Producer Responsibilityfunding hardware developmentinternational manufacturing how US politics are affecting the spaceIts a great discussion: Nicky's deep and broad experiences give great insights into climatetech. Enjoy!00:55 Nicky introduces herself02:30 Introduction to Carbon1304:30 How venture building programmes work09:30 What does impact mean to you?13:00 Are people looking at climate investing more commercially now16:15 the role of government in driving things forward19:30 where are the trends in needs clear just now23:30 commercial drivers28:00 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism , extended producer responsibility32:30 hardware issues and handling capital intensivity36:20 international manufacturing challenges39:10 pushback in the US against climate change and DEI - do we look at other markets?43:30 navigating the near term uncertainty45:00 favourite questionsLinksCarbon13 website: https://carbonthirteen.com/Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listenSuggested books and mediaThe Blue Commons by Guy StandingBioDr Nicky DeeCo-founder and CEO, Carbon13Nicky has over 25 years of experience engaging with startups and stakeholders to drive sustainability and innovation in ESG. Viewing entrepreneurs as catalysts for transformative shifts, she co-founded Carbon13 in 2019 to apply venture building to protect earth’s vital systems. As CEO the organisation has grown to 84 portfolio investments with a total market value over £200m and 1,000 founders trained with hubs of activity in Cambridge, London and Berlin. Before Carbon13 she pioneered new initiatives spanning innovation prizes, startup acceleration, climate tech investments, and corporate venturing with organizations like UNEP, UK government, World Bank, etc. She has a PhD from the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge (IfM) and a Natural Sciences degree which underpins her interest and evaluation of technology based solutions and impact methodologies. She serves as a Fellow with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.DisclaimerPlease note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments.  Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.  Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.