Why SEIS/EIS Matters for UK Marketplaces
If you’re running a marketplace startup in the UK, SEIS and EIS are more than acronyms. They’re lifelines.
- SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme) offers up to 50% income tax relief on investments up to £100,000.
- EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) tops that with 30% relief on investments up to £1 million.
Think of SEIS/EIS as a tax umbrella on a rainy day. Investors love it. You should too.
An EIS investor directory is your cheat sheet. It points you to the right backers. No more blind pitches. No more wasted time.
Rho vs Oriel IPO: Which Platform Fits Your Marketplace?
You may have seen Rho’s list of marketplace angels. They do banking, corporate cards, even FDIC-insured accounts. Handy.
But here’s the rub:
- Rho charges fees.
- Their focus is on banking, not on guiding you through SEIS/EIS.
- They’re US-centric.
Enter Oriel IPO.
- Commission-free funding. No hidden costs.
- Curated, tax-efficient deals under SEIS/EIS.
- Educational toolkits that demystify relief rules.
- A thriving community of founders and investors.
- Plus, Maggie’s AutoBlog, an AI-powered platform that pumps out SEO-optimized content so you shine online without hiring a team.
Oriel IPO isn’t just another marketplace. It’s an EIS investor directory wrapped in a UK-first package.
How to Use This EIS Investor Directory
- Identify your stage: Pre-seed? Seed? Growth?
- Match against investor focus: tech, consumer, marketplaces.
- Check SEIS/EIS compatibility: not every angel covers both.
- Craft a targeted pitch: address their past portfolio.
- Get a warm intro whenever possible.
Sound basic? It is. But basics win rounds.
14 Active UK Marketplace Angel Investors
Here’s your go-to EIS investor directory for marketplace startups.
Angels Den
– Stage: Seed & Series A
– Investment: £50K–£500K
– Focus: SEIS/EIS, tech marketplaces
– Why they stand out: Local match-making events.Angel Investment Network
– Stage: Seed
– Investment: £10K–£250K
– Focus: Broad sector, strong EIS pipeline
– Why they stand out: Global reach, local UK chapters.SyndicateRoom
– Stage: Seed–Series B
– Investment: £100K–£5M
– Focus: EIS, co-investment alongside angels
– Why they stand out: Access EIS fund for larger tickets.Crowdcube
– Stage: Seed–Series B
– Investment: £50K–£2M
– Focus: Equity crowdfunding with SEIS/EIS relief
– Why they stand out: Massive network of retail investors.Seedrs
– Stage: Pre-seed–Series A
– Investment: £25K–£3M
– Focus: Structured SEIS/EIS campaigns
– Why they stand out: Secondary market for early liquidity.InvestingZone
– Stage: Seed
– Investment: £50K–£500K
– Focus: Pure SEIS/EIS investment platform
– Why they stand out: Curated deal flow, investor education.Crowd for Angels
– Stage: Pre-seed–Seed
– Investment: £25K–£250K
– Focus: No investor fees, SEIS/EIS eligible
– Why they stand out: Simple minimums, B2C emphasis.Crowd2Fund
– Stage: Seed–Series A
– Investment: £50K–£1M
– Focus: Loans & equity under SEIS/EIS
– Why they stand out: Hybrid lending model.SFC Capital
– Stage: Seed
– Investment: £100K–£1.5M
– Focus: Top-tier SEIS fund, tech startups
– Why they stand out: Largest number of SEIS deals in 2023/24.Mercia Asset Management
- Stage: Seed–Series A
- Investment: £100K–£3M
- Focus: Tech-heavy SEIS/EIS portfolios
- Why they stand out: One of the UK’s biggest combined funds.
LocalGlobe
- Stage: Seed–Series A
- Investment: £100K–£2M
- Focus: UK tech → marketplaces, SaaS
- Why they stand out: Early backer of TransferWise.
Passion Capital
- Stage: Pre-seed–Series A
- Investment: £50K–£1M
- Focus: Digital marketplaces, FinTech
- Why they stand out: Strong community support.
Connect Ventures
- Stage: Seed
- Investment: £200K–£1M
- Focus: Marketplaces, SaaS, developer tools
- Why they stand out: Tight syndicate of operators.
Forward Partners
- Stage: Pre-seed–Series A
- Investment: £100K–£2M
- Focus: Marketplace, AI, e-commerce
- Why they stand out: In-house studio support.
Each entry here makes our EIS investor directory a quick reference. Bookmark it. Return often.
Tips for Pitching UK Marketplace Angels
- Be stage-specific. Don’t pitch a Series B idea to a pre-seed angel.
- Highlight tax relief. Show them you understand SEIS/EIS mechanics.
- Show traction. Even a small MVP counts.
- Use warm intros. A friendly referral beats cold email.
- Leverage Oriel IPO’s toolkit. Our educational guides help you nail the investor deck.
Demystify SEIS/EIS Compliance
Applying for relief isn’t rocket science. But it can feel like it.
- Get your accounts in order.
- Confirm company eligibility.
- Use our platform’s partner network for legal checks.
- Nail your advanced assurance application.
Oriel IPO even connects you to compliance tools. No more hunting for advisors.
Why Commission-Free Matters
Fees nibble away at your runway.
- A 5% fee on a £200K round is £10K gone.
- Oriel IPO’s commission-free model leaves every penny for growth.
That matters when you’re building a two-sided marketplace. Every seller and buyer counts.
Wrap-Up
Finding the right angel can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. This EIS investor directory puts that needle on a plate.
Oriel IPO goes further:
- Commission-free funding.
- Curated SEIS/EIS deals.
- Educational resources.
- Maggie’s AutoBlog for automatic content wins.
Ready to make your next round seamless?


