Introduction
The UK boasts over 15,000 angel investors, making it home to some of the most essential angel groups in Europe. In the 2023/24 tax year alone, 3,780 companies raised a whopping £1.575 billion via the EIS and SEIS schemes. That’s serious firepower for startups. But finding the right investor network? That can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
You want visibility. You want guidance. You want connections. That’s where these 20 essential angel groups come in. They cover every corner of the UK, span multiple sectors, and cater to investment rounds from £10k to £5 million. Whether you’re in fintech, cleantech, medtech or plain old digital services, there’s a network that fits.
And if you’re keen to skip commission fees and access curated, tax-efficient deals, Oriel IPO is your backstage pass. With our commission-free SEIS/EIS marketplace, you can tap into these networks, unlock detailed profiles and invest or fundraise with total clarity.
Why Commission-Free SEIS/EIS Matters
Angel networks traditionally charge fees to brokers, platforms or underwriters. Those costs can quickly erode that juicy 50% tax relief you get from SEIS, or the 30% relief from EIS. Commission-free SEIS/EIS means:
- More capital goes into your startup or portfolio.
- Simpler accounting—no hidden fees.
- Better alignment between founders and investors.
- Transparent terms from day one.
Oriel IPO eliminates commissions altogether. You pay a straightforward subscription for unlimited deal access. No surprises. No split fees. Just pure, tax-efficient investing.
How Oriel IPO Enhances Your Investor Search
Imagine a single dashboard showing deal flow from all 20 of these essential angel groups. That’s Oriel IPO. We curate only SEIS/EIS-eligible rounds. We provide:
- Detailed term sheets.
- Education modules demystifying SEIS/EIS.
- Community forums for peer advice.
- AI-powered content tools like Maggie’s AutoBlog to boost your investor pitch and SEO.
Whether you’re raising or deploying capital, you’ll save hours of manual research. And because we don’t take commissions, you keep more of the upside.
20 Essential Angel Groups Across the UK
Below, you’ll find the top angel networks to watch. Each of these essential angel groups has a proven track record in SEIS/EIS investing.
1. Advantage Business Angels
- Regions: UK-wide
- Investment size: £25,000 – £300,000
- Sectors: SaaS, FinTech, EdTech, MedTech
- Why essential: One of the essential angel groups thanks to its selective deal flow and 60% success rate in funding rounds.
2. AngelClubRCA
- Regions: UK (Royal College of Art spinouts)
- Investment size: £10,000 – £500,000
- Sectors: Any early-stage concept
- Why essential: A top essential angel group for design-led startups emerging from RCA’s innovation pipeline.
3. Angels Den
- Regions: UK
- Investment size: £100,000 – £1m
- Sectors: Cross-sector, AI-driven selection
- Why essential: One of the essential angel groups with over 40 deals a year and AI-enhanced matching.
4. Angels Invest Wales
- Regions: Wales
- Investment size: Any size
- Sectors: Any
- Why essential: Wales’s largest angel network and an essential angel group for regional growth.
5. Dorset Business Angels
- Regions: South England focus
- Investment size: £50,000 – £1m
- Sectors: Any
- Why essential: Recognised as an essential angel group for bridging local high-net-worth investors and startups.
6. 24Haymarket
- Regions: London & Edinburgh
- Investment size: £1m – £5m
- Sectors: Digital healthcare, cyber security, climate tech
- Why essential: A go-to essential angel group for founders with proven traction seeking larger rounds.
7. Envestors Private Investment Club (EPIC)
- Regions: UK
- Investment size: £250,000 – £5m
- Sectors: Tech, Cleantech, FinTech, MedTech, EdTech
- Why essential: An essential angel group backed by FCA-regulated Envestors, delivering 26+ exits.
8. Equity Gap
- Regions: Scotland (and relocators)
- Investment size: £100,000 – £500,000
- Sectors: SAAS, life sciences, consumer products
- Why essential: Awarded UKBAA’s Most Active Investor in the Regions—truly essential angel group status.
9. Finstock Capital
- Regions: UK
- Investment size: £100,000 – £5m
- Sectors: Any (non-dilutive debt focus)
- Why essential: This essential angel group offers debt solutions alongside equity, extending runway without dilution.
10. Green Angel Syndicate
- Regions: UK
- Investment size: £250,000 – £1.2m
- Sectors: Climate tech, energy, waste management
- Why essential: The UK’s only climate-focused essential angel group, backing 50+ green ventures annually.
11. Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN)
- Regions: Ireland & Northern Ireland
- Investment size: €10,000 – €500,000
- Sectors: MedTech, software, cleantech
- Why essential: An essential angel group boosting Ireland’s startup scene with 60+ deals a year.
12. Kelvin Capital
- Regions: UK
- Investment size: £500,000 – £2m
- Sectors: Any, revenue-generating focus
- Why essential: A Scottish-based essential angel group with a track record of scaling UK firms internationally.
13. Manchester Angels
- Regions: North-West England
- Investment size: £50,000 – £300,000
- Sectors: Tech, life sciences
- Why essential: A data-driven essential angel group in one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech hubs.
14. Minerva
- Regions: Midlands, London, North-West
- Investment size: Up to £500,000
- Sectors: Sector-agnostic, EIS/SEIS eligible
- Why essential: The largest syndicated essential angel group, powered by University of Warwick Science Park.
15. NorthInvest
- Regions: Northern England & Northern Wales
- Investment size: £25,000 – £1m
- Sectors: AI, Big Data, HealthTech, EdTech
- Why essential: A not-for-profit essential angel group aligned with the Northern Powerhouse.
16. South East Angels
- Regions: Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire
- Investment size: £50,000 – £350,000
- Sectors: Any, SEIS/EIS only
- Why essential: A syndicate of essential angel groups backing exceptional founders under £2m rounds.
17. The Cambridge Angels Network
- Regions: Cambridge & surroundings
- Investment size: £150,000 – £1.5m
- Sectors: Cleantech, robotics, telecoms, space tech
- Why essential: Invitation-only essential angel group run by exited entrepreneurs driving diversity.
18. SFC Capital
- Regions: UK
- Investment size: £150,000+
- Sectors: Sector-agnostic
- Why essential: The most active VC according to Pitchbook—an essential angel group with 100+ deals a year.
19. Solid Bond
- Regions: UK-wide
- Investment size: £50,000 – £1m
- Sectors: Tech, finance, product
- Why essential: Early-stage essential angel group focusing on founder chemistry and operational support.
20. The FSE Group
- Regions: Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Cornwall
- Investment size: £50,000 – £2m
- Sectors: Any, VC + angel network model
- Why essential: An essential angel group combining fund management and syndicate investing under one roof.
Next Steps with Commission-Free SEIS/EIS Funding
You’ve met the 20 essential angel groups powering the UK’s startup engine. Now, pick your favourites. Dive into their deal flows. And remember—every pound you invest or raise through Oriel IPO stays commission-free.
Ready to cut out the middleman, simplify SEIS/EIS compliance and plug into the best angel networks? Let’s do this.
