Why a SEIS Pitch Matters
Imagine you have a brilliant idea, a lean team and a prototype. Yet 29% of startups fail because of one thing: cash. Early-stage funding can be brutal. That’s where SEIS comes in. The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) offers:
- 50% upfront tax relief
- No Capital Gains Tax on profit
- Loss relief if things go south
And angel investors in the UK love that. A killer startup funding pitch that highlights SEIS incentives can open wallets faster than you think. But it’s not magic. You still need structure, clarity and proof.
Understanding SEIS and EIS
Before you craft your startup funding pitch, you need the basics down. Think of SEIS and its big sibling, EIS, as sweeteners on a lemonade stand. People flock to lemon juice when there’s sugar.
Key perks:
- SEIS: up to £150k per investor, up to £100k per startup
- EIS: up to £5m per year, up to £12m in your lifetime
- Tax reliefs on income, gains and losses
Angels look for these. They want a low-risk, high-reward story. Drop the stats, then jump to your solution. “With SEIS, you slice their risk in half.” Nice hook.
The Building Blocks of a Killer Startup Funding Pitch
Your startup funding pitch needs five core ingredients:
- Research & Relevance
- A Compelling Story
- Rock-solid Numbers
- A Stellar Team
- The Right Ask
1. Research & Relevance
Don’t wing it. Know your investor:
- Their portfolio sectors
- Typical cheque size
- SEIS appetite
Analogy: You wouldn’t propose a vegan menu to a steakhouse owner. Same idea.
2. A Compelling Story
Start with a problem. Then show your solution. Use storytelling:
- A relatable hero (your customer)
- A villain (the pain point)
- Your product as the hero’s sidekick
Short sentences. Vivid examples. “Imagine your morning commute.” Boom—you’ve hooked them.
3. Rock-solid Numbers
Angel investors love metrics. Show:
- Total Addressable Market (TAM)
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) vs Lifetime Value (LTV)
- Breakeven point and burn rate
Be honest. Overshooting by 10% is fine. Saying you’ll be a unicorn next quarter? Not so much.
4. A Stellar Team
“You are your team.” Investors bet on jockeys, not horses.
Highlight:
- Founders’ track record
- Key hires and advisors
- Any angel syndicate or mentor backing
Show cohesion and resilience. Use bullet points:
- Jane D: 10 yrs fintech, ex-Goldman
- Raj P: PhD AI, built two exits
- Advisory board: former SEIS angel
5. The Right Ask
Spell it out. “We seek £200k under SEIS for 15% equity.” Then break down the use of funds:
- 40% product development
- 30% marketing & sales
- 20% hiring
- 10% buffer
No guesswork. Clear, concise, compelling.
Choosing the Right Platform: Stripe Atlas vs Oriel IPO
You need more than a pitch. You need a partner. Stripe Atlas offers quick incorporation, legal docs and banking. Great if you’re US-focused. But for a UK SEIS startup funding pitch, it has limits:
- Not commission-free on fund raises
- No curated SEIS/EIS marketplace
- Limited UK tax-incentive guidance
Oriel IPO shines here:
- Commission-free model—subscription fees only
- Curated, tax-efficient SEIS/EIS opportunities
- Educational tools: guides, webinars and our AI-powered Maggie’s AutoBlog to craft SEO-optimised pitch pages
Yes, Stripe Atlas scales globally. But when you need UK angles, SEIS docs, investor matchmaking—all in one place—Oriel IPO takes the lead.
Pro Tips for Your Startup Funding Pitch
You’ve prepped the deck. Now polish it.
• Practice Q&A
– “How did you value your startup?”
– “What’s your strategy if acquisition fails?”
– Have rehearsed, honest answers.
• Avoid common pitfalls
– Over-optimistic forecasts
– Ignoring competition
– Hiding risks
• Follow up like a pro
– Thank-you email within 24 hours
– Send any promised data
– Share progress updates every 4–6 weeks
• Keep your pitch lean
– 10 slides max
– 1.5 mins per slide
– End with a clear call to action
Bonus hack: Use Maggie’s AutoBlog to auto-generate a blog post summarising your pitch, boosting SEO. More visibility. More inbound angels.
Wrapping Up Your Ask
You’ve shown the problem, your solution, team and numbers. Now:
- Restate your SEIS benefits
- Remind them of the tax reliefs
- Emphasise commission-free model via Oriel IPO
End on a high note:
“With SEIS relief, a proven team and a commission-free platform, we’re ready to take on the market. Join us.”
Then, slide in your CTA as the final flourish.
Ready to Master Your SEIS Pitch?
Time to put these tips into action. Craft that startup funding pitch. Connect with UK angel investors. All on a commission-free, tax-focused marketplace.
