Kickstarting Your Funding Journey with the Top UK Angel Investors
Finding reliable early-stage capital can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But in the UK’s thriving startup ecosystem, there’s a growing league of individuals backing fresh ideas. These top UK angel investors bring more than cash. They offer mentorship, networks, and deep expertise in sectors from fintech to AI.
Whether you’re at the seed stage or gearing for that Series A, knowing who’s active—and how they like to invest—can shave months off your fundraising cycle. Ready for a smoother path to SEIS/EIS funding? Revolutionizing Investment Opportunities in the UK with top UK angel investors will connect you commission-free to vetted, SEIS/EIS certified backers.
Why Angel Investors Are a Game-Changer for UK Startups
Angel investors fill a crucial gap between friends-and-family cheques and formal venture capital rounds. They typically:
- Write checks of £25k–£250k.
- Offer hands-on advice on product, hire, and go-to-market.
- Provide credibility that helps unlock further VC funding.
- Often invest under SEIS/EIS to maximise tax relief.
In a market tipped to exceed £1 billion in SEIS/EIS allocations, picking the right angel can raise your odds of success. These individuals have been through the trenches—founding, scaling, and exiting companies. Their experience can help you avoid common pitfalls and move faster.
The Power of Early-Stage Backing
- Quick decisions: Angels move fast, so you can secure funds in weeks, not months.
- Flexible terms: Less red tape compared to larger funds.
- Strategic introductions: A single intro can open doors to major clients or partners.
Navigating SEIS/EIS: A Quick Guide
The UK’s Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) are designed to reward investors with tax breaks when they back small, high-growth companies. Here’s why they’re essential for founders and angels alike:
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Income tax relief
– SEIS: 50% relief on investments up to £100k.
– EIS: 30% relief on up to £1 million. -
Capital gains tax exemption
– No CGT on gains from qualifying SEIS/EIS shares held for three years. -
Loss relief
– If your startup flops, investors can offset losses against income tax. -
Carry-back and deferral
– Set current year investments against previous year tax bills or defer CGT from a different disposal.
Understanding these incentives is half the battle. A well-structured SEIS/EIS application boosts investor confidence and accelerates deal flow. That’s where our platform shines: it filters opportunities that meet all the rules, so you focus on building rather than paperwork.
How We Chose the Top UK Angel Investors
Ranking the top UK angel investors isn’t guesswork. We evaluated dozens of criteria:
- Investment track record under SEIS/EIS schemes.
- Number of portfolio companies and exits.
- Sector expertise—fintech, healthtech, AI, proptech, and more.
- Levels of hands-on involvement and mentorship.
- Reputation in the community.
We combined public data, direct interviews, and our in-house analytics to deliver a concise list you can trust. Each profile below highlights what makes these backers stand out and how they can turbocharge your next round.
The 25 Trailblazers: Profiles of Leading UK Angels
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Simon Murdoch
– Sector Focus: DevOps, B2B SaaS, Fintech
– Investments: 105+
– Notable Companies: Shazam, Zoopla, Shutl
– Ex-VP Europe at Amazon; now leads Episode 1. -
Chris Adelsbach
– Sector Focus: Fintech
– Investments: 110+
– Notable Companies: Atom Bank, Cuvva, Monese
– Co-founder of Outrun Ventures; Techstars partner. -
Laurel Bowden
– Sector Focus: DevOps, B2B SaaS, Fintech
– Investments: 35+
– Notable Companies: Wix, FreeAgent, Secret Escapes
– General partner at 83North with $800m AUM. -
Chris Mairs
– Sector Focus: Deep Tech, AI
– Investments: 85+
– Notable Companies: Magic Pony, CloudNC, Credit Kudos
– Co-founder of Metaswitch; Venture Partner at Entrepreneur First. -
Sarah Turner
– Sector Focus: Female Founders, Scalable Tech
– Investments: 35+
– Notable Companies: Provenance, Fiskl, Raremark
– Co-founder of Angel Academe supporting women-led startups. -
Taavet Hinrikus
– Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, Comms
– Investments: 55+
– Notable Companies: TweetDeck, Mendeley, Improbable
– TransferWise co-founder; Estonian digital adviser. -
Alexander Chesterman
– Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, Comms
– Investments: 55+
– Notable Companies: Lovefilm, ZPG Plc, Cazoo
– OBE for digital entrepreneurship. -
Nicole Junkermann
– Sector Focus: Fintech, Gaming, VR, AI
– Investments: 30+
– Notable Companies: Songza, Dollar Shave Club
– Media-tech crossover specialist. -
Michael Pennington
– Sector Focus: Fintech, Sector-Agnostic
– Investments: 25+
– Notable Companies: Juro, Koru Kids, Breedr
– Gumtree co-founder; early-stage champion. -
Errol Damelin
- Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, Consumer
- Investments: 25+
- Notable Companies: TransferWise, CityMapper
- Built Wonga to $100m EBITDA.
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Akhil Paul
- Sector Focus: Fintech, B2B SaaS
- Investments: 50+
- Notable Companies: Airlift, Cresta, Fast
- Former Goldman Sachs; global network adviser.
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Reece Chowdhry
- Sector Focus: B2B Software, Fintech, Entertainment
- Investments: 50+
- Notable Companies: Organise, Cliff.ai, Reachdesk
- Founding Partner at Concept Ventures.
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Rosemary Forsyth
- Sector Focus: Circular Economy, Impact
- Investments: 20+
- Notable Companies: Net-a-Porter, Flux
- Executive search veteran for high-growth boards.
Discover commission-free SEIS/EIS connections with top UK angel investors
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Nick Green
- Sector Focus: Agnostic
- Investments: 15+
- Notable Companies: Obby, Weezy
- Former Deliveroo Head of Sales; startup advisor.
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Oded Kobo
- Sector Focus: Entertainment, Foodtech, B2B SaaS
- Investments: 25+
- Notable Companies: Youku, Telegram
- $2bn+ in M&A advisory value.
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Yoma Kukor
- Sector Focus: Fintech, Clean-tech, Enterprise
- Investments: 35+
- Notable Companies: Monzo, Crowdcube
- Oxford Venture Finance alum.
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Ian Hogarth
- Sector Focus: AI, ML, Fintech
- Investments: 35+
- Notable Companies: Cleo, Hopin, Tide
- Songkick co-founder; quantum software chairman.
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Michelle You
- Sector Focus: Consumer, Clima-Tech
- Investments: 25+
- Notable Companies: Wren, Avant Arte
- Ex-Songkick product lead; LocalGlobe partner.
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Tom Hulme
- Sector Focus: E-Commerce, Digital, Proptech
- Investments: 20+
- Notable Companies: YPlan, Smol
- Google Ventures GP; IDEO Europe alum.
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Paul Heydon
- Sector Focus: Gaming, Media
- Investments: 20+
- Notable Companies: Supercell, Unity
- 30 years as investor and operator.
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Richard Fearn
- Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, Media
- Investments: 20+
- Notable Companies: Sofar Sounds, What3Words
- Co-founder of marketing-focused Friday Club.
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Brent Hoberman
- Sector Focus: Media, B2B SaaS, Agnostic
- Investments: 50+
- Notable Companies: Onfido, Treatwell
- Co-founder of lastminute.com; firstminute capital chair.
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Tony Jamous
- Sector Focus: Fintech, HR Tech, Remote Work
- Investments: 20+
- Notable Companies: TrueLayer, Hopin
- Founder of Oyster; Nexmo exit to Vonage.
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Sherry Coutu
- Sector Focus: Fintech, Impact
- Investments: 20+
- Notable Companies: Recurly, Perkbox
- Board member across charities and universities.
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Stefan Glänzer
- Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, AI
- Investments: 25+
- Notable Companies: Mendeley, PeerIndex
- Serial entrepreneur from Germany.
Leveraging Oriel IPO for Commission-Free SEIS/EIS Funding
By now you’ve met the individuals shaping the UK startup landscape. But where do you go from here? Oriel IPO acts as your bridge—no commission, no hidden fees. We vet every deal for genuine SEIS/EIS eligibility. Startups post their pitch, angels browse, and the right matches happen in days, not months.
Bonus for content-driven founders: Oriel IPO also uses Maggie’s AutoBlog, our AI-powered content tool, to generate investor-focused updates and blogs. It’s like having an in-house content team, but without the salary bill. Your story reaches the right eyes, with the right keywords, at the right time.
Ready to Engage with the Top UK Angel Investors?
You’ve seen the movers and shakers. Now it’s your turn to pitch. Skip the middlemen, cut the delays, and tap into tax-efficient schemes that reward both you and your backers. For direct, commission-free access to SEIS/EIS certified angels, it’s time to take action. Explore our SEIS/EIS certified network of top UK angel investors
