Guinness Ventures has announced the launch of the Guinness Founders SEIS, a new investment service aimed at supporting early-stage UK companies under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). The new vehicle is targeting a £3 million raise, which will be deployed into a diversified portfolio of 10 to 20 startups. Each company is expected to receive £100,000 to £250,000 to fuel its earliest steps toward commercialisation.
The service focuses on emerging founders across Business Services, Consumer, and Healthcare sectors, where early capital and hands-on guidance can quickly unlock value. These teams are typically in pre-revenue or early-revenue stages, making SEIS funding a crucial starting point in their growth journeys.
Backed by deep venture experience
The new service will leverage Guinness Ventures’ extensive deal flow and longstanding entrepreneur networks. Over more than a decade of venture investing, the firm has deployed over £340 million into EIS-qualified companies and returned more than £135 million to investors. Guinness EIS was recognised as Best EIS Manager at the 2024 Growth Investor Awards.
With this track record, the Founders SEIS is positioned to offer both high-quality sourcing and disciplined portfolio construction for investors seeking early-stage opportunities.
Strong incentives for investors
SEIS remains one of the most generous investment schemes in the UK. Investors can access 50% income tax relief, capital gains reinvestment benefits, and tax-free growth on shares held for at least three years. The Guinness Founders SEIS is open to subscriptions starting from £20,000.
Guinness Ventures plans for the service to be fully deployed in the 2026/27 tax year, with subscriptions open now and closing on 5 April 2026. The firm aims to back founders at their most formative stage while ensuring investors benefit from structured, diversified exposure to the SEIS landscape.
A firm rooted in British venture growth
Based in London since 2003, Guinness Ventures specialises in supporting early-stage and growth-stage UK businesses through EIS and SEIS structures. The firm has backed over 100 companies across 15 sectors and manages investments on behalf of more than 5,000 investors. As part of Guinness Asset Management Ltd, which oversees £8 billion and employs over 80 staff, the venture team benefits from deep institutional resources.
With the launch of the Guinness Founders SEIS, the firm is extending its commitment to helping early founders turn ambitious ideas into scalable British businesses.
Shane Gallwey, CEO, Guinness Ventures, said: “We’ve spent over a decade building the relationships, expertise, and infrastructure needed to identify and support Britain’s most promising growth companies. The Guinness Founders SEIS is a natural extension of that work – giving investors access to the very earliest stage of the journey, where the right combination of capital and hands-on support can make the biggest difference.”
