DSW Ventures closes Seed EIS fund to invest up to £2m in regional start-ups

DSW Ventures, the venture capital business of the Dow Schofield Watts Group, has announced the successful first close of its debut Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) fund, providing the capacity to invest up to £2m in regional start-ups.

The DSW Ventures SEIS Fund, which aligns with changes to the SEIS tax rules introduced in April, will target early-stage technology businesses and university spin-outs outside the London-Oxbridge ‘golden triangle’.

The firm aims to invest the entire £2m in the current tax year, and hopes the initial fund will become the first of a series launched in each new tax year. Dow Schofield Watts’ partners and associates have contributed £295,000 to the total raised. The fund will remain open for additional investors until the completion of its first investment, which is anticipated to close in June.

The fund seeks to bridge the persistent funding gap for regional start-ups. According to data collected for the British Business Bank’s Nations and Regions Tracker, 70% of UK seed-stage investment is concentrated in London and South East businesses, which account for only 30% of the population.

Established in 2019 and headquartered in Manchester, DSW Ventures has invested in 11 businesses, facilitating £12.5m in venture capital. The firm achieved its first exit in December with the sale of ACAI Outdoorwear, generating a 4.2x cash return for investors. DSW Ventures’ strong presence in the national early-stage venture capital market now attracts over 2,500 new applicants annually.

Keith Benson, co-founder of DSW Ventures, said: “We intend for our inaugural fund to contribute to the levelling up of funding for early-stage regional businesses, while giving investors the opportunity to tap into an underrepresented asset class and benefit from the attractive Seed EIS tax incentives.

“While the market for new funds is challenging, we are particularly pleased to have closed the fundraising at the top of our range. This demonstrates the confidence in our track record, our hands-on approach to managing investments, and the personal commitment from the DSW team, who have contributed significantly to the total funding.”