New Fund Launched to Invest in Early-Stage Startups

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 13 seconds

Investment

Share:

Quick Read: OnePlanetCapital launches a new SEIS fund to invest £1 million in early-stage climate tech startups in the UK, aiming to accelerate the transition to Net Zero.

A new fund aimed at accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a green economy is being launched to invest in early-stage startups across the UK.

OnePlanetCapital, a venture capital fund dedicated to combating climate change, has announced the introduction of its Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) fund.

The inaugural SEIS fund aims to raise approximately £1 million over the next 12 months to invest in SEIS-qualifying climate tech businesses. This initiative continues the investment strategy of OnePlanetCapital's flagship Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) fund but focuses on earlier-stage companies at the pre-seed and seed levels.

The fund will benefit from the recent expansion of the SEIS tax incentive scheme, which now allows startups to secure up to £250,000 in funding with tax reliefs, an increase from the previous £150,000 limit. Additionally, companies up to three years old are now eligible, compared to the previous limit of two years.

OnePlanetCapital’s SEIS fund offers investors the chance to participate in a fund targeting a return of £3 for every £1 invested over a five to seven-year period, along with 50% SEIS income tax relief.

Matthew Jellicoe, co-founder and investment director, stated,

"We see the SEIS fund market as underserved in the UK, and we believe that launching an SEIS climate tech fund will resonate with investors looking to enter this rapidly growing sector. The SEIS fund allows us to invest in earlier-stage businesses that our EIS fund cannot, due to its later-stage mandate. For areas such as battery storage and hydrogen technology, it is particularly valuable to invest in pre-revenue businesses to capture significant value for investors."

This fund launch represents a significant opportunity for both startups and investors to contribute to and benefit from the transition to a sustainable, green economy.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun