Boxfund VC

At Boxfund VC, we believe in adopting fair and realistic valuations. We are not in favor of inflated valuations based on run-rate turnover projections or pre-money valuations. Instead, valuations should be grounded in historical turnover or projected turnovers based on reasonable assumptions. Run rates can distort and artificially inflate financial projections, while pre-money valuations can skew the true value of a company. We prefer using post-money valuations, as they reflect the company's actual worth after investment. Moreover, valuation multiples should be realistic, particularly since most exits for VCs involve selling to private equity firms or strategic buyers, who typically base valuations on EBITDA multiples rather than turnover. In today's challenging fundraising environment, it’s crucial to adopt a pragmatic approach. If you want to be taken seriously, avoid overselling your business or using financial jargon to inflate its value. Be realistic, transparent, and above all, honest. Please let me know your thoughts below 👇

We are delighted to welcome Thomas Smith, CFA as the new Investment Director at Boxfund VC Tom brings a wealth of experience to our team. Prior to joining BoxFund, he led the venture-stage consumer team at HSBC Innovation Banking (formerly SVB), where he partnered with over 160 VC-backed consumer startups. His background also includes time as a seed investor at Ascension as well as serving as COO for Curiscope. Additionally, Tom co-founded AdminaHealth® a SaaS platform focused on U.S. healthcare programs, and began his career as an M&A analyst at Guggenheim Partners. Welcome aboard, Tom!

🌟 Exclusive Investor Insight: London’s Largest Demo Day! 🌟 As one of the investor partners who helped curate the best startups for London’s Largest Demo Day, we thrilled to invite you to an exceptional event on October 14, 2024, in Mayfair, London. Join over 250 top investors for a unique opportunity to see up to 8 highly-rated startups from specific sectors pitching every hour. With a total of 100 pre-Seed to Series A stage companies showcasing their innovations throughout the day, each pitch is a rapid 1 minute, followed by 3 minutes for Q&A—think “Dragons’ Den” on steroids. Connect with fellow VCs, family offices, and industry leaders, and access detailed information via our app. Don’t miss your chance to discover and engage with the next wave of groundbreaking opportunities. 📅 Date: October 14, 2024 📍 Location: Mayfair, London 🔗Registration link in the comments!

Boxfund VC recently hosted a great BoxSeat event at Shoreditch House in partnership with United Kingdom British Business Angel Association (UKBAA), featuring Keir Carnie, Founder of Nuud Gum, alongside our Chairman, Roger Wade. BoxFund VC is proud to support purpose-driven brands like Nuud, which aim not only for business success but also to create a positive impact on the world. Nuud is leading a revolution in the gum industry with their plant-based, plastic-free gum that looks and tastes just like traditional gum. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to eliminate plastic gum. "Chew plants, not plastic!" BoxFund is offering an exclusive investment opportunity for select professional investors. We are raising £500k in seed capital at a £2 million pre-money valuation, with EIS assurance from HMRC. If you’d like to learn more feel free to reach out at hello@boxfund.co.uk. https://lnkd.in/eST62yga

We’re excited to be joining 35+ of Europe's top VCs in Impact<> Investor Office Hours on 30th October 2024, with Renata Thome representing Boxfund VC Led by impact accelerator Unrest, in collaboration with Google Cloud and Carta, this initiative helps impact founders progress on their fundraising journey. 🚀 Link to apply in the comment below 👇 This is an exciting opportunity for impact founders to connect with top-tier investors—whether it’s to make connections, get advice, or pitch for funding. We'd love to see you there!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the BoxSeat event with Keir Carnie, founder of Nuud | Plastic Free Gum - and our Chair, Roger Wade from Boxfund VC Hopefully this is the start of the journey to ‘Rid the World of Plastic gum!’

Join Us for a LinkedIn Live event today at 7.30pm with Nuud Gum Founder, Keir Carnie, and BoxFund Chairman, Roger Wade BoxFund VC, in collaboration with UKBAA, is delighted to invite you to ‘BoxSeat,’ a Q and A evening featuring Keir Carnie, Founder of Nuud Gum, and Roger Wade, Chairman of BoxFund. Please find the event details below: Date & Time:  Thursday, 12th September, 7:30 - 8:30 PM Venue: LinkedIn Live About BoxFund BoxFund is a venture capital firm founded by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. We understand the unique challenges of building successful businesses and are committed to supporting visionary founders with innovative ideas. We provide financial backing and strategic guidance, specializing in early-stage SEIS/EIS funding for UK-based start-ups. Our investments focus on ESG consumer brands aligned with our core values: Social Good, Healthy Planet, and Positive Business Practices. With investment sizes ranging from £100k to £1m at valuations between £1-£10m, we seek companies dedicated to profitability and positive societal impact. Our Chairman, Roger Wade, brings over 30 years of experience in developing consumer brands from concept to successful exit, offering hands-on mentorship and support to entrepreneurs. About Nuud Gum Did you know that each piece of conventional chewing gum contains the equivalent of a drinking straw's worth of single-use plastic? Nuud is changing that with their plant-based, plastic-free, biodegradable gum that looks and tastes just like traditional gum. Their mission is clear: to rid the world of plastic gum. Their motto says it all "Chew plants, not plastic!" Every year, 340 billion pieces of plastic gum are chewed worldwide, contributing to long-lasting environmental harm. Nuud aims to revolutionize the £300 million UK gum market and eventually the £26 billion global market. Already nationally listed in Waitrose, Co-op, and Ocado, Nuud is poised for significant growth. BoxFund is offering an exclusive investment opportunity to select professional investors. We are raising up to £500k in seed capital at a £2.5 million post-money valuation, with EIS assurance from HMRC. If you’re interested in learning more, we invite you to attend our LinkedIn Live event or reach out directly to our Head of Investments, Renata Thome, at Renata@boxfund.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you there!

What are the pros and cons of working with a VC firm versus making direct investments? Before establishing my own VC firm, Boxfund VC I made several direct investments in UK startups. Through this experience, I learned that for an investment to be successful, four key aspects must be addressed: 1. Raise:Secure the necessary funds for the entire round. 2. Negotiate:Ensure you are paying a fair value. 3. Guidance:Provide operational support to the company. 4. Exit:Plan and secure a successful exit strategy. When you make a direct investment, finding a promising company is just the beginning. The company might not have sufficient initial funding, and more critically, you might lack the expertise to accurately assess the market value, leading to potential overpayment. Additionally, once you've made the investment, it's crucial to add operational value—do you have the skills to effectively support the executive team? Lastly, investing isn't just about putting in money; it's also about ensuring you can eventually exit the investment profitably. Given these challenges, I believe it's often better for less experienced investors to work with a VC firm or join an angel network. While VC firms typically charge a 2% annual management fee and take 20% of any profits (known as "carry"), remember that 100% of nothing is still nothing, and 80% of something is still profit. If you're looking for reputable venture capital firms or angel networks to partner with, I highly recommend reaching out to the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) or the @UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA). Please let me know your thoughts below 👇

Did you know that every piece of chewing gum contains as much single-use plastic as a drinking straw? Nuud is changing the game with their plant-based, plastic-free, and biodegradable gum that looks and tastes just like traditional gum. Their mission is simple but powerful: eliminate plastic gum from the world. Their motto? "Chew plants, not plastic!" Each year, 340 billion pieces of plastic gum are chewed globally, causing long-lasting environmental damage. Nuud is on a mission to revolutionize the £300 million UK gum market, with ambitions to expand into the £26 billion global market. Already listed nationwide in Waitrose, Co-op, and Ocado, Nuud is set for significant growth. Boxfund VC is offering a unique investment opportunity to select professional investors. We’re raising £500k in seed capital at a £2 million pre-money valuation, with EIS assurance from HMRC. For more details, please see the enclosed investment flyer. If you're interested in learning more, we invite you to attend our launch event or contact our Head of Investor Relations, Renata Thome, at Renata@boxfund.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!

Boxfund VC is an ESG fund committed to upholding robust ESG values. Since October 7, Israel's war on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 36,586 people and wounded 83,074, most of whom are innocent women and children. We strongly oppose Israel's actions and will not fund any businesses that support them. We urge more VCs and PE companies to join us in sending a clear message to the Israeli government that their actions are unacceptable. #FreePalestine