Pembroke VCT

New collaboration: COAT Paints x SCHMIDT    COAT Paints has teamed up with renowned French interior furniture specialist Schmidt to bring a curated range of COAT’s modern, muted shades to Schmidt’s 30 UK showrooms.   This partnership makes it easy for customers to choose a COAT paint colour that perfectly complements their chosen kitchen design—allowing them to order both in one seamless experience"   Congratulations to Rob Green, Rob Abrahams and the COAT Paints team on this exciting new partnership!   Find the full article from The Retail Bulletin in the comments.

What Can a Founder Expect from Working with a Venture Capital Trust?   Pembroke's Investment Director, Fred Ursell, shares valuable insights on how Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) can empower founders with far more than just funding.   In his latest article, published today in Maddyness, Fred explores the VCT model and why it is an essential resource for UK entrepreneurs aiming to scale their businesses. He highlights three key areas where VCTs make a real difference:   ☑️ Growth-Focused Capital and Strategic Support: VCTs provide founders with not only capital but also hands-on guidance from seasoned investors and former entrepreneurs. ☑️ Access to Strategic Networks: From operational growth to team-building and market positioning, VCTs connect founders with the right expertise to help progress. ☑️ Patient Capital: VCT funding is designed for longevity, giving businesses the space and time they need to adapt and scale   If you’re a founder ready to grow with the right strategic support, we would love to connect!   Read the full article in the comments below.

New Pop-Up : JustWears has landed in Selfridges! 🌟   Founded in 2018, JustWears set out to redefine men’s underwear by offering products that prioritise both comfort and sustainability, crafted from premium natural materials.   The brand has now reached a major milestone, making its debut in the iconic Selfridges and bringing its products directly to customers in-store. You can find them here:   📍 JustWears Location: Underwear Room, 1st Floor, Selfridges, London 🗓️ Available: Now through November 17th   Huge congratulations to Yang Liu and the entire JustWears team on this incredible achievement!

Last week, our Investment Director, Fred Ursell, attended and hosted a session at the Blue Earth Summit—an impactful event focused on driving sustainable solutions for the future. With over 7,000 participants—including startups, investors, politicians and campaigners—the three-day summit served as a platform for innovators committed to making a difference. For businesses looking to raise capital, it was a unique opportunity to pitch to Fred as he represented Pembroke alongside 500+ other investors. A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event a success. If you are seeking investment and have an innovative idea, we would love to hear from you!

Exciting New Investment – With Nothing Underneath (WNU) 🎉   We are delighted to announce our latest investment of £1.5 million (part of a £2.5 million funding round) into the luxury womenswear brand, With Nothing Underneath alongside JamJar Investments.   Founded in 2017 by Pip Durell, former Tatler Editor and Vogue Stylist, WNU was born from a vision to create the perfect shirt—combining the precision of traditional men’s tailoring with a fit designed specifically for women.   Since taking the leap to run the business full-time in 2021, WNU has reached impressive milestones - maintaining profitability since its inception and growing by 130% in 2023. This year, the company is on track to make sales of £6.5 million.   In a world where only 2% of Venture Capital funding is given to female founders, we are proud add WNU to the Pembroke VCT portfolio, where 37% of companies are led by women. Please see the link to articles in the comments below:

Chris Lewis, Pembroke CFO and Chair of the Venture Capital Trust Association (VCTA), recently spoke with IFA Magazine ahead of the 30th anniversary of Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs).    During the conversation, Chris highlighted the successes of VCTs and shared his forward-looking priorities, expressing confidence in ongoing fundraising efforts, especially with the recent extension of both VCT and EIS schemes. A key focus is adjusting the asset, annual, and lifetime limits for VCT-eligible companies. Updating these limits would help VCTs continue supporting growing businesses and ensure capital reaches where it is most needed.          Read the full article in the link in the comments.

New collaboration: Bella Freud x Marks and Spencer 🎉   We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Bella Freud's exclusive new collection with M&S.   This partnership brings Bella's signature style to the high street, both in-store and online. The limited-edition collection features standout pieces like the timeless pinstripe suit and the iconic slogan knitwear beloved by fashion icons such as Kate Moss, Alexa Chung and Olivia Wilde.   Congratulations to Bella and her team on this fantastic collaboration. We are proud to be on this journey with you.   For more details, check out the Sunday Times article linked in the comments.

It's exciting to see current Pembroke portfolio company TALA and former portfolio company ME+EM Ltd featured in the J.P. Morgan Private Bank Top 200 Women Powered Business Report. Grace Beverley was recognised as a rising star and ME+EM Ltd, which Pembroke successfully exited in 2021, was ranked 12th out of 200 businesses. The report highlights the growth of women-powered businesses, noting that 29.7% of UK businesses are now founded, led, owned, or managed by women. Pembroke VCT is proud to support female founders, with 37% of our portfolio companies having at least one female founder. You can download the full report through the link in the comments.

🚀 Calling all consumer-focused founders! 🚀 Join our Investment Director Fred Ursell, on the 30th of October as he takes his turn pitching at the rev™ London Consumer Investors Pitch Event!  Hosted by Pitchflix and partnered with mediaforgrowth (MFG), this is the perfect opportunity for Seed to Series A founders to connect with Fred and gain insight into our investment approach and the advantages of partnering with Pembroke. Link to register in the comments.

"As an investor, I've seen countless pitches and have always admired the founders' ability to confidently and eloquently present their vision.”    At the latest Pitchflix episode - focused on female entrepreneurs - it was Pembroke’s Investment Associate, Yasmina Jebai’s turn to rise to the challenge—convincing the talented female founders in the room of the value of partnering with our team. ✅   At Pembroke, we are proud supporters of female entrepreneurship, with 37% of our portfolio companies having at least one female founder.    If you're a female founder with an innovative idea and a solid business plan, we'd love to hear from you.   To watch Yasmina’s full pitch please see the video link in the comments below.