Empirical Ventures

Investing in the future of UK innovation is critical, but our current #SEIS framework is falling short for #KnowledgeIntensive Companies (#KICs). These companies, driving breakthroughs in life sciences, AI, quantum computing, and more, are vital for our economic growth. The reality is, the current £250k SEIS limit simply doesn't meet the capital-intensive needs of KICs at the pre-seed stage. With average pre-seed rounds exceeding £1.2m, these companies are being held back. That's why Empirical Ventures is calling for change. We propose: ✅ Increasing the SEIS funding limit for KICs to £1m. ✅ Raising the annual SEIS investment allowance for individual investors to £500k when investing in KICs. The SEIS and EIS schemes are exceptional mechanisms that encourage private #investors to invest capital into high-risk companies. This evolution in the SEIS scheme will align SEIS with the financial realities of KICs, enabling them to access the #funding they need to commercialise groundbreaking innovation. Thanks to Hannah Prevett for reporting on our campaign today in The Times. Link to the piece is in the comments. To add your voice to the conversation, follow the link 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMEDFeFt #Innovation #DeepTech #KnowledgeIntensiveCompanies #Investment #UKInnovation #Startups #VentureCapital #EIS #Funding #ResearchAndDevelopment #EconomicGrowth

Thank you Innovate UK for a great video on Empirical Ventures portfolio company Albotherm. Congratulations to Molly Allington and Sian Fussell. Are you interested in investing in the next generation of transformative, science-driven companies? Our SEIS/EIS Fund 2 is designed for professional investors seeking exposure to high-potential ventures in the rapidly evolving deep-tech sector. Fund closes on March 31st. For more details on how you can get involved, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJtJS-V7 Capital at risk. For professional investors only. Johnathan Matlock Dr Ben Miles, Ph.D. Curran Kalha, Ph.D. Alexander Fink Madeleine Nichols, PhD Claudia Fryer

Congratulations to our portfolio company Halo Therapeutics on being announced as one of the winners of the Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket 2025 competition. This is an exceptional prize for Halo and provides significant mentoring and support from some of the world's leading scientific teams at Novo. This will help to guide the development of their latest assets and could significantly aid the development of the next blockbuster drugs for the obesity market. The founders of Halo, Daniel Fitzgerald, Imre Berger and Christiane Berger-Schaffitzel have world leading structural biology capabilities and drug development expertise and we wanted to back this team as they developed important medicines. The team has used this deep domain knowledge combining computational chemistry, X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to develop an entirely novel class of small molecules for an entirely novel allosteric site in a biologically de-risked GPCR target related to appetite suppression. Their preclinical program could transform how we provide options for obese patients, as they navigate post-GLP-1 treatment. Our co-founder Johnathan Matlock was able to attend the session in Paris yesterday and hear first hand how the approach of Halo could provide significant benefits to patients. Watch this space! https://lnkd.in/eRj2hvVv

Maddyness UK’s QVCs series profiles the funds that founders need to know to choose the right investor. This week, David Johnson spoke with our co-founder, Johnathan Matlock, to explore how Empirical Ventures is building the specialist VC fund the deeptech ecosystem needs. 💡“Empirical Ventures serves as a bridge between scientific ideas leaving the lab and becoming commercially viable businesses. We combine extensive due diligence with the unique perspective of a PhD-trained deal team to be first-mover investors. Our approach means Empirical Ventures recognises opportunities before others do.” Discover what we look for in founders, our portfolio highlights, and how we’re shaping the future of Deeptech investment. Read the full profile 👉 https://lnkd.in/eDpi4uB9 #DeepTech #VentureCapital #Startups #ScienceEntrepreneurship #UniversitySpinouts

Huge congratulations to EnsiliTech, one of our Venture Studio and Portfolio companies, on their £1.4M Innovate UK grant alongside CPI! 🎉 This funding will help integrate their game-changing Ensilication technology into antibody manufacturing—eliminating cold-chain storage, reducing costs, and increasing access to life-saving treatments. 🌍 💉 A major step forward in making biologics more sustainable, accessible, and equitable—Exciting times ahead! 🚀 Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ehkpuXZN EnsiliTech Asel Sartbaeva Aswin Doekhie Matt Slade Sarah Pollitt Dr Ben Miles, Ph.D. Johnathan Matlock Alexander Fink Claudia Fryer Curran Kalha, Ph.D. Madeleine Nichols, PhD Trang K. Nguyen

Want to help us find the best entrepreneurial scientists? Want to do something that actually matters in a world that needs scientific innovation more than ever? If this sounds like you, you should probably check out the latest opportunity at Empirical Ventures https://lnkd.in/eheB4_25

Empirical Ventures is Hiring! We're on a mission to build the next Tier 1 DeepTech fund in Europe, backing entrepreneurial scientists solving global challenges across life sciences, advanced materials, robotics, quantum computing, space, and more. At Empirical Ventures, we operate like a fast-growth startup—moving at pace, constantly learning, and working directly with some of the brightest minds in science and technology. Alongside our UK DeepTech SEIS & EIS fund, we also run a venture studio, co-creating companies with top scientific talent. Our platform includes the Dr Ben Miles YouTube Channel (780k+ subscribers), helping extend our influence globally. We're looking for an ambitious, energetic, and high-EQ individual to join us in a multi-faceted role, working closely with our founding partners, Johnathan Matlock and Dr Ben Miles, Ph.D. Who We're Looking For: A self-starter with an innate curiosity to learn PhD in a scientific discipline (or equivalent DeepTech/VC experience +3 years) Detail-oriented, analytical, and comfortable with complex data Proficient in digital tools and software Passionate about DeepTech commercialisation and investment Confident in leading discussions with founders and investors Why Join Us? This is a rare opportunity to gain end-to-end exposure in DeepTech VC—helping build companies, shape investment decisions, and drive meaningful innovation on a global scale. How to Apply: We believe talent can come from anywhere. If this excites you, apply here https://lnkd.in/eKbHjBBi #DeepTech #VentureCapital #Hiring #Startups #Innovation

Should we be putting the ‘Venture’ Back into EIS & SEIS investing? This is a phrase we use a lot at Empirical, but people often ask what we mean. At Empirical Ventures, we believe that the true spirit of venture capital should be at the heart of EIS and SEIS investing—not diluted by risk-averse strategies that prioritize capital preservation over genuine innovation. The UK’s Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) were designed to fuel the next wave of disruptive companies. Yet, too often, EIS and SEIS funds gravitate toward asset-backed businesses or low-growth sectors, attracting investors who are only using these funds for the tax breaks. We take a different approach. 🔬 A Science-Led, High-Growth Strategy Our thesis is simple: early-stage investing should embrace calculated risk and scalable impact. That means: - Backing deep tech, biotech, AI, and frontier technologies—not just ‘safe bets’ with predictable exits. - Engaging as active investors, providing strategic support and network effects to amplify success. - Leveraging the power of EIS & SEIS tax incentives to pursue ventures that push the boundaries of science and technology. 💡 The Empirical Approach True innovation takes time. We invest in long-term, high-multiple opportunities that define the next decade of industry transformation. With a data-driven, evidence-based methodology, we identify and support the most promising ventures—those poised to deliver both returns and impact. If you're an investor who shares this vision—or a founder building at the frontier—let’s talk. The future isn’t built by playing it safe. https://lnkd.in/eJtJS-V7 Johnathan Matlock Alexander Fink Dr Ben Miles, Ph.D. Curran Kalha, Ph.D. Madeleine Nichols, PhD Claudia Fryer Trang K. Nguyen Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) Alan Mak MP George Freeman FRSA MP #EIS #SEIS #VentureCapital #DeepTech #EmpiricalVentures #Innovation

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have become essential tools for managing diabetes, offering real-time insights into blood glucose levels. As of 2021, approximately 537 million adults worldwide were living with diabetes, a number projected to rise to 643 million by 2030. The global market for CGM devices reflects this growing adoption. Valued at $6.83 billion in 2022, it is projected to reach $16.33 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5%. Commercially available CGM devices are classified as minimally invasive, impacting cost, supply and adoption. That is why Empirical Ventures invested in Transdermal Diagnostics Ltd - Transdermal Diagnostics Ltd are pioneering a 100% needle free, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring wearable for managing diabetes.  We think this will significantly expand the use of continuous monitoring to the T2 and pre-diabetic patient populations because if you can achieve sufficient clinical accuracy the biggest market share will be achieved by the companies with the lowest COGS of the underlying sensor. We are pleased to announce that Transdermal Diagnostics has been awarded £799,935 as winners of the SBRI Healthcare awards (https://lnkd.in/ebhQDZyZ). This SBRI-funded project will explore the potential of the “skin-patch” monitor for children and young people living with Type 1 diabetes, laying the groundwork for the widespread adoption of this ground-breaking technology. Interested in supporting the next generation of the UK’s top deep-tech ventures? Empirical Ventures Fund 2 is now open for investment. https://lnkd.in/eJtJS-V7 Capital at risk. For professional investors only. #DeepTech #InvestmentOpportunities #SEIS #EIS #VentureCapital #Innovation #ScienceDriven #EarlyStageInvestingl #DeepTech #EmpiricalVentures #Innovation

Why Do Investors Choose EIS, KEIS & SEIS Funds? Investing in early-stage companies is exciting—but let’s be honest, it’s also high-risk. So why do investors turn to EIS, KEIS and SEIS funds? Because they address some key pain points: 🔸 High Tax Bills – Investors can reduce their income tax liability by up to 30% on EIS investments, and for SEIS, it’s an even more attractive 50%. Plus, no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on growth after three years.  🔸 Loss Relief for Risky Investments – Startups are unpredictable, but EIS, KEIS and SEIS allow investors to offset losses against their income or CGT, cushioning the blow. 🔸 Diversification – Both EIS and SEIS funds spread risk across multiple early-stage businesses, rather than backing a single startup. 🔸 Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning – After two years, both EIS and SEIS investments can qualify for 100% IHT relief, making them powerful estate planning tools. 🔸 Support for Startups – SEIS is specifically designed to encourage investment in early-stage businesses, offering incentives like higher tax relief to back up-and-coming startups in their crucial first few years. 🔸 KEIS (Knowledge Intensive EIS) - EIS allows Investors to allocate an additional £1m of funds every year into knowledge intensive companies, which all of Empirical Ventures fund will be.  While EIS, KEIS and SEIS aren’t for everyone, for those facing these challenges, they’re a smart way to back innovative businesses while optimizing your tax position. Are you interested in investing in the next generation of transformative, science-driven companies?  Our SEIS/EIS Fund 2 is designed for professional investors seeking exposure to high-potential ventures in the rapidly evolving deep-tech sector. For more details on how you can get involved, visit: https://lnkd.in/eJtJS-V7 Capital at risk. For professional investors only. #DeepTech #InvestmentOpportunities #SEIS #EIS #VentureCapital #Innovation #ScienceDriven #EarlyStageInvesting Eligibility and taxation are subject to individual circumstances and might be revised in the future. It is advised for investors to consult with independent financial and tax experts prior to investing in the fund. The availability of tax reliefs depends on the investee company maintaining its EIS and SEIS qualifying status.