Investment FAQs

Yes. SAIC does not require applicants to have a minimum number of years of trading history and members sometimes invest in very new businesses if they can demonstrate the founders have what it takes to ensure their business matures and grows. Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (‘SEIS’) tax reliefs can help to mitigate the risks associated with investing in recently established companies, so please make sure you let us know if SEIS relief is available.

SAIC has no upper or lower limit that it applies to applicants. On average, businesses that successfully pitch to SAIC raise around £1m of investment from members and other investors, but some recently established businesses only need a modest amount of capital at the start of their journey whereas others apply to SAIC as part of funding rounds raising several million pounds of new investment.

Just click on ‘Apply to Pitch’, complete the short form and press ‘Send Application’. We’ll then get in touch with advice on the next stage of our application process.  

Successful applicants are normally invited to present their proposals in person at one of our pitch meetings. We typically hold five meetings a year in Camberley, Surrey, though occasionally pitch meetings are held at other locations.

Typically, the initial pitch is made in person in Camberley then all follow up meetings are held virtually though, on occasions, businesses have also made their initial pitch to SAIC virtually. We find that an in-person pitch is the most effective way of introducing a business to SAIC members. Please let us know if you will be unable to attend a meeting in person.

It costs you nothing to apply to SAIC. If your application is accepted and you’re invited to pitch we will ask you for a contribution of £100 towards the cost of the meeting. SAIC will then charge 5% of the amount subsequently invested by members, though if you have been referred to us by an advisor or other network, this fee will be shared to ensure no additional costs are levied on your company.  Please remember to inform us of any organisations that you have also approached in your current funding round.

Once you’ve submitted the short application form we’ll get in touch, including asking for the ‘pitch deck’ you’d like to present. SAIC members make investments in a personal capacity, i.e. we do not operate a collective investment fund, but we normally perform our due diligence together with one member co-ordinating the follow-up and leading the dialogue with you. Being ready to allow us on-line access to a ‘data room’ holding all the saliant information on your business will be very helpful.