A guide to startup funding in Sussex
You’re an entrepreneur in Sussex at the beginning of your startup journey, where do you go for capital? Fortunately, there are several funding options available in the region. This guide will outline various sources of startup funding in Sussex, including angel investment, council grants and loans, regional support programs, and equity investment firms.
Where to find Startup Funding in Sussex
Based in Brighton, and covering the South East region, South East Angels provides funding for early-stage startups via equity investment.
They look for highly scalable businesses at pre-seed or seed stage raising SEIS/EIS investment. South East Angels have invested over £1.4M in startups in the last few years across a range of different sectors.
Read more about raising funding with South East Angels
South East Angels
Buzz Capital provides debt finance to startups building new technology, using the company’s R&D tax claim as collateral. They can finance startups that have submitted at least one previous R&D tax claim, and lend up to 80% of the total R&D tax claim, between £50k-£400k.
Read more about Buzz Capital
Buzz Capital
Cow Corner Equity is an investment firm that focuses on funding businesses across the professional services sector in Sussex.
They provide equity investment to help businesses scale and grow. If your startup operates in a B2B space such as accounting, IT, HR, insurance or other professional services Cow Corner Equity may be a suitable funding option.
Read more about Cow Corner
Cow Corner
Blue14 are a group of successful ad-tech / agency founders who have come together to fund and support performance-based marketing startups. Their vision is to build a thriving community of performance marketing companies that drive growth for the world’s leading eCommerce & DTC brands. They have funded 13 companies to date, 3 of which have been acquired.
Visit their website to find out more about this local boutique funder or check out their space in Kemptown.
Blue 14
The University of Sussex, located in Brighton, offers funding and support programs for startups with strong ties to the university community. They provide resources, mentorship, and access to funding opportunities through various accelerator, incubator and grant funding initiatives.
If your startup is affiliated with the University of Sussex read more about their funding opportunities.
University of Sussex
The East Sussex Council offers grants and loans to support startups and small businesses in the region. These financial resources aim to stimulate economic growth, job creation, and innovation. The grants and loans are typically designed to help businesses develop products, services, and infrastructure.
Contact East Sussex Council to inquire about available funding programs.
East Sussex Council
West Sussex Council also provides grants and loans to assist startups and small businesses in the area. The council's funding programs aim to foster economic development, improve business infrastructure, and support job creation.
Reach out to the West Sussex Council for information on their grants and loans, including eligibility requirements and application processes.
West Sussex Council
Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is an organisation that supports economic growth and business development in Sussex, Croydon, Gatwick, and the surrounding areas. They offer various grants, loans, and business support services to startups and small businesses.
Visit their website to explore the available funding options and determine alignment for your business.
Coast to Capital LEP
Brighton University are a part of Clean Growth UK, a university-based network of green businesses which offers funding support for your green project, from getting investment ready to finding and securing innovation funding.
Visit their website to search for the latest funding opportunities.
Clean Growth Fund
Alongside reaching out to funders, consider joining startup communities such as accelerators to benefit from founder networks, as they can provide valuable guidance and connections in the startup funding landscape.