We're looking for exceptional founders building the future of AI – visionaries with the technical depth and commercial acumen to turn breakthrough innovations into market-defining companies.

As founders who've walked this path ourselves, we understand that building an AI company requires more than cutting-edge technology; it requires resilience, strategic wisdom, and the ambition to scale solutions that transform entire industries.

Join our Community of Builders

Getting Investment from SVV

  • We're hunting for the founders and companies that will define the next decade of AI innovation. Our investment thesis is built around identifying exceptional teams building genuine AI-powered solutions that solve real enterprise problems – not just companies using AI as a buzzword.

    Strong Technical Foundations - We look for founders with deep technical expertise who understand AI at a fundamental level. This means teams that can articulate their technological differentiation, demonstrate genuine innovation beyond off-the-shelf models, and show they're building sustainable competitive moats in the AI landscape.

    Proven Market Traction - We want to see evidence that enterprises are willing to pay for your solution. Whether it's early customer pilots, letters of intent, or revenue growth, we look for signals that you're solving a genuine pain point that organisations value enough to invest in.

    Scalable Business Models - We invest in companies that can scale efficiently across markets and customer segments. This means solutions that don't require extensive customisation for each client, clear paths to expanding within existing accounts, and business models that improve unit economics as you grow.

    Founder-Market Fit - Beyond product-market fit, we assess whether the founding team has the unique insights, domain expertise, and relentless drive needed to build a category-defining company. We're looking for founders who deeply understand their market and have the vision to see opportunities others miss.

  • We back companies where we see the convergence of exceptional founders, genuine technological innovation, and massive market opportunity. Our decision to invest isn't just about the current state of your business – it's about our conviction in your ability to build something transformative.

    We see genuine AI innovation beyond the hype - Too many companies are simply wrapping ChatGPT APIs and calling themselves AI companies. We invest when we identify real technological differentiation – whether that's proprietary models, novel applications of existing AI, or unique data advantages that create sustainable competitive moats.

    The founding team has the DNA to win - We look for founders who combine deep technical expertise with commercial acumen and the relentless drive needed to build category-defining companies. We invest in teams that demonstrate clear founder-market fit and show they can execute through the inevitable challenges of scaling an AI business.

    There's a clear path to enterprise adoption - We back companies solving genuine enterprise pain points with measurable ROI. Whether you're automating complex workflows, enhancing decision-making, or enabling new capabilities, we invest when we see strong early customer validation and a scalable go-to-market strategy.

    The market timing is right - We invest when technological capability, market readiness, and regulatory environment align to create a compelling window of opportunity. Our experience since 2017 has taught us to recognise when AI solutions are moving from "nice to have" to "mission critical" for enterprises. text goes here

  • We've designed our investment process to be founder-friendly while ensuring we make smart capital allocation decisions. Our approach combines speed with thoroughness, leveraging our technical expertise to quickly identify and back the best opportunities.

    Lead and Co-Investment Strategy - We typically lead seed rounds, investing £500k to £1.5m for target ownership of 10-20%. We also selectively co-invest alongside other top-tier VCs when we see exceptional opportunities. Our deal structure is straightforward – we use standard equity documents and avoid complex terms that could complicate future fundraising.

    Technical-First Due Diligence - Our process starts with deep technical evaluation led by our team of engineers and computer scientists. We assess your technology stack, competitive differentiation, and scalability potential before diving into commercial metrics. This allows us to move quickly on deals where we see genuine innovation.

    Rapid Decision Timeline - We typically move from first meeting to term sheet within 4-6 weeks for opportunities that fit our thesis. Our technical background means we can evaluate complex AI technologies faster than generalist investors, and our operator experience helps us quickly assess team quality and market opportunity.

    Partnership Beyond Capital - Investment is just the beginning of our relationship. We immediately connect you with relevant customers, co-investors, and technical advisors from our network. Our platform includes dedicated events, mentorship programs, and access to our Portfolio Advisory Board of 50+ experts who actively support portfolio company growth.

    Supporting Your Series A Journey - 80% of our portfolio companies have successfully raised follow-on Series A rounds, with 70% reaching Series A within 24 months. We actively support this process through introductions to growth-stage investors and helping position your company for institutional funding.

  • We don't just write checks and wait for updates – we roll up our sleeves and actively support your growth from day one. Our platform is designed to accelerate your path to Series A through hands-on guidance, strategic introductions, and operational expertise that only comes from founders who've built successful companies themselves.

    Deep Technical and Strategic Guidance - Our team of engineers, CTOs, and former founders provide ongoing technical advisory support on everything from architecture decisions to AI model optimization. We help you navigate complex technical challenges, avoid common pitfalls, and make strategic technology choices that will scale with your business.

    Customer and Partnership Introductions We leverage our extensive enterprise network to connect you with potential customers, strategic partners, and pilot opportunities. Our relationships span Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and fast-growing scale-ups who are actively seeking AI solutions like yours.

    Access to Our Portfolio Advisory Board - You gain immediate access to 50+ experts from blue-chip organisations, world-leading universities, and Silicon Valley VCs who actively mentor our portfolio companies. These aren't passive advisors – they provide hands-on guidance, make warm introductions, and open doors that can accelerate your growth trajectory.

    Series A Preparation and Fundraising Support - We actively prepare you for your next funding round through financial modeling, pitch refinement, and strategic introductions to growth-stage investors. With 80% of our companies successfully raising Series A and 70% reaching this milestone within 24 months, we have a proven playbook for scaling AI companies.

    Ongoing Operational Support - From hiring key team members to refining go-to-market strategy, we provide the operational guidance that comes from having built and scaled companies ourselves. We help with everything from equity compensation planning to board governance, ensuring you're building on solid foundations.

By The Numbers

Cheque Size

Up to 1.5m

Our first cheque ranges from 250k to 1.5m.

Target Ownership

Up to 15%

We’re happy to lead rounds or co-invest.

Deal Time

Up to 45 Days

We move quickly from initial call to cash in bank.

Follow On

Up to 5m

We support our founders through Series A & beyond.

Real Value Add

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We have worked for more that a decade with some of the world’s top startup partners. The proof is in the performance of our portfolio companies. We don't just talk about value creation – we deliver measurable results that accelerate growth and increase the probability of success for every founder we back.

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Proven Success

80% of our portfolio has raised follow-on Series A rounds, compared to just 19% average. 70% of our companies reached Series A within 24 months, while 81% of seed companies typically fail to reach Series A within 36 months.

Active Introductions

Our companies have secured pilot programs, global partnerships and funding through SVV introductions - connections that came directly through our extensive network of investors and partners across the AI ecosystem.

Market Positioning

We've helped many companies with positioning, leading to major partnerships. Our market insights help founders articulate their value proposition in ways that resonate with enterprise customers.

Exit Preparation

Our recent exit of Getvisibility to Forcepoint demonstrates our ability to identify and nurture companies through to successful outcomes. We don't just help you build – we help you realise the value you've created.

“Since the day I first met with SVV they’ve had my back. From strategy meetings in the office working on the perfect opening line for a deck, to an inbox full of investor intros when we decided to kick off a new round. Such a lovely, well experienced team!"

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Dominic Bristow, Founder, Stylus

VCs who have walked the path you’re on right now.

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Whether you're emerging from stealth, scaling your first enterprise customers, or just raising capital for the first time, we partner with founders who share our belief that AI will reshape how the world works. We know what it's like to pitch investors who don't understand your technology, to make the tough decision between feature development and customer acquisition, and to navigate the sleepless nights wondering if you're building something the market truly needs. Our partners have been where you are – and we've navigated the complete founder journey:

  • Raised capital ourselves – from angel rounds through Series A and beyond

  • Built and scaled teams – hiring your first engineers to managing 50+ teams

  • Achieved successful exits – including sales to RedHat/IBM and TransUnion

  • Made hard pivot decisions – when market feedback demands strategic shifts

  • Scaled from startup to enterprise – navigating sustainable growth

This isn't guidance from career investors – it's hard-won wisdom from operators who've built companies and transitioned from startup to scale-up. We understand the unique challenges of AI companies because we've lived through the complexity of explaining cutting-edge technology to enterprise customers, balancing technical innovation with commercial viability, and building sustainable competitive moats in rapidly evolving markets.