Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. These are high-risk investments and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong.
Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.
Last updated: 01 July 2026
If the business you invest in fails, you are likely to lose 100% of the money you invested. Most start-up businesses fail.
Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance.
Try the FSCS Investment Protection Checker
or use this URL link:
www.fscs.org.uk/check/investment-protection-checker.
Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated firm, FOS may be able to consider it.
Learn more about this service from the following Financial Ombudsman Service Protection
or use this URL link:
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers.
Even if the business you invest in is successful, it may take several years to get your money back. You are unlikely to be able to sell your investment early.
The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is bought by another business or lists its shares on an exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. These events are not common.
If you are investing in a start-up business, you should not expect to get your money back through dividends. Start-up businesses rarely pay these.
Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment, for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on anyone to do well.
A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments.
Read more at the FCA InvestSmart Guide
or use this URL link:
www.fca.org.uk/investsmart/5-questions-ask-you-invest
Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment, for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on anyone to do well.
The percentage of the business that you own will decrease if the business issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Most start-up businesses issue multiple rounds of shares.
These new shares could have additional rights that your shares don’t have, such as the right to receive a fixed dividend, which could further reduce your chances of getting a return on your investment.
If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA website:
FCA InvestSmart
or use this URL link:
www.fca.org.uk/investsmart.
Please find the PDF version of the Risk Summary.
Fund Type EIS Venture Capital Funds Challenge Due to the regulatory requirements surrounding venture capital fund management in the UK, Anotherway Ventures needed an FCA-authorised and highly trusted manager to facilitate the launch of their SEIS and EIS Fund. Results In 2023, Sapphire ass...
Founded in 2023, Anotherway Ventures is a pre-seed and seed-stage venture fund that aims to help build brands and provide investment.
The team takes a hands-on approach, working with founders to develop businesses with the potential to define the future. They look for ideas to improve how people live.
In 2023, Anotherway Ventures was a new firm seeking to enter the SEIS/EIS venture capital market. To successfully navigate the sector’s intricate regulatory landscape, the company required an experienced FCA-authorised investment manager. One with proven industry integrity, capable of ensuring a compliant, streamlined, and effective fund launch.
Sapphire was appointed to lead the launch of the Anotherway Ventures Fund, drawing on our extensive sector experience as a trusted investment fund manager. Leveraging our expertise and regulatory credentials, we oversaw the fund formation process, with the Anotherway Ventures Fund formally established in February 2023. The fund’s mandate focused on three core categories of consumer-brand businesses: those launching a brand, scaling an existing brand, or re-positioning a brand for renewed market growth.
Anotherway’s decision to partner with Sapphire was reinforced by our team’s expertise and understanding of the complexities surrounding SEIS and EIS structures. This enabled Anotherway to prioritise deal sourcing with confidence, secure in the knowledge that all regulatory and compliance obligations were expertly managed.
Throughout the fund launch, Sapphire has sought to ensure professional and operational standards. From documentation and regulatory filings through to investor onboarding, we have tried to manage the investment fund with attention to detail.
“Sapphire consistently exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, combining an outstanding work ethic with deep industry expertise and experience."
Nick Clarke, Anotherway Ventures Managing Partner .
The collaboration between Sapphire and Anotherway Ventures resulted in the successful establishment of the Anotherway Ventures Fund in early 2023, just one year after the firm’s inception. This achievement underscores how steadfast commitment, operational excellence, and aligned objectives can deliver timely and effective fund launches.
Through the combination of Sapphire's experience and Anotherway’s strength in consumer-brand development, the fund was launched successfully, targeting SEIS and EIS investment opportunities.
If you would like advice on how to set up an investment fund, such as a GP/LP fund or an EIS fund, or if you need an FCA authorised operator and manager to manage the fund, or need pricing and options, contact us, and we will be in touch right away.
Disclaimer:
Sapphire Capital Partners LLP ("Sapphire") is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 565716). The case study above is illustrative only and does not represent investment performance or future outcomes and the content on this webpage is intended solely to explain Sapphire’s fund-management and advisory services. It is not a financial promotion for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or an inducement to engage in any regulated investment activity. Nothing on this page should be interpreted as a recommendation regarding any investment, fund, scheme or structure. Any person considering an investment should obtain independent financial, legal and tax advice. Investments in start-ups, early-stage businesses and venture capital funds involve high risks, including the risk of losing all capital invested, illiquidity, and dilution. Tax treatments, including SEIS/EIS reliefs, depend on personal circumstances and may change. Communications with Sapphire’s staff are for general information only and should not be relied upon to make investment decisions.
A short, no-obligation conversation about whether launching a fund is the right route for you, and what it would take. We can cover structure, timescales, cost and regulatory requirements. Nothing to prepare in advance.
Boyd Carson co-founded Sapphire in 2009 and has since helped launch more than 50 UK venture funds. He is an Honorary Professor of Venture Capital, teaches on Harvard University's graduate venture capital course, and holds Sapphire's FCA compliance oversight role.
Schedule your free fund strategy consultation.