The British Business Bank has committed £2m to South East Angels through its Regional Angels Programme, providing additional capital for early-stage technology companies seeking equity investment across the South East and wider UK.
The funding will be invested alongside private capital from members of the angel syndicate, which has backed 48 startups with more than £7m since its establishment in 2020.
South East Angels brings together entrepreneurs, business owners, and experienced investors who provide capital and commercial support to younger technology businesses.
The network was founded by Kristina Pereckaite and five founding members. It has since expanded into a community of more than 100 participants.
Its investment activity covers early-stage businesses seeking funding to develop products, expand commercial operations, and establish stronger customer relationships.
The £2m commitment will allow members to participate in additional financing rounds alongside the British Business Bank, increasing the capital available through the existing syndicate.
The investment is being delivered through the Haatch Platform, which supports co-investment between qualifying angel investor groups and the Bank’s Regional Angels Programme.
Individual members will continue to make their own investment decisions and conduct due diligence, rather than having investment choices determined centrally by the public funding partner.
Angel investors generally acquire equity stakes in companies at relatively early stages of development, when established financing options may be limited by a lack of trading history, collateral, or predictable revenue.
In addition to financial backing, experienced investors can contribute business development knowledge, industry contacts, and advice on commercial operations.
Those relationships can be relevant to founders preparing to recruit employees, enter new markets, or seek larger institutional investment rounds.
The British Business Bank’s Regional Angels Programme is designed to increase the availability of early-stage equity finance across the UK, particularly in areas where investment networks have historically been less developed.
The programme operates through partnerships with established investor groups, allowing public capital to participate alongside private investors already involved in identifying and assessing prospective investments.
South East Angels was named Most Active Investor in the Regions at the 2024 UK Business Angels Association awards and has been shortlisted for Angel Group of the Year in three consecutive years.
Kristina Pereckaite, founder of South East Angels, said: “Six years on, our members have deployed over £7 million into British startups, and having the British Business Bank alongside us is a huge vote of confidence in our community, our process and the founders we back.”
The additional investment follows a period in which the network has expanded both its membership and the number of companies it supports.
Mark Barry, senior investment director at the British Business Bank, said South East Angels had developed an active investor community outside London, bringing experienced investors together to support businesses across the region.
Fred Soneya, co-founder and general partner at Haatch, said its platform was designed to allow angel groups to participate in the Regional Angels Programme through a repeatable co-investment process.
Early-stage equity investment carries considerable financial risk, with the performance of individual startups dependent on their ability to develop commercially viable products, attract customers, and secure further capital when needed.
Investors may hold their stakes for several years before an opportunity arises to sell shares or realise a return. Some businesses will require additional funding, while others may not achieve their commercial objectives.
The British Business Bank’s involvement therefore expands the availability of investment capital without removing the underlying risks associated with financing younger companies.
The £2m commitment will operate alongside South East Angels’ existing private investment arrangements, extending a syndicate that has already supported 48 businesses and developed a membership of more than 100 investors.
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