Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund 23/24
closed
Closed for new investment
Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund 23/24
closed
Closed for new investment
The Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund 23/24 gives investors the opportunity to access pioneering businesses with high growth potential. Investors will hold a portfolio of around ten to twenty early-stage companies, selected by one of Europe’s largest venture capital teams.1
Octopus Ventures, the team behind the fund, has previously backed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, making early investments in companies like Zoopla Property Group, depop, graze and ManyPets.
Reasons to invest
High growth opportunity
We have a track record of identifying and supporting companies from the start of their journey to household name status. Our aim is to invest in companies with the potential to deliver ten times the amount invested at the initial funding stage.
Large investment team
With a team of more than 90 investment professionals, we have one of the largest venture capital teams in Europe1. The team also manage Octopus Titan VCT, the UK’s largest VCT.*
*By funds under management, The Association of Investment Companies, December 2023.
Interests aligned with investors
We’ll only collect our annual management charge if we sell a company for more than we originally invested. That way, you know we’re incentivised to select companies that have a strong potential to succeed.
Reasons to invest
High growth opportunity
We have a track record of identifying and supporting companies from the start of their journey to household name status. Our aim is to invest in companies with the potential to deliver ten times the amount invested at the initial funding stage.
Large investment team
With a team of more than 90 investment professionals, we have one of the largest venture capital teams in Europe1.
Interests aligned with investors
We’ll only collect our annual management charge if we sell a company for more than we originally invested. That way, you know we’re incentivised to select companies that have a strong potential to succeed.
Key risks
Capital is at risk
The value of an EIS investment can fall as well as rise. Investors might not get back the full amount they invest.
Tax treatment
Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and tax rules might change in the future. Tax reliefs depend on companies maintaining their EIS-qualifying status.
Volatility and liquidity
Investments in smaller companies can fall or rise in value much more sharply than shares in larger, more established companies. They can also be harder to sell.
Long term investments
Investors need to hold shares for three years to keep any tax reliefs claimed. However, investors should be prepared to hold their shares for significantly longer to allow time for growth and exit.
The investment process
Applying for the Fund
Identifying opportunities for your portfolio
Investing your money into knowledge-intensive, EIS-qualifying companies
Issuing your EIS 5 certificate
Selling your investment (when liquidity is available)
Key features
Six to twelve-month deployment target
The average time it takes us to fully invest your money is 10 months, though we don’t guarantee this.
We calculate this from when we start to invest all the money we’ve raised in each fundraise, until it is completely invested. This is the average over the last six fully invested fundraising groups, as at January 2024.
Diversified portfolio
A diversified portfolio of around 10-20 companies across seven sectors: health, fintech, deep tech, business-to-business software, climate, bio and consumer. These companies are handpicked by our teams who have specialist sector knowledge.
Attractive suite of tax reliefs
There’s a suite of valuable tax reliefs available as an incentive for investing in high-risk small businesses. These reliefs include 30% income tax relief, tax-free capital gains, loss relief, capital gains tax deferral and inheritance tax relief.
Portfolio companies
To give an idea of the sort of companies investors can expect us to back, here are some examples of knowledge-intensive, EIS-qualifying businesses we’ve invested in. These companies are changing the way we shop, live and work.
First invested: January 2022
Vira
Combining data, clinical best practice, and behaviour change, to solve health and quality-of-life problems that affect billions of women worldwide.
First invested: June 2021
XYZ Reality
An engineering-grade augmented reality solution, enabling construction teams to accurately position 3D holograms onsite before building begins.
First invested: December 2022
Little Journey
Undergoing a healthcare procedure can be a daunting experience for anyone, especially for a child. The Little Journey app helps put children and families at ease by using immersive and interactive content.
Who could benefit from an EIS fund?
Read our EIS planning scenarios to see the type of investor who could benefit from the Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS.
Backing founders who can change the world
The Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund is managed by Octopus Ventures, one of Europe’s largest and most active venture capital teams1. Their deep expertise across specialist areas of investment – business-to-business software, consumer, deep tech, bio, climate, fintech and health – helps to identify and support founders whose ideas have the potential to change the world. Watch the video to hear what drives the innovators we’re backing.
Fees and charges
| Applying through an adviser | |
|---|---|
| Octopus initial charge | 2% |
| Annual management charge (deferred and contingent) | 2%+VAT per annum |
| Dealing fee (purchase and sale of shares) | 1% |
| Performance fee | 20%+VAT |
| Initial charge to adviser | Agreed with adviser |
| Ongoing fee to adviser | Agreed with adviser up to 5 years |
Our initial fee, dealing fee and adviser charges, will reduce the amount available to invest into EIS-qualifying companies.
If you are investing in this product through a financial adviser, the fees are listed below. For other options for example through an intermediary or direct, view the brochure.
| Applying through an adviser | |
|---|---|
| Octopus initial charge | 2% |
| Annual management charge (deferred and contingent) | 2%+ VAT per annum |
| Dealing fee (for the purchase and sale of shares) | 1% |
| Performance fee | 20%+ VAT |
| Initial charge to your adviser | Agreed with your adviser |
| Ongoing fee to your adviser | Agreed with your adviser up to 5 years |
Our initial fee, dealing fee and adviser charges, will reduce the amount available to invest into EIS-qualifying companies.
We encourage our investors to seek financial advice when making investment decisions. We therefore charge investors who have not taken advice a higher initial fee. If you are investing through an intermediary, you’ll need to complete a suitability form. This can be found in our Resource centre.
Key documents
| Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund brochure | Download |
| Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund terms and conditions | Download |
| Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund Key Information Document | Download |
| Octopus Ventures Factsheet | Download |
| Octopus Ventures EIS Fund AIFMD Investor Disclosure Document | Download |
1 Global league tables: 2022 Annual, Pitchbook. February 2023.