Octopus Ventures EIS Toolkit
Tools to help you move EIS conversations forward with clients.
Speaking to your clients about EIS? We’ve provided a number of resources that will support your conversations with clients, whether they’re a first time investor or experienced in early-stage company investing.
Use these key resources to help take clients on their EIS journey with Octopus. You’ll find a client-friendly guide to the scheme, information on our highly experienced investment team, stories from some of our investee companies, and much more.
Risks to bear in mind
Capital is at risk
The value of an EIS investment can fall to nil as well as rise. Investors may not get back the full amount they invest.
Tax treatment and qualification
Tax treatment depends on personal circumstances and tax rules could change in the future. Tax reliefs depend on portfolio companies maintaining their qualifying status.
Liquidity and volatility
Investing in smaller companies is considered high risk. Their value can fall or rise more sharply than shares in larger, more established companies. They may also be harder to sell.
For advisers who are…
Get to grips with EIS investments and the potential to maximise growth.
About Octopus Ventures EIS
Launched in 1994, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) makes investing in shares in early-stage businesses even more attractive. When an early-stage business is EIS-qualifying, you can claim a number of tax reliefs alongside your investment, including upfront income tax relief, tax-free capital gains, and loss relief on each investment that returns less than you put in. Please remember tax rules may change in the future, and the value of tax reliefs depends on your client’s individual circumstances.
Octopus Ventures EIS gives investors the opportunity to access pioneering businesses with high growth potential. Investors hold a portfolio of around 10-20 early-stage companies selected by our Ventures team, one of Europe’s largest.1
Learn about how EIS can work for your business and your clients.
About Octopus Ventures EIS
Launched in 1994, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) makes investing in shares in early-stage businesses even more attractive. When an early-stage business is EIS-qualifying, you can claim a number of tax reliefs alongside your investment, including upfront income tax relief, tax-free capital gains, and loss relief on each investment that returns less than you put in. Please remember tax rules may change in the future, and the value of tax reliefs depends on your client’s individual circumstances.
Octopus Ventures EIS gives investors the opportunity to access pioneering businesses with high growth potential. Investors hold a portfolio of around 10-20 early-stage companies selected by our Ventures team, one of Europe’s largest.1
Our investment process is simple for advisers and clients.
You can learn more about the people, ideas and industries we’re investing in below. And if you’re ready, you can find more resources, create an illustration or apply for the Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive Fund 23/24 below.
The Fund will give investors the opportunity to access around 10-20 early-stage companies selected for their unique growth potential by Octopus Ventures, one of Europe’s largest venture capital firms.1
Additionally, the Fund allows suitable clients to claim income tax relief for this tax year, or to carry it back to the previous one, with just one EIS certificate issued for ease of administration.
The Octopus Ventures Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund 23/24 is open to new investment. Watch this webinar to learn more about how the Fund could support your clients’ tax-year end planning.
About Octopus Ventures EIS
Launched in 1994, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) makes investing in shares in early-stage businesses even more attractive. When an early-stage business is EIS-qualifying, you can claim a number of tax reliefs alongside your investment, including upfront income tax relief, tax-free capital gains, and loss relief on each investment that returns less than you put in. Please remember tax rules may change in the future, and the value of tax reliefs depends on your client’s individual circumstances.
Octopus Ventures EIS gives investors the opportunity to access pioneering businesses with high growth potential. Investors hold a portfolio of around 10-20 early-stage companies selected by our Ventures team, one of Europe’s largest.1
Octopus Ventures EIS
We provide investors with access to a portfolio of between 10-20 early-stage companies with high growth potential selected by the team that manages Octopus Titan VCT.
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 Europe. The team also manage Octopus Titan VCT, the UK’s largest VCT.*
*Association of Investment Companies, June 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.
Portfolio companies
To give an idea of the sort of companies investors can expect us to back, here are some examples of revolutionary EIS-qualifying businesses we’ve invested in. These companies are changing the way we shop, live and work.
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 2021
Biofidelity
Early cancer diagnosis can save lives. Using revolutionary genomic analysis, Biofidelity has developed precise diagnostics for early detection of cancer and genetic mutations.
First invested: November 2021
HURR
There’s no place for fast fashion in a sustainable future. HURR is changing the behaviours of fashion lovers everywhere, by making high-quality pieces available to rent rather than buy.
First invested: November 2022
Cobee
Employee benefit schemes have become essential as companies battle to attract the best talent. Cobee provides seamless benefits management for businesses and a flexible platform for employees.
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.
First invested: November 2021
Kleene
An AI driven platform that allows companies to easily manage their data in a fast and scalable way.
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.
1Global league tables: 2022 Interactive, Pitchbook, February 2023.