| Date | Title | Description |
| 19.07.2023 | DSW Ventures launches new intern programme for would-be VCs | DSW Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Dow Schofield Watts network, has launched a new student intern programme giving undergraduates a rare opportunity to gain experience in the industry during a year-long placement. |
| 25.05.2023 | DSW Ventures Investor Report – March 2023 | The following is the manager report for the six months to March 2023 provided to investors in DSW Ventures portfolio companies. Please email investors@dsw.vc for further information. |
| 15.05.2023 | DSW Ventures closes Seed EIS fund to invest up to £2m in regional start-ups | DSW Ventures, the venture capital business of the Dow Schofield Watts Group, has announced the successful first close of its debut Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) fund, providing the capacity to invest up to £2m in regional start-u... |
| 30.03.2023 | SEIS changes give investors more reasons to back start-ups | Changes to the tax rules that come into force next week will boost funding for start-ups and give investors more incentive to back them, according to DSW Ventures, an early-stage investor. |
| 30.03.2023 | DSW Ventures launches SEIS fund to back regional start-ups | DSW Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Dow Schofield Watts group, is launching its first Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) fund to enable private investors to benefit from tax incentives while funding regional start-ups. |
| 17.01.2023 | DSW Ventures leads £675k investment round into SME-focused search engine optimisation tool Hike SEO | Hike SEO, a Leicestershire-based start-up, has raised £675,000 of funding in an investment round led by DSW Ventures with co-investment from incumbent investor, Jenson Funding Partners. |
| 10.01.2023 | DSW Ventures sells its stake in ACAI Outdoorwear, yielding a 4.2x cash return | DSW Ventures has completed the sale of its investment into ACAI Outdoorwear, the female-first, outdoor clothing ecommerce brand. The DSW Ventures stake in ACAI was acquired by Growth Partner, a consumer-focused investment firm backed by Hom... |
| 08.12.2022 | DSW Ventures leads £650k investment round into customer rewards platform Propello | DSW Ventures leads £650,000 investment round into customer rewards platform Propello |
| 11.08.2022 | Investor insights: University spinouts – part three | The major asset of a spinout in its early days is typically its intellectual property. |
| 10.08.2022 | Investor insights: University spinouts – part two | An opinion piece this time, unusually for us. |
| 21.07.2022 | Investor insights: University spinouts – part one | We’ve been busy these last few months, and temporarily off the airwaves (for the younger reader, this is a reference to broadcast radio and TV: ask your parents or try Wikipedia for more information, if you can tear yourself from your lates... |
| 16.05.2022 | DSW Ventures leads £1.0m funding for drug formulation company that makes the unmanufacturable manufacturable | DSW Ventures leads £1.0m funding for drug formulation company that makes the unmanufacturable manufacturable |
| 09.05.2022 | Investor insights: Why scale-ups need an FD | “We haven’t got any sales. Why should I waste my money on a finance director?” |
| 09.03.2022 | VC Insights: How to build a useful board pack | Focusing on a good monthly board pack is a task that can be easily pushed down the priority list, but it’s a key part of making sure a board operates effectively as a business looks to grow and scale. A strong pack both helps founders get a... |
| 18.01.2022 | DSW Ventures opens new office in Manchester city centre | DSW Ventures, the venture capital business which is part of the Dow Schofield Watts network, has opened a new office in Manchester to consolidate its presence as one of the UK’s leading regional VCs. |
| 11.01.2022 | Investor insights: Director’s service contracts – part six | “How a night in a five star hotel room cost me my company” |
| 10.01.2022 | Investor insights: Director’s service contracts – part five | “Thou shalt not compete with SaaSco” |
| 30.12.2021 | Investor insights: Director’s service contracts – part four | The eternal triangle: company – founder – investor |
| 06.12.2021 | Investor insights: Director’s service contracts – part one | Directors’ service contracts – why they matter to investors |
| 06.12.2021 | Investor insights: Director’s service contracts – part two | Bonuses – and how to fall out with your backers |
| 06.12.2021 | Investor insights: Director’s service contracts – part three | The things that founders get up to when you’re not looking |
| 15.11.2021 | Car rental ‘challenger’ firm Stressfreecarrental.com set to expand into Europe after £534k investment | Stressfreecarrental.com – a new challenger in the online car rental market – has raised £534,000 in a funding round led by DSW Ventures and including angel investor Harry Dixon, former technical director at Rentalcars.com. |
| 15.10.2021 | DSW Ventures promotes Eleanor Boardman to support growth | DSW Ventures, the venture capital investment business of the Dow Schofield Watts group, has promoted Eleanor Boardman to Investment Manager in a period of significant growth for the regional VC. |
| 13.09.2021 | Dear SaasCo: Financial Performance Part 2 – The Importance of Gross Margin | Dear SaasCo, |
| 07.09.2021 | Dear SaasCo: Financial Performance Part 1 – Revenue and Cash | Dear SaasCo |
| 25.08.2021 | Investor insights: Sharing control with investors #5 | How it works in practice |
| 25.08.2021 | Investor insights: Sharing control with investors #3 | Don’t ask, don’t get |
| 25.08.2021 | Investor insights: Sharing control with investors #1 | Learning to live with strangers |
| 25.08.2021 | Investor insights: Sharing control with investors #4 | Moving up and making room |
| 25.08.2021 | Investor insights: Sharing control with investors #2 | Why do investors need special rights? |
| 28.07.2021 | 4D Biomaterials completes GBP1.6m funding round led by DSW Ventures | A company which has developed a new type of biomaterial that can be used for 3D printing of medical implants has completed a £1.6m funding round. |
| 26.07.2021 | Investor insights: Exit preference – fixing a bad legacy | Exit preference – yet more problems down the line |
| 19.07.2021 | Investor insights: Second round fundings and exit preference | Exit preference – problems down the line |
| 15.07.2021 | Investor insights: Introduction to exit preference | Exit preference – simple in theory |
| 20.04.2021 | Dear SaasCo – Preparing for exit | Dear SaasCo,
As discussed during our investment process, to ensure we are in a position to maximise the shareholder value it is essential that we are properly prepared. Being properly prepared isn’t something which happens in the last few ... |
| 07.04.2021 | One Utility Bill extends funding to £3.3m in the past year | One Utility Bill, the Newcastle-based business which simplifies the utilities experience for consumers, landlords and letting agents – has raised a further £1.6m. The follow-on investment round was led by incumbent investors DSW Ventures, t... |
| 03.03.2021 | One good tea deserves another! Events booking platform clocks up over 5,000 deliveries | An events booking platform which has found a new line of business delivering afternoon teas during the pandemic is celebrating its 5,000th booking. |
| 23.02.2021 | Start-up insights: about that last round valuation | “This round is valued at £6m pre-money. That’s because the last round closed at £3m. Back then, it was just me. Now there are two of us.” |
| 16.02.2021 | Start-up insights: don’t take no for an answer | After a stretch of fairly cold technical posts, we’re now turning to look at a more human issue – how hard should you, the investor, push your due diligence questioning? |
| 26.01.2021 | Start-up insights: Share options – a reprise: vesting and other issues | We have previously run through some of the principles involved in negotiating vesting provisions for founder shares and employee share options. |
| 14.01.2021 | Poptop to begin global roll-out after raising further £440k | Poptop – the Newcastle-based events booking platform – has raised a further £440,000 to pursue its global expansion plans. The funding comes from existing investors DSW Ventures and NorthStar Ventures, which was investing from the North Eas... |
| 15.12.2020 | Start-up insights: Warranties in Venture Capital | We focus a lot in this series on the tougher aspects of a venture investment. You might think this reflects deep negativity or anxiety. It is absolutely the opposite. Scope out any problems at the start. Then fix them. Move on. Succeed. |
| 01.12.2020 | VC Insights: The re-up | Managers in a scale-up business need to be incentivised by having a meaningful stake in the company they run. Often they don’t. This is a big problem which may well be a serious long-term valuation drag. But it can be fixed… |
| 24.11.2020 | Investor Insights: The Regional Angels Programme – our first year | DSW Ventures became the first partner in British Business Investments’ Regional Angels Programme a year ago – elevating our investment capability and reach. |
| 23.11.2020 | VC Insights: Structuring an investment: why we ask for dividends – but really don’t want to get them | This post is one of a series of Venture Capital Insights focussed on structuring seed-stage equity investments. Next up is to consider the investor’s attitude to yield, particularly why some venture stage investors build in a requirement fo... |
| 23.11.2020 | Investor Insights: Nick Woodrow November 2020 | We first met Nick Woodrow as a potential investor in late 2019 following him achieving an exit and leaving executive life to focus on non-exec work and investing. Nick has participated in our three EIS investments since (soon to be four) an... |
| 10.11.2020 | VC Insights: Valuations in early-stage investments – what does exit preference mean for the valuation? | This is our fifth post in a series of VC Insights focussed on valuations. We’ve looked at valuing a business, adjusting for debt and options, and in our last post we even tried untangling a bundled debt-and-equity structure. |
| 28.10.2020 | VC Insights Valuations: “what price did we just get…?” | We’ve been running a brief series of VC Insights focussed on valuations. So far, we’ve covered an approach to valuing the business itself. We’ve then adjusted for loans, options and other claims to end up with the equity valuation, which dr... |
| 30.09.2020 | VC Insights: Loans in early-stage businesses – why equity makes more sense | … and why you won’t get your loan back (probably). |
| 10.09.2020 | VC Insights: Founder remuneration – getting the right balance | Founders have a dual function. Firstly shareholders, secondly as managers. They need and deserve rewarding in each role. Getting the balance right isn’t easy, especially at the start-up and seed stages. |
| 03.09.2020 | VC insights: Valuations in early-stage investments – beyond the headline price | Our last post looked in some length at how investors and founders might agree a headline valuation. We’re now going to look at how to take that figure and turn it into a price per share that the lawyers can put into an investment agreement.... |
| 03.09.2020 | VC Insights: Valuations in early-stage investments – beyond the headline price – further complications | Our last post in the VC Insights series looked at methodologies for taking the headline valuation and turning it into a price per share that accounted for cash, debt, and the option pool. We’re now going to look at some further necessary ad... |
| 14.08.2020 | Start-up insights: How to write a pitch deck – first impressions count | A pitch deck is a key part of raising venture capital – it is the first thing an investor will see of your business, and potentially the last if it doesn’t make the cut. DSW Ventures’ Eleanor Boardman gives some tips on how entrepreneurs sh... |
| 06.08.2020 | The Insights People raises £500k from DSW Ventures | The Insights People, the Manchester-based company which is a global leader in kids, parents and family market intelligence, has secured a £500k investment from DSW Ventures, the business angel network focused on UK regional scale-up compani... |
| 27.07.2020 | VC insights: Structuring a deal – ASAs and convertibles | Continuing our ongoing series on technical aspects of structuring a venture investment, we’re now going to look at Advanced Subscription Agreements (ASAs) and convertible loans. |
| 21.07.2020 | Launch of the DSW Ventures “Mid-Market VC Tracker” and a review of the first half of 2020 | The first half of 2020 has seen significant economic uncertainty and volatility. We are an early stage venture capital business – so what has happened to our business and in our market during this tumultuous time? DSW Angels Partner, Keith ... |
| 13.07.2020 | VC insights: Valuations in early-stage investments | Recent posts have focussed around the technical aspects of structuring a transaction. We’ll be returning to that theme, but in the meantime, we’re going to take a look at the massive issue of how venture capital investors value a business w... |
| 18.06.2020 | The Portfolio Effect of EIS: The hidden advantage for angel investors | |
| 08.06.2020 | A day in the life – Covid edition | Ellie Boardman joined DSW Ventures as an Investment Executive in October. Several months on (two being spent under lockdown) she talks us through a day working from home in her not-so-new role. |
| 08.06.2020 | VC Structures: Managing the cap table | This is the fourth in a short series from DSW Ventures on what your choices are in structuring a venture deal, whether as investor or founder. |
| 02.06.2020 | DSW Ventures plan £10m investment in year ahead | DSW Ventures is planning £10m of new investment over the next year to help support the post-Covid recovery. |
| 13.05.2020 | VC Structures: share options in venture capital deals | This is the second in our short series from DSW Ventures on what your choices are in structuring a venture deal, whether as investor or founder. |
| 05.05.2020 | Poptop finds new success with afternoon tea and comedy | Poptop – the events booking platform backed by DSW Ventures, has found renewed success – delivering afternoon teas and virtual entertainment. |
| 29.04.2020 | DSW Ventures Structuring in Venture Capital Series – Using Leverage | This is the first blog in a short series from DSW Ventures on structuring a venture deal, whether as investor or founder. |
| 23.04.2020 | One Utility Bill raises £1.7m in funding round led by DSW Ventures | One Utility Bill – which simplifies utility billing for tenants, landlords and letting agents – has raised £1.7m in a funding round led by DSW Ventures, the venture capital business of the Dow Schofield Watts group, and including existing i... |
| 20.04.2020 | DSW Ventures appoints two new Investment Committee members | DSW Ventures, the business angel network focused on UK regional scale-up companies, has appointed two new members to its Investment Committee. |
| 24.03.2020 | DSW Ventures hits milestone deal flow at 1,000 applicants for funding | DSW Ventures, the business angel network, is celebrating a milestone after receiving its 1,000th application for funding within two years of its launch. |
| 21.01.2020 | ACAI more than doubles revenue following investment by DSW Ventures | ACAI – the unique women’s outdoorwear company – has bucked the trend of retail gloom in the Christmas period with reported revenues more than doubled on the previous year. This Chester-based business is run by husband and wife team Joe and ... |
| 20.11.2019 | Shopblocks targets global growth with £500k investment | Shopblocks – the fast-growing e-commerce platform backed by Dow Schofield Watts Ventures (DSW Ventures) – has set its sights on the US market after securing a further £500,000 investment. |
| 31.10.2019 | DSW Ventures expands its team to support national expansion | Dow Schofield Watts Angels (DSW Ventures) – the business angel network – has expanded its team with the appointment of Ellie Boardman as Investment Executive. |
| 17.10.2019 | Events booking platform is first to offer ‘instant’ service | Poptop, the Newcastle company which operates the UK’s leading events booking platform, has become the first platform of its type worldwide to offer instant quotes and availability. |
| 25.09.2019 | New marketing boss set to drive growth at Poptop | DSW Ventures portfolio business Poptop, the Newcastle-based company which is the UK’s fastest growing online events booking platform, has appointed Nicole de Vega to the newly-created role of Head of Marketing. |
| 23.09.2019 | Outdoor brand raises £350k in fourth deal by DSW Ventures | A fast-growing Cheshire clothing brand with a mission to become the ‘Levi’s of the women’s outdoorwear market’ has raised £350,000 in a funding round led by Dow Schofield Watts Angels (DSW Ventures), the business angel network. |
| 12.09.2019 | British Business Investments commits £10m to Dow Schofield Watts Ventures | British Business Investments commits £10m to Dow Schofield Watts Angels as first partner in Regional Angels Programme |
| 10.06.2019 | DSW Ventures Shortlisted for UKBAA Best New Entrant to the EcoSystem | We’re delighted to announce that the DSW Ventures have been shortlisted for Best New Entrant to the EcoSystem at the UKBAA Angel Investment Awards 2019! This Award recognises the most innovative and impactful organisation having recently en... |
| 25.01.2019 | The cap needs to fit: how and why to balance the cap table between founders and investors | An out-of-balance cap table will ultimately affect the incentives of founders and the long-term prospects of a business. |
| 17.12.2018 | Creating a Portfolio of Angel Investments | By David Smith |
| 13.12.2018 | DSW Ventures completes third investment | PopTopUK Limited, the UK’s leading online events marketplace, has secured a £615,000 equity investment from a syndicate led by Dow Schofield Watts Ventures and Northstar Ventures. |
| 30.10.2018 | DSW Ventures joins national network | Dow Schofield Watts Ventures – the angels network for the North of England – has joined the national trade body, the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA). |
| 24.10.2018 | Women Angels of the North Investment Forum | Dow Schofield Watts are proud to support the Women Angels of the North Investment Forum, taking place on the 12th November, in Leeds. |
| 24.10.2018 | Shopblocks secures £300k investment from Northern angel network | Dow Schofield Watts Ventures – the Northern angel network – has completed its second deal, with a £300,000 investment in Miribase Limited, the company behind the Shopblocks e-commerce platform. |
| 18.06.2018 | How much to raise – June 2018 | Over the last year we’ve seen about 250 pitch decks, from teams at differing stages, with wildly differing views on funding amounts and valuations (the question of valuation is inextricably linked to the amount of the raise; I’ll try come b... |
| 14.03.2018 | Avanite secures £500k as angel network complete first investment | Dow Schofield Watts Ventures – the new Northern angel network – has completed its inaugural deal, with a £500,000 investment in Warrington-based software company Avanite. |
| 25.07.2017 | New angel network attracts over 50 investors in first month | A new business angel network which aims to boost investment in the North’s technology sector has attracted over 50 potential investors and almost 40 companies within its first month. |
| 06.06.2017 | New angel network aims to give wings to North’s tech sector | A new business angel network aims to boost the North’s technology sector by bringing together early-stage companies with experienced entrepreneurs who can provide investment, mentoring and support. |
