British Design Fund
Early-stage investor in IP-backed UK product design, hardware and manufacturing start-ups
- Venture capital
- Remote / UK-wide
- Type
- Venture capital
- Based in
- Remote / UK-wide
- Stages
- Pre-seed, Seed
- Sector focus
- Fintech
- Cheque size
- €100k–€1.5M
- Fund size
- Undisclosed
- Founded
- 2017
- Website
- britishdesignfund.co.uk
British Design Fund invests in and supports early-stage UK product design and manufacturing companies, with a focus on purpose-led, IP-backed hardware that qualifies for SEIS and EIS. It was founded by John Mathers, a former chief executive of the Design Council, and product entrepreneur Damon Bonser, and launched in 2017 after raising £500,000 from more than 160 investors on Seedrs.
Alongside capital, it offers help with market entry, sales, intellectual property and manufacturing. Sectors include health, sustainability and assistive technology, with portfolio companies such as Koalaa. In December 2025 the British Business Bank committed £5 million through its Regional Angels Programme.
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