Raising your first round can feel like running a marathon without knowing the route. Angel networks can make that journey easier — but with more than 100 operating across the UK, knowing which ones actually add value can be a challenge.
At a time when early-stage deal volume has fallen significantly, competition for angel funding is sharper than ever. The right network can mean the difference between a round that drags for months and one that closes quickly with the right investors.
An angel network is a group of individual investors who pool knowledge, capital, and deal flow. They typically back pre-seed to seed-stage startups — often writing cheques between £10k and £250k.
Beyond money, networks bring strategic value: introductions, credibility, and experience that’s hard to replicate through crowdfunding or friends-and-family rounds.
Some networks specialise by sector (like AI or healthtech), others by region. Some have criteria around traction or stage. Some want to be hands-on mentors to the founders they invest in, others are portfolio-focused and more passive. Match their profile, criteria and approach to the needs of your startup.
Investment processes differ widely. Some networks are sector-led, concentrating on fields such as AI, healthtech, or clean energy where they can add operational expertise. Others are regional, supporting founders outside London — areas that account for only 35% of UK deals, despite strong startup activity.
A typical network reviews dozens of startups each quarter, often through pitch events or internal referrals. Deals are then syndicated, with a lead angel coordinating investor participation. This structure allows startups to raise meaningful early capital — usually between £100k and £1m — from a mix of investors who already know and trust each other.
Before approaching any network, assess how they align with your goals:
Stage focus – Do they regularly back startups at your maturity level?
Engagement style – Are they hands-on mentors or more passive investors?
Sector alignment – Do they understand your technology and market dynamics?
Decision process – How quickly do they move from intro to investment?
The best-fit network will feel like a long-term partner, not a transaction. Look for angels who ask smart questions, challenge assumptions, and genuinely contribute to your growth journey.
The right angel network can be a catalyst — not just for capital, but for confidence. By aligning with investors who share your vision and can open meaningful doors, you’ll spend less time pitching in circles and more time building what matters. Fundraising will always take work, but it shouldn’t feel like guesswork.
Anglia Capital Group is a leading group of business angel investors in the East of England.
Anglia Capital Group was established in the Spring of 2014, to support spinouts, new ventures and growth businesses in both Norfolk and Suffolk: counties boasting expertise in food and agri/biotech, specialist engineering and energy.
Our members are both leading entrepreneurs and experienced business people united in their desire to invest in the next generation of businesses in East Anglia.
Henley Business Angels (HBA) is a network of experienced business leaders, successful entrepreneurs and investors. The network’s aim is to facilitate opportunities for members to invest in and mentor (S)EIS registered early-stage businesses launched by entrepreneurs who graduated from or are connected with Henley Business School and the University of Reading. Henley Business Angels is also keen to support and educate entrepreneurs to contribute to the quality of the founder ecosystem, through initiatives such as our quarterly Investment Readiness Workshop.
SFC Capital (formerly Startup Funding Club) is a leading early-stage investment firm providing capital and support to British startups.
By combining our Angel Network and Seed Funds, we have created a unique model that allows investors to get exposure to SEIS- and EIS-qualifying businesses, either directly or through a diversified portfolio curated and managed by our expert team.
SFC’s Angel House was formed to extend our impact as leaders of the UK's seed funding ecosystem. Over hundreds of deals, our network of angel investors has catalysed some of Britain's most exciting entrepreneurs and startups. The Angel House gives investor members access to SFC's winning fund portfolio.
Angels Den Funding is one of the Europe's largest and oldest Angel led Investment firms, have been supporting founders since 2007 and have built one of the UK & Europe’s most established angel-led investment firms. To date, we’ve:
Our investors, a mix of HNWIs and Family Offices, typically write cheques in the £35k–£45k range, with larger tickets reaching £100k–£120k. Beyond capital, they bring board-level expertise, sector networks, and strategic support, very different from crowd platforms like Seedrs or Crowdcube.
We intelligently match angel investors to ambitious high growth SMEs, across all sectors.
We run several pitching sessions a month, where businesses in all sectors, and at various stages along their growth journey pitch for funding and support. Not only do these events showcase some of the best SME talent from across the country, but they also allow our members to build a superb, like-minded peer network.
In addition, we also provide an exclusive online member hub where angels can browse all of our investment opportunities, tailor their preferences to view businesses within their criteria and connect to other investors.
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