East of England Investment Fund
Equity Finance – For East of England-based businesses
Up to £5million for businesses with potential for high-growth
As businesses grow, they may need longer-term funding to support their ambitions. Equity investment provides this backing in exchange for a share of the business, helping to fund growth through activities such as scaling operations, developing new products, or entering new markets.
It may be suitable for innovative or high-growth businesses – at start-up or more established stages – looking to expand and reach their full potential.
Working with British Business Bank
Nations and Regions Investments Limited, registered in England and Wales, registration number 14777628, registered office Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield S1 2GQ. A wholly owned commercial subsidiary of British Business Bank plc, registered in England and Wales, registration number 08616013, registered office Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ. British Business Bank plc is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. It and its subsidiaries are not banking institutions and do not operate as such. With the exception of BBB Investment Services Limited they are not authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority. BBB Investment Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A complete legal structure chart for the group can be found at www.british-business-bank.co.uk.
Is this fund right for my business?
The East of England Investment Fund is designed to help ambitious businesses unlock their next stage of growth. If the statements below sound like your business, this fund could be a good fit.
✓ Based in the East of England
✓ Looking to raise equity investment
✓ Seeking up to £5million
✓ Innovative or high-growth ambitions
✓ Planning to scale products, services or markets
Up to £5m
in equity investment
For East of England
based businesses
Any sector
at growth, scaling stage
Not sure if you’re the right fit? Start the conversation.
You don’t need to decide which fund is the best fit before getting in touch. We’ll take the time to understand your business and funding needs, then recommend the most appropriate funding route.
What is the East of England Investment Fund?
The East of England Investment Fund is designed to help ambitious small and medium-sized businesses access the funding they need to grow. Backed by the British Business Bank, it aims to address funding gaps by providing equity investment to businesses with strong growth potential across the region.
Whether you’re developing new technology, expanding into new markets, growing your team or scaling your operations, the fund provides long-term investment to help turn ambitious plans into reality. It is open to businesses across a broad range of sectors, with a focus on supporting innovation, productivity and sustainable economic growth throughout the East of England.
Funding at a glance
Every business has different ambitions, so there’s no one-size-fits-all investment. The East of England Investment Fund provides long-term equity investment to help ambitious businesses scale, with funding tailored to your growth plans and commercial needs.
What you could receive
- Up to £5million in equity investment
- Long-term growth capital
- Investment structured around your growth plans
- Potential for co-investment alongside other investors
What the funding could help you achieve
- Grow your team
- Develop new products or technology
- Enter new markets
- Increase sales and marketing activity
- Expand operations or production
- Commercialise innovation
If you’re unsure how much funding you need, or whether equity is the right option, our team can help you explore the most appropriate funding route.
Who can apply?
The East of England Investment Fund is designed for ambitious small and medium-sized businesses looking to accelerate their growth through equity investment.
While every business is different, the fund is typically suitable for businesses that:
- are based in the East of England
- have ambitious growth plans
- are seeking equity investment to scale
- operate in any sector
- can demonstrate strong commercial potential
If you’re unsure whether your business is eligible, get in touch. We’ll help identify the most appropriate funding option, whether that’s through this fund, another Mercia fund or one of our co-investment partners.
What do we look for?
Every investment decision is based on the individual business, but we're typically looking for companies with the potential to achieve significant long-term growth. When assessing an investment opportunity, we'll consider:
A capable team
Founders with the skills, ambition and commitment to grow the business.
A clear market opportunity
A product or service solving a genuine customer problem in an attractive market.
Evidence of traction
Customers, revenue, partnerships or other proof that the business is gaining momentum.
A scalable business
A plan for sustainable growth that can generate long-term value.
A compelling investment opportunity
A business that aligns with the objectives of the fund and offers the potential for attractive returns.
How does the investment process work?
Every investment is different, but the process typically follows these steps:
1. Initial review
Our investment team will review your pitch deck and funding requirements to understand your business, growth plans and suitability for investment. If another Mercia fund or funding route is more appropriate, we’ll point you in the right direction.
2. Getting to know your business
If we need any additional information, we’ll arrange a conversation and ask questions to better understand your opportunity, team and growth plans before deciding whether to progress.
3. Investment assessment
Promising opportunities are presented to our Investment Committee for further evaluation. This is where we assess the commercial opportunity and decide whether to proceed with an investment.
4. Due diligence and legal documentation
If an investment is approved, we’ll work together to complete due diligence and agree the legal documentation before the investment is finalised.
5. Investment and long-term partnership
Investment is just the beginning. Your investment manager will continue to work with you as your business grows, providing strategic support, introductions and guidance throughout the investment journey, which can often last five years or more.
Frequently asked questions
Equity investment is funding provided in exchange for a share of your business. Unlike a loan, there are no regular repayments, allowing you to focus on growing your business. Equity investors share in the long-term success of the company and can often provide strategic support, experience and valuable networks alongside investment.
Equity investment is often suitable for businesses with ambitious growth plans that need funding to scale. If you’re looking to develop new products, expand into new markets, hire key people or accelerate growth, equity investment could be the right option.
If you’re unsure whether equity is the best route, start a conversation with our team. We’ll help you explore the most appropriate funding option for your business.
The fund is designed for ambitious small and medium-sized businesses based in the East of England that are looking to grow through equity investment. It is open to businesses across a broad range of sectors, from innovative start-ups to more established companies with strong growth potential.
Every investment opportunity is assessed individually, so if you’re unsure whether your business is eligible, we’d encourage you to get in touch.
The East of England Investment Fund can provide equity investment of up to £5 million.
The amount invested will depend on your business, stage of growth and funding requirements. We’ll work with you to understand your plans and determine the most appropriate level of investment.
Investment can support many different stages of business growth, including developing new products or technology, recruiting key employees, expanding into new markets, increasing operational capacity, commercialising innovation or supporting working capital for growth.
Every business is different, so we’ll take the time to understand your growth plans and how investment could help achieve them.
If you’re ready to apply for investment, yes. A clear, well-prepared pitch deck is an important part of the process and should explain your business, management team, market opportunity, business model, growth strategy and financial forecasts.
If you’re not at that stage yet, you don’t need a pitch deck just to start a conversation. We’re always happy to have an initial discussion about your business, your ambitions and whether equity investment could be the right route.
Building relationships with investors early can also be valuable. By getting to know each other before you’re actively fundraising, you’ll gain a better understanding of what investors look for and how to prepare for a future investment round.
Every investment is different, so there isn’t a fixed timescale. The process depends on factors such as the complexity of the business, the information available and the size of the investment.
We’ll keep you informed throughout the process and work with you to move as efficiently as possible.
Yes. We regularly invest alongside angel investors, venture capital funds and other investment partners where it helps businesses secure the funding they need to grow.
If a co-investment approach is appropriate, we’ll discuss the options with you as part of the investment process.
No. You don’t need to identify the right fund before getting in touch.
Our investment team will take the time to understand your business, growth plans and funding requirements before recommending the most appropriate funding route. That could be through the East of England Investment Fund, another fund managed by Mercia, or alongside one of our co-investment partners.
Our focus is on finding the right funding solution for your business, not simply matching you to a single fund.
Once you’ve submitted an enquiry, a member of our investment team will review your information and arrange an initial conversation if appropriate.
From there, we’ll discuss your business, growth plans and funding requirements. If the opportunity aligns with the fund, we’ll guide you through the next stages of the investment process, which may include further information, due diligence and an investment decision.
You don’t need to decide which fund is the right fit before contacting us.
We’ll take the time to understand your business and funding needs before recommending the most appropriate funding route. That could be through the East of England Investment Fund, another fund managed by Mercia, or by introducing you to one of our co-investment partners.
Even if this particular fund isn’t suitable, we’re always happy to point ambitious businesses in the right direction.
Why choose Mercia Ventures?
Securing investment is just the beginning. At Mercia Ventures, we build long-term partnerships with the founders we back, supporting businesses through the opportunities, challenges and milestones that come with growth.