Question 1

How does the Access EIS co-investment model with "Super Angels" work?

Accepted Answer

Our flagship funds utilise a data-driven approach to follow the UK's most successful individual angel investors, whom we define as "Super Angels". These individuals are identified through proprietary research that analyses decades of market data to find the top 0.06% of investors who consistently achieve outsized returns.

We do not lead the investment rounds ourselves; instead, we act as a co-investor. When a identified Super Angel decides to back a company, we invest alongside them on the exact same economic terms and at the same share price. This allows our investors to benefit from the deep sector expertise, due diligence, and deal access of the UK's most proficient private investors while building a highly diversified portfolio.

Question 2

Why is 30+ companies considered the optimal portfolio size for a seed stage EIS fund?

Accepted Answer

The rationale for high diversification is rooted in the Power Law of venture capital returns. In the startup world, the majority of companies will either fail or return very little capital. However, a tiny percentage of companies will become "outliers" that return 50x, 100x, or even more.

A traditional portfolio of only 8 to 12 companies has a high statistical probability of missing these rare winners entirely. Missing just one of these companies can be the difference between a failing fund and a highly successful one. By building a portfolio of at least 30 companies, we systematically increase the likelihood that your portfolio will include at least one "rocket ship" that can define your overall investment performance.

Question 3

What happens after I invest?

Accepted Answer

Once you complete the application form and transfer your funds, the deployment phase begins. We typically start adding startups to your portfolio within two weeks of your investment. The length of deployment will depend on the fund - some deploy within weeks into a few companies whereas our diversified Access EIS fund deploys over a 12 month period.

You will have 24/7 access to an Investor Dashboard where you can monitor each new company added, view current valuations, and track the status of your EIS3 tax certificates. We manage the process of obtaining these certificates from HMRC on your behalf, which generally takes between 8 and 12 weeks after the specific company has issued its shares. Throughout the process, you will receive regular monthly email updates on new additions and formal performance reports twice a year. Any cash returns generated from a successful exit are distributed directly to your bank account.

Question 4

How am I kept informed about the performance of my investments?

Accepted Answer

We provide a highly transparent reporting suite designed to keep you updated without overwhelming you with paperwork.

Investor Dashboard: A 24/7 online portal where you can see every company in your portfolio, real-time valuations, and the status of your EIS3 certificates.
Biannual Reports: Detailed electronic reports sent twice a year providing a high-level overview of portfolio growth and updates from key portfolio companies.
Monthly Updates: Regular email communications detailing new deployments and startups added to your portfolio.
Webinars: Live sessions with our management team to discuss market trends, fund performance, and the evolution of our data-driven model.

Question 5

How long is the expected holding period, and can I exit my investment early?

Accepted Answer

S/EIS investments are intended to be long-term, illiquid commitments. The natural lifecycle of a successful startup—from seed stage to an exit through a trade sale or IPO—is typically 5 to 10 years. There is no secondary market for these shares, so you should only invest capital that you do not expect to need access to for the next decade.

To maintain your tax reliefs, you must hold your shares for at least three years from the date of issue. If you sell or dispose of your shares before this three-year period ends, HMRC will likely withdraw your income tax relief, and you may be liable for Capital Gains Tax on any growth.

Question 6

What happens if an investee company fails? Can I claim additional relief?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is known as "Loss Relief," and it is one of the most significant downside protections offered by the S/EIS schemes. If a company in your portfolio fails (e.g., it enters liquidation or is sold for a nominal amount), you can claim relief on your "at-risk" capital.

For a 45% taxpayer, this means that even in the event of a total failure, you can recover a large portion of your initial investment through the combined 30% (or 50%) income tax relief and the subsequent loss relief. We notify you through your dashboard if a company fails and provide the necessary information to help you make a claim to HMRC.

Question 7

How do I claim my tax relief?

Accepted Answer

Claiming tax relief is a straightforward process that involves providing HMRC with details of your qualifying investments. You do not need to file a separate return for each startup; instead, you list the company names, investment amounts, and HMRC reference numbers on your annual Self-Assessment tax return.

To make this easier, you can use our "one-click" dashboard feature to download a pre-populated spreadsheet containing all the data required for your filing. If you have already submitted your return or do not file a Self-Assessment, you can alternatively complete the claim form found on the back of each physical EIS3 certificate and mail it directly to HMRC.

Question 8

When will I receive my tax certificates from Access EIS?

Accepted Answer

Tax certificates, known as EIS3 or SEIS3 forms, are issued only after an investee company has issued shares and traded for a minimum period. In a managed fund, the process of obtaining these from HMRC is handled by the fund manager (Syndicate Room). You can typically expect individual certificates to arrive in your dashboard roughly 8 to 15 weeks after each underlying investment completes.

For a diversified fund like Access EIS, which building a portfolio over 12 months, you will receive these certificates incrementally. While the first ones may arrive within a few months of your initial fund investment, it is realistic to expect that the full set of certificates for a 30-50 company portfolio will be completed roughly 15 months after you first join the fund.

Setup Fee	2% drawn upfront from subscription (1% for returning Access investors)
Annual Management Fees	Years 1-3: 2% per year retained upfront Years 4-7: 2% per year, deducted from distributions Years 8-10: 0.5% deducted from distributions
Performance Fee	10% on a deal by deal basis with a 110% hurdle

Access EIS Fund