DSW Venture Capital

About DSW Venture Capital

DSW Ventures Limited is the early-stage venture capital arm of DSW Capital plc, the AIM-listed parent of the Dow Schofield Watts professional services network. The firm is headquartered in Warrington, Cheshire, with a city-centre Manchester office and was founded in 2018 as a discrete VC franchise (the parent DSW Capital was founded in 2002). DSW Capital plc IPO-ed on AIM (London Stock Exchange) in December 2021, raising GBP 5 million to support continued UK expansion. Assets under management as of December 2024 are not formally disclosed, with approximately GBP 24 million of venture funding facilitated cumulatively across the platform. The legal structure is a managed VC investing through SEIS-qualifying and EIS-qualifying vehicles. Identified fund vehicles include the SEIS Fund and the P-FIS (Pension Fund Investment in SEIS and EIS), totalling at least two active fund vehicles. The firm operates as a regional UK venture capital manager and benefits from the broader Dow Schofield Watts professional-services network across corporate finance, due diligence, tax and wealth planning.

Investment thesis

DSW Ventures pursues a pre-seed to Series A regional venture capital strategy focused on bridging the early-stage funding gap for high-growth UK companies operating outside London. Sector focus is technology, knowledge-intensive and IP-intensive businesses including software, consumer markets, deep tech and university spin-outs. Geographic scope is UK regions covering Manchester, North-West, Yorkshire, Midlands and Scotland-leaning opportunities, explicitly excluding London-centric deal flow. Ticket size is GBP 300,000 to GBP 3 million per round with a sweet spot of GBP 100,000 to GBP 2 million initial, with follow-on capability. The limited partner base includes British Business Investments as cornerstone, a 200-plus network of high-net-worth angels and family offices benefiting from SEIS and EIS tax relief, and approximately 20 percent DSW team co-investment alongside LPs. Value creation is hands-on operating support drawing on the wider Dow Schofield Watts professional-services network across corporate finance, due diligence, tax and wealth planning, alongside board roles and access to a 100-plus UK senior executive bench.

Recent activity

Recent investments include Roxfit in consumer and wellness (2025), Glen Clova Scientific in healthcare and biotech (2023), Aston Particle Technologies in healthcare and pharma tech (2023) and The Insights Family in software and data (2020). Recent exits include Salucro in healthcare and fintech (2024). The platform continues to deploy SEIS and EIS-qualifying capital across UK regional technology, knowledge-intensive and IP-intensive businesses outside London. The hands-on professional-services network access via Dow Schofield Watts provides differentiated portfolio support for founders unable to source corporate finance, tax and due-diligence expertise from generalist regional VCs.

Frequently asked questions

What investment strategy does DSW Venture Capital focus on?

DSW Venture Capital focuses on VC strategies in the private equity space.

How many portfolio companies does DSW Venture Capital have?

DSW Venture Capital has 21 active portfolio companies and 1 completed exit and 1 fund tracked on GP Intel.

Where is DSW Venture Capital headquartered?

DSW Venture Capital is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom.

When was DSW Venture Capital founded?

DSW Venture Capital was founded in 2019.

What sectors does DSW Venture Capital invest in?

DSW Venture Capital invests across Software, TMT, Healthcare, Consumer.

What are DSW Venture Capital's recent exits?

Recent realized exits by DSW Venture Capital include: ACAI Outdoorwear (2023) to Growth Partner, 4.2x.