British Design Fund
Venture capitalLondon · Pre-Seed–Seed · 1 people tracked
Find your way into British Design Fund
212 people in our graph share verified history with the British Design Fund team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
British Design Fund backs entrepreneurs building innovative British product designs and inventions. Beyond financial investment, the fund emphasizes hands-on mentoring and support, drawing on a network of experienced mentors who volunteer time and expertise to help investee companies scale their products, accelerate growth and build long-term value for both investors and the businesses themselves. Over more than nine years of operation, the fund has assembled a diverse portfolio of enterprising start-ups representing British invention.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 1 people
from curated
What they invest in
from 31 of 39 portfolio companiesHardware ×13Healthtech ×10Consumer ×7Medical Devices ×7AI & Machine Learning ×6IoT ×6Cleantech ×5Advanced Manufacturing ×4
HQs:United Kingdom×24United States×1South Africa×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 19 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×142 founders×5
Where their founders studiedfrom 15 founders with education data
Imperial College London ×4University of Plymouth ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 14 founders with field-of-study data
Design & Architecture ×3Engineering ×3Business & Management ×2Mathematics & Statistics ×2Physics ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 19 founders with career history
Pervasive Media Studio ×2University of Bristol ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
Investments · 39 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12025 · 12024 · 12023 · 42022 · 22021 · 110 dated
Hidealoo designs and manufactures space-saving toilet solutions that conceal or integrate into small residential spaces, enabling more efficient use of rooms.
ConsumerHardwarePropTech
Monty Ravenscroft(Founder)in
Marldell designs and manufactures medical devices, specifically innovative single-use lancets for blood glucose testing.
Advanced ManufacturingHealthtechMedical DevicesMarldell, GB
Matoha develops infrared sensor and AI-based devices that identify the composition of textiles, plastics, and flooring materials.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareNew Materials
Martin Holicky(Founder)inJames Kung(Founder)in
Co-investorsConduit ConnectInnovate UK
Milbotix develops technology to help people with dementia and other conditions that impair communication of distress.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHardwareHealthtechIoTMedical DevicesBristol, GB
Dr Zeke Steer(Founder)
BoardJohn Major(Non-Executive Director)
Co-investorsInnovate UKTwo Magnolias
Linear Buddy is a thermoplastic elastomer safety product designed for site operations that resists damage and maintains durability through multiple reuse cycles.
Advanced ManufacturingCircular EconomyConstruction Tech
Shiraz Dudhia(Founder)in
Aeropowder engineers high-performance insulation materials from feathers using a patent-pending process.
Circular EconomyNew Materials
Cordon develops robotic spraying technology for fruit farmers that reduces chemical use while lowering costs.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningRoboticsUK, GB
Annelise Brbora(Product Management)inJamie Hutchinson(CEO)in
Cryogenx develops CGX1, a portable body cooling device designed to treat heatstroke and prevent heat-related deaths.
BiotechDeep TechHardwareHealthtechMedical Devices
Matthew Power
BoardLevison Wood
Co-investorsFuture Planet CapitalUK Innovation & Science Seed Fund
Enteral Access Technologies develops medical devices for safe placement of nasogastric feeding and decompression tubes in clinical settings.
HealthtechMedical Devices
George Gallagher(Founder and CEO)in
Good Boost develops technology for personalized therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation for people with joint and long-term health conditions, making these services more accessible and affordable through guided movement programs delivered on land and in water.
HealthtechWellness & FitnessOxford, GB
Gravitilab is a space technology company staffed by engineers with expertise in avionics, propulsion, launch safety, payload mechanics, testing and related disciplines, offering technology-focused services in the space sector.
Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech
James Kilpatrick(Founder, Chair & CFO)Mark Roberts CBE(Managing Director)in
Co-investorsAnglia Capital Group
HausBots builds wall-climbing robotic crawlers (HB2 and HB3) that carry inspection payloads such as ultrasonic thickness measurement, corrosion mapping, GPR, and visual inspection for non-destructive testing (NDT) of assets like storage tanks, silos, bridges, dams, and wind turbines.
Deep TechHardwareRoboticsBirmingham, GB
Jack Cornes(Founder)in
Co-investorsPi Labs
ManholeMetrics designs and deploys wastewater level sensors paired with a monitoring software platform (Porthole) that give water utilities real-time visibility into sewer and stormwater networks.
CleantechClimate TechIoT
Will Dubin(Founder/CEO)in
Co-investorsAvonmore DevelopmentsSyndicateRoomEcho River Capital
Matter. is a venture-backed cleantech company that designs and builds microplastic and micropollutant capture and filtration technology, including products for the laundry sector and industrial-scale water filtration systems for textile manufacturing.
Circular EconomyCleantechClimate TechNew MaterialsBristol, GB
Co-investorsChrysalixRegeneration.VCTechFounders
Newlane makes foldable bike helmets designed to collapse compact and fit into a bag, aimed at urban cyclists, commuters, and e-scooter riders.
ConsumerHardwareMobility & Transportation
PEEQUAL manufactures women's urinals designed to reduce toilet queue times and improve sanitation at events and festivals.
ConsumerFemTechHardware
Hazel McShane(Co-founder)inAmber Probyn(Co-founder)in
Permia Sensing provides tree-level monitoring and analytics for palm plantations using satellite imagery, drone data, and patented bioacoustic sensors combined with AI.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningClimate TechIoTLondon, GB
Jonathan Rowell(CEO and founding executive)
Co-investorsJenson Ventures
Phare develops AI-powered home safety devices that detect fires and carbon monoxide using advanced sensors and machine learning to reduce false alarms and missed detections.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningHardwareHealthtechPropTechLondon, GB
Daniel McBride(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsClearance Venture PartnersSterling RoadTechstars
SAGES develops bio-based dyes derived from phytochemical extractions that replace synthetic dyes in textile and materials applications, achieving industry-standard performance while reducing carbon emissions and eliminating toxic chemical pollution.
BiotechCleantechNew MaterialsLondon, GB
Emily Taylor(Co-founder & CEO)inAlice Simpson(Co-founder & CTO)in
SAGES Africa organizes esports events and provides strategic consulting services across the continent to connect gaming talent, brands, and communities.
GamingMarketing Tech
Co-investorsNODWIN Gaming
Samudra builds an intelligence layer for the blue economy, developed by a team of ocean scientists, engineers and operators.
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechDeep TechIoT
Joyeeta Das(Founder & CEO)inDeepak Shakya(COO/CTO)inCorinne Thompson(Chief Financial Officer)
Co-investorsCarbon13
Sapphire Capital Partners offers venture capital funds, including an SEIS fund investing in early-stage companies focused on AI and automation.
Fintech
SmartyPlants makes a smart plant monitor and companion app for houseplant owners, measuring five conditions — light, temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and nutrients — and pairing readings with plant identification and tailored care advice.
ConsumerHardwareIoT
Ben Beavers(Founder)in
Spacebands provides a people-focused product or service for businesses; the company operates a referral program offering recurring commissions to affiliates who introduce new customers.
Future of WorkHardwareHealthtechIoTSaaSBristol, GB
Ronan Finnegan(Co-Founder)inHarry Kimberley-Bowen(Co-Founder)in
Spokesafe provides hardware, software, and consulting services to promote active mobility in urban areas.
HardwareMobility & TransportationSaaSLondon, GB
Co-investorsBethnal Green Ventures
Turn provides background screening and compliance infrastructure for workforce platforms and employers across 30+ industries.
CybersecurityGovTechHR TechSaaS
Co-investorsKeiretsu Forum
Water Kinetics manufactures low-energy, low-carbon water pipework systems, including its Eco-Duo pipe-within-a-pipe product that reduces installation time, cost, and carbon while improving water safety against water-borne pathogens such as Legionella.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechConstruction TechHardwareHealthtechImpact & Social Good
Maxwell Bridges(Founding Director)inJonathan Waggott(Managing Director)in
Boost manufactures lightweight, breathable breast forms designed for post-mastectomy wear, created in collaboration with breast cancer survivors and marketed as an alternative to traditional heavy silicone prosthetics.
ConsumerHealthtechMedical DevicesCornwall, GB
Sam JackmaninRosie Bravein
Developer of the V-Duct, a patented aerodynamic channel reducing motorcycle drag and improving fuel efficiency for ICE and electric powertrains.
Co-investorsKero Development Partners
Koalaa manufactures prosthetic sleeves for people with limb differences, offering customizable options matched to the wearer's condition and intended activities.
ConsumerMedical Devices
Zeus develops sleep improvement devices, including anti-snoring and obstructive sleep apnea management products, based on proprietary TESLA technology developed through collaboration with medical institutions and researchers.
ConsumerHealthtechMedical DevicesWellness & FitnessLondon, GB
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Demeter BioIwantastandingdeskLabCycleScintamUntapwater
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Matter · entrackr.com · Aug 25, 2026
Turning · eu-startups.com · Aug 19, 2026
Gravitilab · swissaerospace.ventures · Aug 14, 2026
Matoha · techfundingnews.com · Mar 23, 2026
Manhole Metrics · echorivercap.com · Mar 7, 2026
HausBots · cp.catapult.org.uk · Feb 2, 2026
Spacebands · startups.co.uk · Jan 12, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has British Design Fund made?
- British Design Fund has 39 tracked investments, including 2 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does British Design Fund invest at?
- British Design Fund invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does British Design Fund focus on?
- British Design Fund focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, Consumer, Hardware, Healthtech, Medical Devices.
- Where is British Design Fund located?
- British Design Fund is headquartered in London, GB.
- Who does British Design Fund co-invest with?
- British Design Fund most often shares deals with Techstars, Chrysalix, Future Planet Capital, among 20 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
from their channelInterview with Prof Klaus McDonald-Maier & Dr Vishuu Mohan, founders of Versatile RobotX.
British Design Fund
Interview with Rayan Osserian, co-founder of Demeter Bio
British Design Fund
Interview with Ilan Adler, CEO and founder of Eco-Nomad Solutions.
British Design Fund
Interview with LabCycle co-founders Helen Laing and Colin Francis.
British Design Fund
Interview with Jamie Hutchinson, founder and CEO of Cordon Technologies.
British Design Fund
Interview with Lucy Hughes, founder of Marina Tex
British Design Fund
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