Published on August 1, 2025
What we learnt while closing our first round for Vortex IQ
Raising a pre-seed round in the UK is not the same as raising in Silicon Valley.
The funding culture, investor mindset, and even the jargon often feel different — more cautious, more diligence-driven, and more focused on “traction” than “vision”.
At Vortex IQ, we raised our pre-seed round through a combination of angels, UK-based early-stage VCs, and innovation funding. It wasn’t always smooth — but it taught us a lot.
Here are 10 lessons we wish we knew when we started.
Even at pre-seed, UK investors often ask for:
Lesson: Build evidence early — product, users, and data matter more than slide decks.
UK angel investors are often motivated by tax relief.
SEIS: 50% tax relief on up to £250k EIS: 30% tax relief on up to £1m
Lesson: Get SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance early. Mention it clearly in your pitch
Many UK investors won’t get your tech immediately.
Instead of “multi-agent orchestration engine” → say “digital workers that save 30 hours a week.”
Lesson: Use analogies. Focus on problem, outcome, timing — not jargon.
Cold emails rarely convert. But intros from:
Lesson: Build your intro network before you start raising.
Even with momentum, closing can be slow. Legal, diligence, and decision-making take longer than you expect.
Lesson: Start conversations early. Cash in bank > “soft commits”.
We saw a spike in investor interest when we:
Lesson: Time your raise with public wins. They create urgency.
We used Innovate UK Smart Grants and VC equity to de-risk our runway.
Lesson: Don’t ignore UK government funding. It signals credibility and stretches your round.
UK pre-seed VCs ask questions like:
Lesson: Have a solid data room, cap table, GTM plan, and market thesis — even pre-revenue.
The best angels we met:
Lesson: Choose investors who act fast and think like operators, not just financiers
UK founders often underpitch their ambition. Don’t do that.
Raising pre-seed in the UK is doable — if you understand the landscape.
And above all — don’t wait for validation to start building. Traction creates leverage. Clarity creates confidence. Vision pulls capital toward you.
The future of e-commerce optimisation—and beyond—is bright with Vortex IQ. As we continue to develop our Agentic Framework and expand into new sectors, we’re excited to bring the power of AI-powered insights and automation to businesses around the world. Join us on this journey as we build a future where data not only informs decisions but drives them, making businesses smarter, more efficient, and ready for whatever comes next.