Frequently asked questions

How can I hear about the next demo day?

If it makes more sense for you to pitch at the next demo day, sign up to our newsletter where you’ll get alerts and other cool stuff. Our demo days are typically around May and October.

Is it free to apply?

Yes, there is no cost to apply, or pitch at demo day!

Who can apply?

Any startup planning to raise a Pre-Seed, Seed or Series A round now, or in the near future, can apply. We welcome applications from across the globe and will allocate you to the most appropriate geographic demo day

What happens after I apply?

Once applications close, our VC partners vote on the startups they think are most promising in a blinded process. We will then tell you whether or not you’ve been successful and include next steps.

What happens if I make it to demo day?

You'll be sent an invite to the online event, and on the day you'll be connected directly with the investment teams of interested VCs, and 1-1 conversations with individual angels. No need to pitch, just get right to the important questions!

What happens after demo day?

Investors request introductions through our platform and we’ll send you details of the investor before offering you the introduction. We also set up special purpose vehicles SPVs, in collaboration with Odin, to allow attendees to invest in a handful of the finalists. We'll share further details on this with the selected companies at the time.

Frequently asked questions: Demo Day

How can I hear about the next demo day?

Sign up to our newsletter where you’ll get alerts about future demo days and other cool stuff. Our demo days are typically around May and October.

How does the startup selection process work?

180 leading VCs vote on which they think are the most promising startups. Those with the most votes get to pitch.

How do I request intros to the finalists?

After demo day, we will email demo day attendees and our wider community with details on all the finalists, as well as a simple form to fill in to request intros. Fill in the form, and we’ll pass your details to the companies you’re interested in.

How do I invest in the SPVs?

A few days after demo day, we will select the companies for which we’ll raise SPVs. Promotions of SPV opportunities can only be communicated on a restricted basis. Visit gofocal.vc/SPV to complete the short eligibility assessment.

If I work for a VC fund, how can I get my fund to be a partner of Focal?

We have a waiting list of funds which want to partner with us. To join this waiting list, please contact [email protected]. We review the waiting list every 6 months and add a limited number of high quality funds to the group.

Frequently asked questions: Deploy

I have LPs in my network who would be a great addition, what do I do?

We would love to hear from them! Feel free to drop us an email at [email protected]

Do you charge me to take part?

Focal is not a placement agent or broker. It’s free to both attend and apply.

How do you seed the network of Limited Partners?

We look for evidence of sophisticated LP, not just net asset value. Having said that, we look for a minimum commitment to venture of £500,000 in the past 5 years and/or evidence of dedicated teams and capital.

How do I receive introductions to LPs?

We showcase all of the data points we collect on GPs to vetted LPs. If an LP is interested in a meeting, you will receive an automated email with contact details to set up a meeting.

How does the fund selection for your Deploy event work?

We expect there to be a huge amount of demand for this event. We want to select a diverse range of high-performing general partners. Applicants will be reviewed by the Focal team and our LP partners.

Frequently asked questions

How do I hear about opportunities?

You will need to qualify yourself to hear about our opportunities. You can do so here: focalhsbc.carrd.co/#spvs

Is Focal FCA regulated?

Focal (which is operated by Startup Stage Limited) is not regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority or by any other national regulator. Focal merely provides the means by which Applicants are able to communicate with interested Attendees, deliver their pitches to attending Investors and network with like-minded individuals. For full terms and conditions visit our Ts and Cs.

What are the risks associated with angel investing?

Most investments are shares in start-up businesses or bonds issued by them. Investors in these shares or bonds often lose 100% of the money they invested, as most start-up businesses fail. Even if the business you invest in is successful, it will likely take several years to get your money back. Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well. A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments.

What are the fees attached to SPVs?

Odin (the platform we use to administer the SPVs) charges a 3.95% on all funds raised with a minimum fee of £1,800, split pro-rata across the investors. It is also worth noting that there is a 15% carry pool on each SPV.

How often will I hear from the company post investment?

We have information rights on each SPV we set up to give our investors a bi-annual update, where we release details about traction and product growth.

Do you showcase EIS qualifying companies?

Yes, most of our portfolio companies are EIS qualifying. On occasion, we may publish a deal that is not.

Who will I be co-investing with?

Depending on the instrument we use to structure the investment

Frequently asked questions

I have other LPs in my network which would be a great addition, what do I do?

We would love to hear from them! Please ask them to fill out the form at the top of this page by clicking on the "Join Deploy Demo Day" button.

What format does the event take?

In-person event in London inviting world-class LPs alongside 15 exceptional GPs for a half-day of pitching and networking. All pitches are released online that same day to our entire LP network to request introductions.

Do you charge me to take part?

Focal is not a placement agent or broker. It’s free to both apply and attend.

How do you seed the network of Limited Partners?

We look for evidence of a sophisticated limited partner, not just net asset value. Having said that, we look for a minimum commitment to venture of £500,000 in the past 5 years and/or evidence of dedicated teams and capital.

How do I request introductions to the funds?

We give you all the necessary quantitative and qualitative data points you would need to make an informed decision. You'll be prompted to request intros on demo day itself and in the run up to it.

How does the fund selection process work?

We pick a combination of the most promising established and emerging funds. Partner LPs also have access to all our GP applicants, giving you an unparalleled GP dataset.