Frequently asked questions

Enquiries and applications are made direct to SEIF’s selected fund managers, full details of which can be viewed here. SEIF cannot provide financial or business advice to businesses seeking funding and businesses may wish to engage their own accountant or business adviser if application assistance is required.

SEIF does not invest directly in businesses. It invests through product funds which are managed by SEIF’s appointed fund managers. The Fund will offer two commercial finance options with Debt Finance from £25k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

SEIF’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other sources of debt or equity capital where appropriate.

SEIF will have an inclusive approach, but some eligibility criteria do apply to SEIF funding, and fund managers will be able to advise on suitability.

The South East Investment Fund (SEIF) will deliver a £210m commitment of new funding through investment strategies that best meet the needs of the businesses in the South East. SEIF is designed to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South East. SEIF will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in the South East, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

SEIF will offer two commercial finance options with Debt Finance from £25k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

SEIF has been designed to help address market failures by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment. The product funds that SEIF supports provide commercially focussed funding to businesses across the South East. SEIF’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other funders, and indeed SEIF fund managers are encouraged to leverage-in additional private capital.

SEIF covers the whole of the South East of England, including rural, coastal and urban areas. Investments can be made in businesses that are headquartered in the South East or have a significant operating presence there.