The British Business Bank has announced a £25 million investment into some of the UK’s most promising angel syndicates, focusing on startups across gaming, tech, and science sectors. Managed in partnership with early-stage venture capital firm Haatch, the pledge builds on an initial £7 million investment made last year, bringing the total support to £32 million.
The initiative is designed to allow the bank to invest alongside recently established angel groups, providing early-stage capital to innovative startups. One of the key syndicates supported is The Games Angels, a collective of games industry professionals whose past investments include Flick Games, Landmark Games, AudioMob, Immutable, Brainspark Games, Payload Studios, and JECO, a toolkit that helps game developers optimize production costs.
Fostering Diversity and Innovation in UK Startups
The program also emphasizes support for diverse founders and industries beyond gaming. Syndicates backed by the platform include HERmesa, a community of 270 women focused on women-led tech startups, CircleRock Capital, a sector-agnostic investment platform, Sie Ventures, an early-stage investor, and 2050 Capital, which targets tech and science ventures.
Since May 2025, the platform has provided funding to 13 companies, illustrating the initiative’s role in scaling investment across multiple sectors. This approach highlights the importance of collaboration between investors to reach high-potential startups and ensure capital flows to innovative businesses.
Fred Soneya, co-founder and general partner at Haatch, noted that collaboration between investors is crucial for the UK startup ecosystem. He said the partnership demonstrates a way to direct funding to high-potential startups while supporting a diverse range of entrepreneurs.
Mark Barry, senior investment director at the British Business Bank, added that the platform has already made multiple investments into a variety of businesses and aims to scale by partnering with more angel syndicates across the UK.
Impact on the UK Games Industry
The involvement of gaming-focused groups like The Games Angels signals the initiative’s interest in nurturing the UK gaming sector alongside broader tech and science ventures. By supporting early-stage game studios, the bank and its partners aim to help developers reduce production costs, expand operations, and increase the potential for international growth.
Source: PocketGamer
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the British Business Bank’s investment initiative?
The British Business Bank, in partnership with Haatch, provides early-stage funding to UK angel syndicates. The initiative aims to support innovative startups in gaming, tech, science, and other sectors.
How much funding has been pledged so far?
The program has pledged a total of £32 million, including £7 million initially invested last year and a further £25 million recently announced.
Which angel syndicates are part of the program?
Syndicates include The Games Angels, HERmesa, CircleRock Capital, Sie Ventures, and 2050 Capital, among others.
Which sectors are receiving funding?
The initiative focuses on gaming, technology, and science startups but is open to diverse sectors through sector-agnostic syndicates.
What impact has the funding had on UK startups?
Since May 2025, 13 companies have received investment. Funding has helped game developers optimize production, supported women-led tech startups, and contributed to innovation in early-stage ventures across multiple industries.
How can startups benefit from this initiative?
Startups working with supported angel syndicates may gain access to early-stage funding, mentorship, and strategic partnerships to grow their business in the UK and beyond.
