A New Boost for UK "Venture Scientists"

Empirical Ventures, a specialist deeptech fund, has announced that it has secured an additional £10 million commitment from the British Business Bank. This new funding brings the total support to £15 million, solidifying the fund's mission to back the UK's most promising "Venture Scientists," key figures in building cutting-edge technologies.

The initiative, made possible through the British Business Bank's Regional Angels Programme, aims to accelerate Empirical Ventures' ability to invest in scientists who are transforming fundamental research into concrete commercial realities. The objective is to bridge a critical gap in the investment landscape, providing the necessary capital and support to innovators operating in science-intensive sectors.

The "Venture Scientist" Thesis

Empirical Ventures was built to solve a specific challenge: the difficulty for exceptional scientists to find investors who fully understand their vision and technical language. The fund's thesis is clear: the most valuable companies of the next century will not be built by generalist entrepreneurs, but by deep domain experts, capable of successfully navigating the boundary between fundamental research and its commercial application.

By focusing on Deeptech and Life Sciences, Empirical Ventures is actively committed to de-risking the perceived challenges in the "hard science" sector. The fund demonstrates that, with the right support, founders with a strong scientific background can generate significant returns and create high-skilled regional employment. This strategy combines patient capital with a unique SEIS & EIS Fund and Syndicate, providing the financial fuel for scientists to leave the lab and develop technologies that redefine the physical world, from novel energy generation and advanced materials to next-generation life sciences.

Regional Impact and Government Strategy

The British Business Bank's commitment is crucial in enabling Empirical Ventures to make targeted, high-conviction investments in these founders across the UK. Mark Barry, Senior Investment Director at British Business Bank, emphasized the importance of this partnership: “We are delighted to expand our commitment to Empirical Ventures. Their team has identified a powerful untapped resource in the UK economy: the ‘Venture Scientist.’”

Barry added that by backing technical founders who solve hard problems, Empirical is helping to bridge the critical funding gap for science-led businesses outside London. This collaboration ensures that the UK’s brightest scientific minds have the support they need to turn research into category-defining global companies. The initiative directly aligns with the UK government’s 2026 Modern Industrial Strategy, unlocking the commercial potential of the UK’s world-leading research base.

The Future Built by Scientists

Dr. Johnathan Matlock, Co-Founder and General Partner at Empirical Ventures, reiterated the fund's vision: “The greatest companies of the next 30 years will be built by scientists. We call them ‘Venture Scientists’ — founders who bring rigorous scientific methodology to company building. But for too long, these founders have been underestimated or misunderstood by generalist investors.”

The £10 million commitment from the British Business Bank allows Empirical to back these “Venture Scientists” with the conviction they deserve. “Whether they are in Bristol, Manchester, or Edinburgh, we are here to ensure that the founders capable of rewriting the rules of what’s possible get the resources to do so,” Matlock concluded. This approach not only promotes innovation but also strengthens the UK's technological ecosystem, leveraging the country's intellectual and scientific capital.