Compare SEIS investments
Compare UK Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) funds and managed portfolios by minimum investment, strategy, diversification, target deployment and fees.
SEIS investments back very early-stage companies. They are very high risk, illiquid and you could lose all the money you invest.
Tax benefits depend on your circumstances and current rules. Tax relief should not be the main reason for choosing an investment.
Last checked: 10 Aug 2026
Very high risk
You could lose all the money you invest.
Illiquid
There is usually no ready market for SEIS shares.
Early-stage companies
Many investee businesses will have limited operating histories.
Tax relief has conditions
Relief depends on the investment and investor continuing to meet SEIS rules.
Early stage
SEIS companies are generally younger and smaller than typical EIS companies.
Long term
You may need to remain invested for many years.
Diversification matters
Individual early-stage companies have a high failure risk.
Tax is secondary
Tax relief can reduce risk exposure but does not make an investment safe.
Compare funds
Compare current SEIS funds and managed portfolios by strategy, minimum investment, target portfolio size and deployment.
4 open SEIS investments
We do not rank by highest target return or tax relief.
Showing 4 open SEIS investments
Minimum investment
£20,000
Target portfolio
10–40 companies
Target deployment
2026/27
Next deadline
Next stated deadline: 18 Sept 2026
Structure
SEIS fund
Liquidity
Illiquid / no ready market
Target return
5x over 10 years
Target only — not guaranteed
SEIS investments are very high risk. Capital at risk. Shares are usually illiquid.
Minimum investment
£10,000
Target portfolio
10+ companies
Target deployment
2026/27
Next deadline
Next stated deadline: 2 Oct 2026
Structure
SEIS fund
Liquidity
Illiquid / no ready market
Target return
3x after 8 years
Target only — not guaranteed
SEIS investments are very high risk. Capital at risk. Shares are usually illiquid.
Minimum investment
£10,000
Target portfolio
10–20 companies
Target deployment
2026/27
Next deadline
Next stated deadline: 1 Sept 2026
Structure
SEIS fund
Liquidity
Illiquid / no ready market
Target return
3x over 6–10 years
Target only — not guaranteed
SEIS investments are very high risk. Capital at risk. Shares are usually illiquid.
Minimum investment
£20,000
Target portfolio
9–15 companies
Target deployment
2026/27
Next deadline
Next stated deadline: 21 Aug 2026
Structure
SEIS fund
Liquidity
Illiquid / no ready market
Target return
5x over 5–10 years
Target only — not guaranteed
SEIS investments are very high risk. Capital at risk. Shares are usually illiquid.
These offers are not shown in the main comparison. Details may be useful for context only.
Step 1
You apply for a current SEIS fund or managed portfolio offer.
Step 2
The manager reviews early-stage qualifying businesses.
Step 3
Funds are invested across qualifying companies over a target period.
Step 4
You receive individual company holdings or a managed portfolio structure.
Step 5
Some companies may fail; others may grow and eventually exit.
Step 6
Successful exits are not guaranteed and can take many years.
Deployment, company selection and exits are not guaranteed.
SEIS companies are at a particularly early stage. A diversified portfolio can reduce dependence on any one company, although diversification does not prevent losses.
5 companies
Highly concentrated
10 companies
More diversified
20 companies
Broader spread
Portfolio quality, sector concentration and entry valuation also matter — company count alone does not determine risk.
If a fund targets 5x, the manager is targeting a portfolio value equal to five times invested capital over its stated timeframe. It does not mean annual 500% return, a guaranteed return, or that every company returns 5x.
Amount invested
£10,000
5x target
Illustrative
Illustrative target value
£50,000
Actual returns could be substantially lower, including zero.
Current SEIS tax rules
Qualifying SEIS subscriptions may receive Income Tax relief of up to 50%, limited by your Income Tax liability.
You can claim SEIS Income Tax relief on qualifying subscriptions up to £200,000 per tax year.
Tax relief can be reduced or withdrawn if qualifying conditions stop being met during the relevant period.
Up to 50% of an eligible capital gain reinvested into qualifying SEIS shares may potentially qualify for reinvestment relief.
Additional loss relief may be available where qualifying investments fail, subject to circumstances.
Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and rules can change. (2026/27; rules last checked 9 August 2026.)
SEIS tax relief can improve the tax outcome of a qualifying investment, but it does not protect your capital or make a weak start-up a good investment.
Tax relief calculator
Uses the current 2026/27 relief rate of 50% from our central SEIS tax rules. Illustrative only — not advice.
Current relief rate: 50% · Annual investor limit used in this illustration: £200,000
Illustrative result
Illustrative only. Actual relief depends on qualifying shares, investor eligibility, sufficient Income Tax liability, current legislation and continued compliance with SEIS conditions. This calculator does not estimate investment returns, guaranteed profit or guaranteed loss relief.
Tax relief does not mean your downside is limited to the illustrated net outlay.
| Feature | SEIS | EIS |
|---|---|---|
| Company stage | Very early stage | Early-stage / growth |
| Income Tax relief | Up to 50% | Up to 30% |
| Annual qualifying investment limit | £200,000 | Use current EIS rules |
| Minimum holding period | 3 years | 3 years |
| Typical risk | Very high | High |
Tax relief levels do not indicate investment quality or suitability.
Fees can materially reduce the amount invested or future returns. Do not invent or assume provider fees — check the current offer documents where figures are unverified.
Charges applied when you subscribe.
Ongoing charge for managing the portfolio.
Additional fee if performance hurdles are met.
Other running costs disclosed in offer documents.
Separate charges depending on how you invest.
Many investee companies are young with unproven models.
Key-person risk can be significant.
Companies may need further capital to survive.
Products may not achieve product-market fit.
Private valuations can be hard to verify.
Shares may be difficult or impossible to sell early.
Later funding rounds can reduce ownership.
A high proportion of very early-stage companies may fail.
A high proportion of very early-stage companies may fail.
Consumers should compare manager experience carefully. Do not rank managers using unverifiable headline returns.
Educational only — not advice.
Our methodology
We do not rank SEIS investments by the highest target return.
We do not rank by the largest tax benefit.
Commercial relationships do not determine factual product information.
Last checked: 10 Aug 2026. Features last checked: 10 Aug 2026.