The British Business Bank has committed up to £46 million to Zinc Capital Management’s Science-for-Impact Fund. This early-stage venture fund focuses on UK deep tech companies that tackle health and environmental challenges and aims for a fund size of £70 million, planning to build a robust portfolio of around 80 new companies.
This investment, made through the Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds program, follows a previous investment in Zinc II in 2022. The strategy prioritizes founders developing science-led businesses in alignment with the U.K. government’s Industrial Strategy, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and life sciences, and spans diverse technologies such as engineering, biology, and artificial intelligence.
Zinc, known for its early-stage venture capital and venture-building support, aims to assist founders in validating scientific concepts and establishing viable commercial strategies. The British Business Bank’s cornerstone investment is expected to catalyze additional fundraising from private-sector investors.
As part of its mission to enhance equity capital availability for early-stage UK businesses, the Enterprise Capital Funds program has supported 55 funds, enabling many startups access essential funding. Zinc’s current portfolio includes innovative companies in medicine, healthcare, and energy transition, underscoring the fund’s commitment to driving economic growth and societal impact through science-led ventures.
