Stephenson Harwood has expertise across the venture fund ecosystem, from the deployment of venture and growth capital (both equity and debt), through continued portfolio support, to successful exits on trade and private equity and including both fund creation and the implementation of secondaries.
Our team advises venture capital funds, corporate VCs, family offices, growth capital investors, and high-growth companies across a broad range of ticket sizes and sectors. Our partner-led approach ensures clients receive responsive, commercially focused advice that is tailored to their needs and objectives. By drawing on firm-wide expertise and sector insight, we deliver cost-effective solutions and support clients through the full investment lifecycle.
Clients choose us for our deep understanding of the venture and growth capital landscape, practical solutions, and commitment to building lasting relationships. Our collaborative and hands-on approach helps clients achieve their growth ambitions and navigate the challenges of an evolving market.
Our Services
Advising on the creation and structuring of venture and growth capital funds worldwide.
- Horizon Capital
Advising Horizon Capital on fundraising of its Ukraine-focused tech fund, Horizon Growth Capital Fund IV, with a record raise of $350m. - Mercuri
Advising Mercuri on fundraising for its £50m second fund, focussed on UK media and technology, with anchor funding from the British Business Bank. - Shard Credit Partners
Advising long-standing client, Shard Credit Partners on the establishment of its first venture debt fund, focussed on investments in the north of the UK.
Supporting high growth companies through complex, multi-stage fundraising rounds across all key sectors.
- Protium
Advising Protium Green Solutions on its £40.5 million fundraise in 2022 (which was the largest funding round secured for a green hydrogen energy firm in the UK at the time) and on its cross-border £31m Series B round. - Highview Power
Advising Highview Power, a London-based cryogenic energy storage company, on a US$46 million investment by Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) and its further raises of an additional $24 million, including from two strategic investors, Janus Continental Group and TSK Electrónica y Electricidad. - Transreport
Advising Transreport in connection with a £10 million raise, led by Puma Private Equity and with participation from Pembroke VCT. - Flarin
Advising Flarin (joint pain relief company) in relation to multiple funding rounds, including in respect of a media for equity transaction with ITV's fund. - Oxford Medical Simulation
Advised Oxford Medical Simulation in connection with its £10million Series A raise, led by Frog Capital with follow-on capital from ACF Investors, existing shareholders and strategic partners.
Guiding institutional investors through capital deployment and portfolio support.
- UCB Ventures, BGF, 4BIO Capital
Advising the consortium of lead investors, UCB Ventures, BGF and 4BIO Capital in connection with a $25 million funding round in Vianautis Bio. - Pembroke VCT plc
Advising Pembroke on several investments each year (both follow-ons and new investments), including initial and follow-on investments in various portfolio companies, including TALA, Ryft, Bloobloom, My Expert Midwife, Smartify, With Nothing Underneath and Ro&Zo. - 500 Global
Advising 500 Global on an ongoing basis in relation to pre-seed, seed and series round investments in UK based businesses. - Augmentum Fintech plc
Having acted for Augmentum since its IPO in 2018, we recently acted on its lead investment in Pemo, an innovative expense management solution operating in the Middle East.
Advising investors, owners and founders on the sale and purchase of venture backed businesses.
- Dr Falk Pharma
Advised Dr Falk Pharma GmbH, a family owned business, on its successful acquisition of Kynos Therapeutics Ltd, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel treatments for patients suffering from acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. - Pembroke VCT plc / Secret Food Tours
Advised Pembroke VCT plc on its partial sale of its stake in food and beverage tour company, Secret Food Tours, generating cash proceeds equating to a 5.3x realised return for Pembroke's shareholders. - Bluecrest Health Screening
Advised the founders on the disposal of Bluecrest Health Screening Limited to Vespa Capital by way of a competitive auction process. Bluecrest is a private healthcare provider offering comprehensive health screening tests. This transaction provided an exit for the original seed investors of Bluecrest. - Chaucer Group
Advised the sellers of this global change management consultancy business on their sale of the group to Growth Capital Partners. The vendors, all members of the same family, had built the business up over 25 years.
