SERVICES
Equity Fundraising
Raise money by selling shares in your business. Common forms of equity investment include angel investors, crowdfunding, venture capital and private equity.
By selling a stake in your business in exchange for investment, you can secure capital while gaining valuable support and expertise from your investors.
Equity fundraising is an ideal option for businesses with high growth potential that need significant capital to scale. It’s particularly suitable for startups and scale-ups looking to expand rapidly, enter new markets, or develop new products.
MEET THE TEAM
Your Specialist Equity Fundraising Team
Our team has been designed with you in mind, tailormade to provide what you need to grow. Novus is home to a unique mix of former HMRC professionals, industry-trained technical specialists and BigFour Alumni, all handpicked for their experience and expertise.

Jenson Brook
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jenson is a serial entrepreneur and former PwC and Deloitte alumnus. Over his career, he has raised £25m+ for UK businesses through government, debt, and equity funding, while leading two boutique tax consultancies during his seven years in London. Now, as Managing Director of Novus Capital and Founder of Britain’s Got Startups, Jenson drives our strategic direction.

Oli Connolly
Equity Advisor
Oli has spent his entire post-graduate career working within the investment space in various forms. From working within one of the most active corporate legal teams in the Northwest to his current role as an Investment Director at a Northwest Venture Capital investor. He brings a unique “investor eye” to our equity fundraising and gives the clients we work with a live link to the market.
The Equity Fundraising Process
A conversation is the easiest way to understand the benefits available to your business.
Fundraising Workshop
To start, we want to create a clear strategy on fundraising requirements for your business alongside other pieces of information we'd need to create the best investment proposition.
Investment Document Preparation
We would then create or amend the Investment Materials before investor matching and approaching investors we think would be most suited to you.
Investor Matching & Outreach
Our goal at this stage is to arrange initial meetings with investors on your proposition. We would also look to arrange regular check-in meetings to maintain momentum and centralise all conversations.
Update Meetings
We will then progress initial investor conversations into further formal meetings, due diligence and/or terms of investment.
Negotiation Assistance
Our team will look to exhaust all investor matches and progress active investor conversations. We will also provide guidance with ongoing negotiations.
Members of the r&d Community
An organisation keeping R&D tax specialists accountable for continuing professional development and our work standard.
Ex-HMRC Inspectors
Industry professionals, including ex-HMRC inspectors, have helped design our R&D tax processes and will assist and advise on R&D tax enquiries and if necessary, Alternative Dispute Resolution with HMRC.
Success Guaranteed
We’ve assisted clients with claiming over £50 million in R&D tax benefits collectively and have never had a legitimate claim rejected.
Going the Extra Mile
We collect more detail compared to most advisors, which allows us to fully defend your claims if they were to be enquired into by HMRC.
Equity funding is a type of financing where investors provide capital to a business in exchange for ownership shares. Unlike loans, equity funding does not require repayment with interest. Instead, investors gain a stake in the company and share in its profits or potential future exit. This type of funding is commonly used by businesses aiming to grow quickly and willing to offer part of their ownership to raise substantial capital.
Equity funding is typically suited for businesses with high growth potential and a clear path to increasing value. Startups, especially those in technology or innovative sectors, often turn to equity funding to scale quickly.
If your business can demonstrate strong growth potential, a scalable business model, and a capable management team, it may be well-positioned for equity funding. However, it’s essential to weigh the benefits against the dilution of ownership and the added responsibilities to shareholders.The investment process typically begins with initial meetings and presentations to investors, followed by a due diligence phase where investors assess the business' financial health, growth potential, and management team. After due diligence, the investor and company negotiate terms and complete legal agreements.
The entire process can take anywhere from three to six months, though timelines vary depending on the size of the investment and the complexity of the deal.For an equity funding round, it’s advisable to have a team of advisors that includes legal, financial and strategic experts. A corporate lawyer can assist with structuring the deal and handling the legal documentation, while an accountant or financial advisor can help prepare financial statements and projections.
Additionally, a business advisor or consultant with fundraising experience can guide you through the process, helping to refine your pitch and negotiate terms effectively.Beyond Novus, it’s beneficial to engage with other advisors such as tax advisors, who can provide insights on tax implications, and possibly an IP (intellectual property) attorney, if your business has valuable IP assets.
Depending on your industry, sector-specific consultants may also add value by offering tailored insights that could help attract the right investors. Altogether, a well-rounded advisory team can enhance your readiness and success rate in completing an investment round.
Typical funding sources for equity financing include venture capital (VC) funds, angel investors, crowdfunding platforms, and private equity firms. Each source has different investment criteria, with VCs and private equity firms often looking for larger, high-growth opportunities, while angel investors might support smaller, early-stage companies. Crowdfunding is another option that allows businesses to raise smaller amounts of capital from a large pool of individual investors.