London Co-Investment Fund

The London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF) is an £85 million public-private venture capital fund established to support London's most innovative science, digital, and technology start-ups. Funded by the Mayor of London and the London Enterprise Panel (LEP), and managed by Funding London, LCIF aims to stimulate economic growth and job creation by investing in early-stage businesses with high growth potential. To be eligible for funding, start-ups must provide a product or service within science, technology, or the digital sectors, fundraise between £250,000 and £1 million, and have a London-based office.

LCIF collaborates with various venture capital firms, angel investors, and crowdfunding platforms to access private sector knowledge, advice, skills, contacts, and additional investment. The fund maintains an equity stake in these young companies and assists them with legal, procurement, supply chain, and marketing challenges, enabling many to grow significantly and contribute new jobs and wealth to London's economy. As of June 2017, LCIF had invested in 88 companies, creating 600 jobs and safeguarding 280 more.

The fund's investment strategy focuses on sectors such as technology, healthcare, real estate, financial services, energy, media, education, retail, transportation, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, telecommunications, hospitality, and professional services. By providing flexible and competitive finance, LCIF addresses market failures in London's low-carbon sector and supports projects that can achieve significant reductions in energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, or other pollutants across the city. The fund's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting early-stage businesses underscores its role in driving London's economic growth and technological advancement.