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Oxford Capital recognised as a 2026 Founder Friendly Fund

Oxford Capital has been named 2026 Founder Friendly Fund as part of the Enterprise Awards, recognising its continued support for founder-led technology businesses.

The designation highlights the funds that founders actively choose to work with. It reflects feedback from the entrepreneurial community and signals where founders believe they receive the strongest backing, both financially and operationally.

For Oxford Capital, the recognition reinforces a long-standing approach. The firm has focused on backing founders at early stages, working closely with them through growth, and maintaining a consistent presence in the Oxford ecosystem and beyond. Rather than relying on a small number of standout outcomes, the strategy has centred on building value across the portfolio through disciplined investment and ongoing support.

Founder alignment has become a more visible differentiator in venture. Access to capital is no longer enough. Founders are more selective about who they bring onto the cap table, placing weight on experience, judgement, and the ability to support through both progress and pressure. Awards of this type are driven by that reality, reflecting how funds are perceived by the people they back.

The recognition will be formally presented at the 14th edition of the Enterprise Awards, taking place on 1 July 2026 at Drapers’ Hall. The event brings together founders, investors, and operators from across the UK technology sector.

Oxford Capital plans to use the Founder Friendly Fund 2026 designation across its communications, including digital channels and investor materials, as a clear signal of how it operates and how it is viewed by founders.

In a market where reputation compounds over time, this type of recognition carries weight. It is not based on marketing claims or isolated results, but on consistent feedback from founders who have chosen to work with the fund.

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Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.

What are the key risks?

  1. You could lose all the money you invest
    1. If the business you invest in fails, you are likely to lose 100% of the money you invested. Most start-up businesses fail.
  2. You are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong
    1. Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance. Try the FSCS investment protection checker here.
    2. Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated firm, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.
  3. You won’t get your money back quickly
    1. Even if the business you invest in is successful, it may take several years to get your money back. You are unlikely to be able to sell your investment early.
    2. The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is bought by another business or lists its shares on an exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. These events are not common.
    3. If you are investing in a start-up business, you should not expect to get your money back through dividends. Start-up businesses rarely pay these.
  4. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
    1. Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.
    2. A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments. https://www.fca.org.uk/investsmart/5-questions-ask-you-invest
  5. The value of your investment can be reduced
    1. The percentage of the business that you own will decrease if the business issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Most start-up businesses issue multiple rounds of shares.
    2. These new shares could have additional rights that your shares don’t have, such as the right to receive a fixed dividend, which could further reduce your chances of getting a return on your investment.

 

If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA’s website here.