Invest NI loan and equity funds
Loan and equity funds backed by Invest NI, Northern Ireland's economic development agency, from small business loans of £10,000 to equity rounds of up to £2.5 million. Each fund is run by a private fund manager.
- Personal guarantee likely
- Secured on assets
- Debenture (charge over company assets)
- Shares
How it works
Invest NI backs several access to finance funds for businesses in Northern Ireland. You apply to the fund manager, not to Invest NI.
| Fund | Type | Amount | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NI Small Business Loan Fund III (Ulster Community Finance) | Loans | £10,000 to £125,000, up to £25,000 for start-ups | Sole traders, micro-businesses, SMEs and social enterprises |
| Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (Whiterock Capital) | Loans | £25,000 to £2 million | Growing and scaling SMEs |
| Techstart Ventures | Equity | Up to £1 million at first, up to £2.5 million over several rounds | Seed and early-stage companies and university spin-outs |
| Co-Fund NI (Clarendon Fund Managers) | Equity, alongside private investors and business angels | Usually £150,000 to £2 million | Early-stage and growing SMEs |
Techstart also runs a Proof of Concept grant fund for very early ideas.
The Investment Fund for Northern Ireland is also one of the British Business Bank's regional investment funds.
Upsides and downsides
Upsides
- A range of loans and equity for businesses at every stage in Northern Ireland
- Small loans of £10,000 or more, including for start-ups and social enterprises
- Equity funds that invest alongside local angels can help a round come together
Downsides
- Only for businesses in Northern Ireland
- Several separate funds and fund managers to work through
- Loans may cost more than a mainstream bank loan
Risks
- Being personally liable under a guarantee
- Losing some ownership and control if you take equity
What it costs
- How it is priced
- Interest and fees on loans, or shares for equity, set by each fund manager
- Costs that are easy to miss
- Arrangement fees on loans
- Personal guarantees on some loans
- Legal costs for equity deals
Loans from £10,000 to £2 million. Equity up to £1 million at first, and up to £2.5 million over several rounds.
Have a quote? True cost of a loan: work out the APR-equivalent and total cost
Does it fit?
Could fit when
- Your business is in Northern Ireland
- You are in Northern Ireland and a bank has turned you down
Unlikely to fit when
- Your business is not in Northern Ireland
Who can use it
- Business types: Sole trader, Partnership, Private limited company, LLP, Public limited company, Community interest company, Co-operative or community benefit society, Charity
- Your business must be in Northern Ireland
- Each fund manager sets its own criteria
- Equity funds are for companies that can issue shares, and Co-Fund NI needs a private investor alongside it
Am I ready?
What a provider is likely to ask for. Tick what you have. Your ticks stay in this browser and nothing is stored. Checklist for all government-backed and community lending
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- Business plan
- Financial forecasts
- Recent accounts
Regulation and protections
The funds are backed by Invest NI and run by private fund managers. Which protections and complaint routes apply depends on the fund manager and the type of finance, so check the agreement.
Types of provider: Fund managers backed by Invest NI; Community finance lenders.
Also consider
Sources
- Invest NI: Business loans and equity funding · checked 7 October 2026
- Invest NI: Minister announces £250 million of Access to Finance funding (14 May 2025) · checked 7 October 2026
- British Business Bank: Investment Fund for Northern Ireland · checked 7 October 2026