The big picture: Zinc is targeting an €81.5 million (£70 million) Science-for-Impact Fund, its second institutional vehicle. The British Business Bank has committed up to €53.6 million (£46 million) to the fund, which will back entrepreneurs transforming scientific breakthroughs into scalable businesses across the UK.
What it will back:
- Focus: Pre-Seed Science-for-Impact companies addressing significant health and environmental challenges.
- Technology: Breakthrough science and deep technologies, including AI, with the potential to create category-defining businesses.
- Portfolio: Aims to build a portfolio of 80 new DeepTech companies across the UK, aligning with government industrial strategy priorities.
Who is behind it:
Zinc, founded in 2017, is a pre-Seed venture capital firm. Ella Goldner is co-founder and Managing Partner. The British Business Bank is an anchor LP, with this commitment following its 2022 investment in Zinc II. Other named individuals from the British Business Bank include Mark Sims, Managing Director, Head of Development Equity Funds, and Misodzi Mukungurutse, Senior Investment Manager, Development Equity Funds.
The catch: Targeting 80 pre-Seed deep tech companies with an €81.5 million fund implies a relatively small average check size per investment. This strategy requires efficient deployment and significant hands-on venture-building support to de-risk scientific innovation and accelerate commercial progress. The deep tech and impact sectors are increasingly competitive, necessitating strong differentiation to attract top scientific talent and secure crucial follow-on funding for portfolio companies in a dynamic fundraising environment.
Key Facts
- Firm: Zinc
- Fund: Science-for-Impact Fund (second institutional fund)
- Target size: €53.6M
- Stage: pre-Seed
- Focus: Science-for-Impact, health, environment, deep technology, AI
- Geography: UK
- Anchor LP: British Business Bank
- Partner: Ella Goldner
- Announced: 2026-09-02
