Listening to Founders

Amid record investment in UK tech and social enterprise, a quieter truth persists: early-stage social tech ventures are still struggling to access the kind of capital they truly need.

Our report, Listening to Founders: Designing Approaches for Investing in Social Tech, is our response to that disconnect.

In this report, we share what we heard from 23 social tech founders across the UK: a diverse group building technology with purpose, from health equity to climate justice.

Their message was clear: traditional funding models shaped by short-term returns and rigid venture capital expectations are out of sync with the realities of mission-led innovation. And it’s holding the sector back.

What we heard from founders

• Misalignment between funding models and impact-led business models

• Pressure to prioritise rapid growth over long-term social outcomes

• A scarcity of patient, flexible, values-aligned capital

• A need for investors who understand both tech and systems change

Founders called for approaches that reflect their lived experience and ambitions, including:

• Revenue-based financing tailored to their cash flow realities

• More sustainable investment models beyond unicorn chasing

• Long-term support that allows for testing, iteration, and resilience

• Investors who value impact and innovation equally

This isn’t just a funding gap. It’s a structural barrier to progress. If we want social tech to reach its potential, we need to reimagine how capital flows, how risk is shared, and how success is measured.

“This report validates what we’ve known for years – social tech ventures are being held back by misaligned funding models,” says Ed Evans, CEO of Social Tech Trust. “We’re committed to closing this gap so founders can access the capital they need to build a fairer society.”

Read the full report

Explore the insights, challenges, and practical opportunities for funders, intermediaries, and ecosystem builders. Read the full report here.