Why Symvan Challenges the Typical VC Model — And Why It’s Working

In early-stage investing, failure and success go hand in hand. Every investor hopes to be part of the next big exit, but most buy into the idea that to achieve that, they need to invest broadly—spreading investments across enough companies in the hope that a few will be winners to offset inevitable losses. It’s often considered part of the model: accept that most will be failures, and rely on the occasional success to drive overall returns.

Symvan Capital challenges this approach.

We believe it’s not just about passively backing enough companies to absorb failure—it’s about being highly selective, supporting founders at every stage, and actively working to avoid failure wherever possible. That mindset is embedded in our ‘lifecycle’ investment process, from rigorous due diligence through to hands-on support as companies scale. Companies can fail for all sorts of reasons, many of them outside anyone’s control, but many of which can be overcome or avoided entirely with the right knowledge, support, and effort.

Focused on Winners — With Risk Management Built In

Avoiding failure doesn’t mean playing it safe. Symvan remains firmly focused on backing technology, innovation and businesses with the potential to deliver exceptional returns. In fact, through our EIS Fund, we are targeting a return of £2.85 for every £1 invested—a clear demonstration of our belief in finding standout companies that can scale successfully.

At the same time, we understand that early-stage investing carries risk, which is why our approach aims to protect investor capital as much as possible:

• Our SEIS Fund has maintained a failure rate of around 20%, consistently below market averages for early-stage, high-growth investments.
• Our EIS Fund sits at approximately 10%, demonstrating the strength of our lifecycle model as businesses move beyond seed stage.

This isn’t to suggest that failure is completely avoidable – no VC can claim that. But we have been proving since 2014 that with the right structure, it’s possible to mitigate risk, avoid unnecessary failures, and still pursue strong returns.

Knowing When to Step In — And When to Step Away

The reality is, some companies will fail, and knowing when to let that happen is crucial. There’s no value in endlessly pouring resources into a business that has no viable future. In fact, prolonging the inevitable can prevent investors from claiming the loss relief they are entitled to under SEIS and EIS rules – providing an added layer of protection and improving risk-adjusted returns.

At Symvan, we’ve developed a deep understanding of where to draw that line. Our experience has made us experts in identifying early red flags and recognising when intervention can still turn a business around.

We’ve seen it first-hand—what might look like an existential crisis can often be transformed with the right support, guidance, and, where needed, tough decisions. Our proactive approach has helped rescue companies facing critical challenges, ultimately to the benefit of both the businesses and our investors.

But equally, we know when it’s time to step away, allowing investors to crystallise losses and claim the tax reliefs designed to protect their capital.

Value for Money — For Investors and Founders

Our strategy is also built on delivering exceptional value for money. Investors benefit from a transparent, competitive fee structure, and founders gain access to capital and expert support without facing excessive costs that erode their ability to grow.

In short, we’re focused on delivering above-average performance, balancing ambitious return targets with a disciplined, risk-conscious approach that works for both investors and the businesses we back.

Hear more on the importance of managing failures

In a recent interview with Investment Manager, Michael Theodosiou and Intelligent Partnership, Michael dives deeper into Symvan’s philosophy – explaining how our focus on finding winners, while actively managing downside risk, is delivering measurable results for investors.

Watch the video to hear why Symvan challenges the status quo – and how we’re proving that success in early-stage investing isn’t just about accepting failure, but knowing how to avoid it, manage it, and when necessary, act decisively for the benefit of our investors.

If you wish to discuss any of the points raised in the article / video above with a member of the team, please do get in touch via info@symvancapital.com