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Corporate Finance Faculty

Start-ups, scale-ups and venture capital

Attracting investment for start-ups and scale-ups, and case studies of high-growth companies.
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Topical articles

River Thames at Reading Bridge
Roadshow: Valley of the deals
  • Article
  • 30 Jan 2026
Outside London, the Thames Valley is one of the busiest deal regions in the country. Jason Sinclair finds out what keeps it buzzing.
Puzzle pieces in the shape of a heart
Effecting causes
  • Article
  • 30 Jan 2026
Growth in impact investing is outstripping all other forms of investment. Jo Russell reports on a strategy that balances profits and values.
Handcuffs on orange background
Fail to plan, plan to fail
  • Article
  • 30 Jan 2026
Management incentive plans (MIPs) can be modelled to three decimal places, and breeze through HMRC approval, but if CFOs don’t trust them and the management team don’t believe in them, they’re doomed from the start. Burges Salmon partner Nigel Watson and Francis Moore of Wyvern Partners, explain how to plan to succeed.
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Trendwatch: Back to schools
  • Article
  • 05 Dec 2025
From nursery buy-and-builds to private school consolidation and university mergers, each education sub-sector is responding to its own specific challenges. Jason Sinclair looks at what’s driving activity in this busy UK market.
UK #1 for VC investment stats
Analysis: Shifting out of first?
  • Article
  • 05 Dec 2025
The UK sits in pole position for VC investment and global M&A is up in value, if not in volume, with dry powder reserves plentiful. Is the race to invest hotting up?
Image of a blood pressure monitor attached to the wall
Trendwatch: Full of life
  • Article
  • 10 Nov 2025
The healthcare sector has been busy this past decade. Private equity, corporates, and international investors have all been active – each responding to unique market drivers, regulatory challenges, and evolving public sentiment. Jason Sinclair looks at a resilient M&A sector.
Liverpool pier
Roadshow: Pooled knowledge
  • Article
  • 10 Nov 2025
Two-and-a-half centuries ago, Liverpool was a driving force behind the industrial revolution; now, it’s at the heart of a new movement. Jo Russell looks at how the city and wider region is spearheading the life sciences and technology revolution.
Construction worker on site
Insider dealing: In safe hands
  • Article
  • 10 Nov 2025
ICG’s sale of Kee Safety to Inflexion and 65 Equity proves that a high-quality business, polished by successive private equity owners, will always command a good valuation, whatever the market conditions. Nicholas Neveling reports.
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Practical guidance

Read the Corporate Finance Faculty's good practice guidelines and technical releases on start-ups, venture capital and other aspects of corporate finance.
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AI in corporate finance
  • Hub page
  • 23 Sep 2024
The Corporate Finance Faculty have brought together insights and resources on how AI is being used in corporate finance to help you better understand the application benefits and risks, as well as the practical considerations as you begin to revolutionise how deals are done.
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Commercial due diligence
  • Report
  • 08 Sep 2025
This guideline explores how commercial due diligence (CDD) contributes to the investment decision-making process, the best practices and emerging trends that can enhance its quality and effectiveness, and the responsibilities of the various parties involved.
Seedling being watered
Business Finance Guide
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 01 Jun 2016
This independent guide draws on the expertise of partners from across the finance industry and business community to provide information on the financing options that may be available to entrepreneurs, startups and businesses at every stage of development.
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