ADELINE

ARTS

&

SCIENCE

Adeline unlocks what science, technology and the arts can do for the world

Contact us
We are London-based investors funding pre-seed and seed-stage startups, creative projects and scientific research

We blend meticulous systems thinking with the wisdom of the humanities

We invest in B2B, science, technology, climate and health. In the arts, we build creative communities and elevate fresh voices, focusing on film and publishing
What if you could make machine shops five times as productive?
CloudNC are revolutionising precision manufacturing with AI
Did you know that immigrants founded 36% of the UK’s unicorns in 2019 and 2020?
No Label Ventures is a fund that capitalises on immigrant success
What’s the best way of making AI safe, useful and secure for large enterprises?
Credal creates customised agents
Imagine bladder care, period products and condoms that didn’t have to cost the earth
Here We Flo is the UK’s fastest-growing period-care brand

Funding Criteria

"Does my idea have product-market fit?"
"What makes science beautiful?"
"Where does the most impactful art come from?"

These are the questions that keep us up at night. You too? Apply below.
‍

Startups

  • Subscription sizes £10K-£150K
  • Pre-seed to seed stage
  • Beyond ideation – developing prototype or finding product-market fit
  • Difficult problems, disruptive projects, scientific curiosities
  • Competitive edge based on product or technology rather than marketing
  • Areas of particular interest: B2B, science, technology, climate, health

Creative Projects

  • Funding available from £1K-£25K
  • Pre-pre-seed or for ideation or for not-for-profit
  • In the form of loans, project equity, or as a grant
  • Creative projects across film, publishing and other media
  • Art communities & platforms
  • Projects drawing from groups who have historically lacked a platform

Scholarships

  • We currently work with select arts charities and university partners
  • All other grants are currently discretionary
Apply for Funding
Stay up to date by .

Investments, Projects & Partners

Science
Arts
Scholarships

CloudNC

From surgical trays to parts for the space race, CloudNC is using AI to reinvent precision manufacturing and make machine shops five times more productive
CloudNC

Credal

Credal creates customised AI agents for companies like Wise, Checkr and more, deploying AI securely into existing workflows
Credal

Topi

The new way to buy laptops for the office isn’t to buy them at all: it’s to rent them with Topi. This hardware-as-a-service company is fuelling the circular economy.
Topi

No Label Ventures

Whilst immigrants make up 13% of the UK population, they founded 36% of all unicorns. This European early-stage VC fund capitalises on the over-performance of immigrant founders.
No Label Ventures

KAYA

Early-stage VC fund with roots in Central and Eastern European tech. Unicorns include Czech online grocery, Rohlík, and the Polish patient management SaaS Docplanner.
KAYA

Here We Flo

Certified B-Corp that’s now the UK’s fastest-growing period-care brand, offering plastic-free pads, organic tampons, and vegan condoms that biodegrade fast
Here We Flo

QVentures

This venture capital firm sources and screens top-tier startups from Series A onwards, for a community of investors consisting of family offices and institutional investors
QVentures

TrustElevate

Making the internet safer for children: TrustElevate is the only API that verifies both a minor’s age band and the legal guardian behind the consent click
TrustElevate

Unexia

A next-generation platform for global health finance, using blockchain technology to reward the most successful health projects in accordance with the value of their work
Unexia

United Health Futures

UHF is a global platform responding to complex planetary health and societal challenges. We are a world-class team of development, economics, and health experts with extensive scientific, policy, strategy, technology and implementation expertise.
United Health Futures

University of Southampton

Experimental treatments into large diffuse B-Cell lymphomas
University of Southampton

World Health Organisation

A playbook for building smartphone applications to detect and report on substandard and falsified medicines
World Health Organisation

Momo Film Co

This critically acclaimed Singapore-based film and TV company is committed to telling new and authentic Asian stories with taste and ambition
Momo Film Co

Singapore Art Book Fair

One of Asia’s leading art book fairs, the Singapore Art Book Fair showcases innovative work by artists, small presses, galleries, zinemakers, and printmakers from Singapore and around the world
Singapore Art Book Fair

Giraffe Pictures

Giraffe Pictures is a boutique film company for the best of Asian Cinema, focusing on cinematic creativity and vision
Giraffe Pictures

Maven Screen Media

Maven is dedicated to producing multi-platform film and television content and increasing representation for women in front of and behind the camera
Maven Screen Media

Singapore International Film Festival

An iconic date in the Singapore arts calendar, showcasing international films and providing a global platform for the best of Singapore cinema
Singapore International Film Festival

Global Health Disrupted

Art and stories about humans and health: Global Health Disrupted is off-grid academia, driving collaborations between artists and health professionals
Global Health Disrupted

CSIRO

Australia’s national science agency is among the world’s largest and most diverse scientific research organisations, dedicated to addressing the country’s most pressing challenges
CSIRO

University College London

Stema/Belmont post-doctoral research programme
University College London

Stema

Stema is a disruptive research group pioneering new approaches to community health and sustainable development
Stema

Queensland University of Technology

Adeline scholarship for women in mathmatics; Adeline travel grant
Queensland University of Technology

Meet the team

Des Tan - Founder & Director of Adeline - Angel Investors Specialising in Pre-Seed and Seed Stage Startups

Des Tan

Founder & Director
Des Tan studied mathematical biology at Oxford where he worked on population modelling and infectious-disease modelling of malaria, bubonic plague and other zoonoses. Des was an advisor and tech lead for the Prime Minister's Strategy Division in Australia, analysing census and other population data to build strategic frameworks, economic models and decision-support tools. Des’s current work involves building data models, analytics platforms and web-based tools for government, the UN, FTSE 100 companies and digital health services. His main interest is in healthcare and health technology, and genuine human needs that are overlooked and underserved.

Liz Bennett

VP of Operations and Strategy
Liz started her career publishing Oh Comely magazine, an artbook-style bimonthly that catalysed a new wave of independent women’s media. As a senior content strategist at DNCO, she helped places find their edge amid transformation, leading on content strategy for the 1,200-acre Royal Docks regeneration zone, a reborn Earls Court and other developments across London and beyond. Out of hours, you’ll find Liz where nature and community intersect, volunteering as chair of the Friends group for her local park, a role that includes organising an annual skatejam and music festival for teens.
Theo Brainin - Growth & Strategy Consultant @ Adeline - Angel Investors Specialising in Pre-Seed and Seed Stage Startups

Theo Brainin

Growth & Marketing
Theo is a growth and marketing specialist with experience across multiple startups. He helps teams achieve product–market fit and scale through user research, experimentation and go-to-market execution. He earned a First in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford before beginning his career at BBC Newsnight. He later joined tech startup StoryTerrace as Marketing Director, contributing to rapid growth and a successful appearance on Dragons' Den. Today he consults with companies including MarTech SaaS Leadsie and Adeline Arts & Science. Outside of work, he plays Spanish guitar and enjoys photography. He recently tried pottery and will probably stick to the day job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Pre-Seed, Seed Funding and Series A?

The boundaries between these different funding stages are not always precise. Typically pre-seed funding is used to develop or validate an idea: your product or service may be at a prototype stage or pre-revenue. Investments at this stage are not always part of a formal 'round' of funding and may be more ad hoc. Startups usually raise their first formal seed funding round once they have more tangible signs of success: a minimum viable product, users or revenue. Seed funding is typically used to help a business transition from the 'idea' phase to a company that is active in the market, offering products or services with a viable business model. Series A funding comes into play once a startup can demonstrate signs of product market fit, the right growth metrics, and a path to scale.

Investors often specialise in one or more of these stages. Adeline makes investments at all of these stages, though we tend to focus more on pre-seed and seed stage projects.

What do angel investors look for in a startup?

Angel investors or "business angels" are typically looking for early stage projects with the potential for a high rate of return. They will accept an increased level of risk or uncertainty in exchange for the possibility of greater rewards. This means they will often be willing to invest in earlier stage businesses with less evidence to prove their scalability than might be required by a VC that specialises in Series A startups and beyond. This doesn't mean you don't have to prove your case. Every angel is different, but most will want to see that:
‍
- You understand the problem your product or service is solving
- You have a clear idea of your market and target audience
- The obtainable market is big enough to make your business an exciting prospect
- You understand your competitive landscape and how your business will be differentiated
- You have a clear idea of how your business will make money
- You and your team are credible and committed to the project
- You have compelling evidence of progress or traction appropriate to the stage your business is at

We ask questions like these on our own application form

Angels will also be looking to invest at an attractive valuation that makes the additional risk they take in backing an early stage worthwhile.

Do you offer grants or loans?

Yes, we offer discretionary grants and loans for certain creative projects and research projects that align with our mission. We do not typically offer grants or loans for startups.