Ready to learn how real investment decisions get made? 

The Queen Mary Social Venture Fund (QMSVF) is the UK’s first student-led social impact venture capital fund investing in student led start-ups for good.  

As part of this award-winning programme, you’ll join a diverse cohort of student investors, gain hands-on experience working with early-stage founders, and help shape ventures that deliver meaningful social and environmental change. The Fund is run in partnership with the Creator Fund, giving you access to industry level training, frameworks and networks.  

Why join the QM Social Venture Fund?

You learn by doing 

• You’ll source real startups, conduct due diligence, evaluate impact driven business models and work directly with founders solving societal challenges. Student VCs advise and invest in early-stage start-ups with a social mission, supported by mentors and faculty.  

You gain career boosting experience 

• Past participants say the programme gave them concrete examples to use in interviews, expanded their networks, and even helped them secure graduate jobs – including offers from partner organisations.  

You create social impact that matters 

• Your investment decisions support ventures working on healthcare, sustainability, climate innovation, community development and more. 

You join a community that values diversity 

• The Fund explicitly aims to empower student investors from diverse backgrounds and equip them to become the next generation of social entrepreneurs and impact investors. 

SVF Pitch Competition 2026

How the Fund works?

The Fund operates annually, following a real venture capital cycle:

Training & onboarding: You’ll receive foundational training in venture capital, impact investing and deal flow management – delivered with Creator Fund professionals.

Deal sourcing & evaluation: Student VCs source and screen early-stage startups with a clear social mission. 

Due diligence & investment: Teams evaluate feasibility, impact, financial potential and founder readiness. The Fund then invests £15,000 in equity into the winning social venture. 

Post investment support: Student VCs continue providing advice, recommendations and support – applying knowledge used by leading VC firms.

Annual Pitch Competition: Finalists pitch for investment at the QMSVF annual showcase, one of Queen Mary’s biggest entrepreneurship events. 

What the Fund looks for?

The Fund invests in early-stage, for-profit social enterprises where social impact is core to the business model – not a byproduct.  

We look for ventures with: 

• Measurable social or environmental impact
• Clear potential for financial sustainability
• Founders committed to scaling both impact and operations  

What Student VCs say