Big Society Capital
Script, 44 Featherstone Street, London, Greater London, EC1Y 8RN, United Kingdom
Overview
Big Society Capital is an independent financial institution with a social mission, set up to help grow the social investment market in the UK. Social investment is about lending or investing money to achieve a social as well as a financial return. Big Society Capital has been set up to make sure that charities and social enterprises that want to borrow money, or take on investment, can find sources of appropriate capital to meet their needs.
- Total investments
- 3
- Lead investments
- 0
- Investments · 12mo
- 1
- Active investors
- 7
Sector focus
- Finance
- Financial Services
- Venture Capital
Investment portfolio
- Stream
Participated · Series D · Jan 2026
Stream, founded in 2018 and formerly known as Wagestream, delivers a workplace finance platform that lets employees access earned wages early and use integrated tools for saving, budgeting, and financial planning. By partnering directly with employers, the company positions its services as low-cost alternatives to high-interest short-term credit products. Stream now works with more than 2,000 employer brands and serves about four million workers across the UK, Europe, and the United States. According to the company, members have collectively saved over $200 million by avoiding high-cost financial products. The platform has evolved to include savings pots, budgeting guidance, and affordable credit options, and Stream plans to add pensions next. Management intends to use new capital to deepen its product suite and accelerate U.S. and broader international expansion. To date, Stream has raised $228 million in total funding from a roster of more than 75 investors.
- ClearlySo
Participated · Equity · Jun 2016
ClearlySo is a London-based impact investment bank founded in 2008 that works exclusively with businesses and funds delivering positive social, ethical and environmental impact alongside financial return. Led by founder and CEO Rodney Schwartz, the firm connects high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors to impact-focused opportunities. It has supported nearly 100 clients in raising more than £100 million in impact investment. In June 2016 the company raised £1.25m in growth funding and said it will use the proceeds to continue expanding operations. Octopus Ventures led the round, taking a 12.3% stake and becoming the largest single institutional investor; Big Society Capital and eight new angel investors also participated. As part of the financing, Octopus co-founder Chris Hulatt will join ClearlySo’s board as a non-executive director.
- Spacehive
Participated · Equity · Nov 2014
Spacehive operates a crowdfunding platform for civic projects, allowing communities to create and fund initiatives such as playgrounds, parks and public Wi‑Fi networks. Founded in 2012 by Chris Gourlay, the platform has helped fund 55 projects across the UK totaling £1.8m. Backers of projects have included public figures Kevin McCloud, Danny Boyle, David Bailey and Sir Ian Botha, as well as firms like Tesco and John Lewis and several city mayors. The company raised new capital to support expansion and intends to use the funds to scale in the UK. The article does not provide revenue or profitability figures.