Edinburgh-based angel investment syndicate Archangels has helped secure £17.9 million in funding for Scottish scale-ups in the first half of 2026, underlining continued momentum in the country’s early-stage technology and life sciences sectors.
The total comprises £7.2 million invested directly by Archangels’ members, alongside £10.7 million in co-investment from partner investors. The syndicate has supported a number of high-growth companies during the period, including standout funding rounds for University of Edinburgh spin-outs Biocaptiva and Bioliberty.
Biocaptiva raised £1.58 million to accelerate the commercialisation of its patented msX platform, which extracts cell-free DNA directly from whole blood without the need for centrifuges or additional reagents. The innovation is designed to improve the speed, reliability and scalability of liquid biopsy sample preparation for cancer research and diagnostics. The company has also marked its expansion into the US with the launch of its first product.
Meanwhile, Bioliberty secured £6.2 million in a Series A funding round led by the Scottish National Investment Bank, with participation from Archangels and co-investors including Eos Advisory, Old College Capital, Hanna Capital SEZC and Conduit Connect. The funding forms part of a wider £7.7 million raise over the past 10 months and will support product development and manufacturing in Scotland, alongside continued commercial growth in the US. The company’s AI-powered soft robotic wearable platform is already in use across several leading rehabilitation facilities.
The activity reflects Archangels’ ongoing commitment to backing ambitious early-stage companies, combining capital investment with strategic expertise to support growth and scale.
The strong start to 2026 follows a record year for Scotland’s investment landscape, with £1.15 billion raised in 2025 despite challenging global market conditions.
David Ovens, Joint Managing Director at Archangels, said: “The first half of 2026 has been another active period for Archangels, with the syndicate backing some genuinely exceptional companies. Biocaptiva and Bioliberty are each addressing significant global challenges, and the quality of co-investment we’ve been able to attract alongside our members reflects just how compelling these opportunities are to the wider investor community.
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“Scotland’s early-stage ecosystem continues to punch well above its weight, and while the macroeconomic backdrop remains uncertain, the pipeline of innovative companies coming through gives us real confidence going into the second half of the year. Archangels has been backing Scotland’s best founders for over 30 years, and the ambition and quality we’re seeing today is as strong as it’s ever been.”
In recognition of its impact, Archangels was also named Angel Group of the Year at the UK Business Angels Association awards on 10 July, highlighting the syndicate’s contribution to strengthening the UK’s early-stage investment ecosystem.
Ovens added: “To be named Angel Group of the Year by our industry peers is a huge accolade and is testament to the strength of our board, team and syndicate members, who consistently invest £10m–£15m of their own money each year into Scotland’s most promising technology and life sciences companies, as well as providing access to their networks and experience.”
