Nest, Railpen Build £1 Billion UK Sci-Tech Fund as Pension Shift Targets Scaleups
Updated
Updated · Crypto Briefing · Jul 27
Nest, Railpen Build £1 Billion UK Sci-Tech Fund as Pension Shift Targets Scaleups
3 articles · Updated · Crypto Briefing · Jul 27
Summary
Nest and Railpen are assembling a £1 billion Scale-Up Fund to finance British science and technology companies that have moved beyond proof of concept but still need growth capital.
The vehicle, backed by the British Business Bank, is meant to keep UK startups from turning to US investors for £50 million to £100 million expansion rounds and shifting value creation overseas.
The fund builds on the May 2025 Mansion House Accord, under which 17 pension providers pledged £50 billion toward UK unlisted equities, venture capital and infrastructure.
Nest has already said it aims to invest up to £1 billion in venture capital by 2030, making the new fund a key test of whether pension schemes will accept more domestic private-market risk.