Vestd
UK equity platform from Vestd Ltd: digital cap table, Companies House filing and EMI, CSOP and growth share schemes, with plans from £25 a month
Quick Overview
| Company | Vestd Ltd |
|---|---|
| Category | Cap Table Management Software |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2014 |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom (outside the EU, adequacy decision) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Digital cap table, Companies House integration, EMI schemes, CSOP, growth shares, unapproved options, phantom shares, HMRC valuations, shareholder dashboards, fundraising add-on |
| Pricing | Essentials from £25/month; Starter from £225/month; Guided service from £435/month; Enterprise on request (200+ stakeholders); minimum 12-month term, excluding VAT |
| Best For | UK companies that want a cap table together with HMRC-aware employee share schemes |
| Replaces | Carta for UK companies |
Detailed Review
Vestd began in 2014, started by Ifty Nasir and Naveed Akram, and calls itself a sharetech platform. The software is a digital cap table with a two-way Companies House link; around it sits a team that designs share schemes, prepares HMRC valuations and helps with filings.
The operator is Vestd Ltd, registered in England and Wales under number 09302265 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 685992). Companies House shows Foresight Enterprise VCT plc and Foresight VCT plc among its persons with significant control, so ownership stays in the UK.
Plans that mix software and advice
The pricing page says cost depends on the level of support and the number of scheme members. Essentials is the thin end: from £25 a month for cap table management, share movements, share classes and Companies House filings, aimed at companies that have no share scheme yet. Starter, from £225 a month, adds self-serve unapproved options and growth shares for up to five recipients and includes two set-up calls.
The Guided service plan, from £435 a month, is the one that opens EMI, CSOP and phantom shares, with scheme design, live support for HMRC submissions and unlimited HMRC valuations. Enterprise pricing is custom and starts where a company has 200 or more stakeholders.
Schemes and compliance work
Scheme types listed in the plan comparison run from ordinary shares and Agile Partnerships to EMI, growth shares, unapproved options, CSOP, phantom shares and options over shareholder shares. HMRC ERS notification help is offered as data plus step-by-step guidance, and the navigation also mentions US 409A valuations for companies that grant to American staff.
Fundraising and secondary add-ons
A separate product called InVestd Raise costs £150 a month and bundles a funding consultation, S/EIS Advance Assurance, founders' agreements, data rooms and share issuance. The site also lists a PISCES route for regulated secondary trading, though the pages read do not explain its pricing.
Limitations to Consider
All Vestd prices carry a minimum 12-month term and exclude VAT, so the monthly figures are not a pay-as-you-go option. EMI and CSOP sit on the Guided plan rather than Starter, which caps at five recipients. The platform is shaped around Companies House and HMRC, so a company outside the UK gets less from it. No hosting region is stated on the pages read, and this review rests on Vestd's public pages, not a hands-on test.
Who Should Use Vestd
Limited companies registered in England and Wales that plan an EMI scheme or growth shares and want specialists to prepare filings, valuations and documents.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Entry plan at £25 a month for a cap table
- EMI, CSOP, growth shares and phantom shares in one service
- Unlimited HMRC valuations on the Guided plan
- FCA authorisation number published in the footer
- Companies House integration on every plan
Cons
- 12-month minimum term on all plans
- Built for UK filings, less useful outside the UK
- Starter limited to five recipients and no EMI
- Hosting region not stated
Alternatives to Vestd
Other European cap table management software worth comparing before you decide:
Ledgy
Switzerland · Zurich platform linking cap tables, HRIS data and option plans
Equify
France · French register-backed cap table with BSPCE and governance modules
SeedLegals
United Kingdom · Startup legals bundle with an unlimited-shareholder cap table
Capboard
Spain · Spanish cap table and ESOP tool with board and data room modules
See all European cap table management software or compare them directly against Carta for UK companies on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. EMI schemes are listed on the Guided service plan, which starts at £435 a month and includes scheme set-up support and unlimited HMRC valuations. The cheaper Starter plan covers unapproved options and growth shares for up to five recipients.
The pricing page states a minimum 12-month term and that prices exclude VAT. Annual billing is described as giving two months free compared with monthly billing.
A separate add-on called InVestd Raise costs £150 a month and covers a funding consultation, S/EIS Advance Assurance, founders' agreements, data rooms, a pitch deck template and share issuance.