Stephen Welton is a private equity and growth capital investor who built his reputation over several decades in the UK financial sector. He is best known as a founder and the inaugural chief executive of BGF (Business Growth Fund), the investment organisation established in 2011 to provide long-term equity capital to small and mid-sized British businesses. Under his leadership, BGF became one of the most active investors in the UK and Ireland, deploying capital across a broad range of sectors and building a substantial portfolio of minority stakes in growing companies. Prior to BGF, Welton held senior roles at Barclays Private Equity, where he developed extensive experience in direct investment. He has been a prominent voice in debates around the funding landscape for growth-stage businesses in the United Kingdom.