Equity investors
Raising equity investment is a key requirement for many of our businesses. The Sussex Innovation Centre actively supports two business angel networks plus has a range of contacts with corporate finance professionals and venture capital companies.
In todays market raising investment is not easy and our experience is that companies tend to be more successful at attracting funds if they are also active in securing debt and grant finance and have a credible marketing / sales programme (ideally with first customers). Therefore, while we can act purely as an simple introducer to funders, we tend to work with businesses on a wider basis.
South East Capital Alliance (SECA) - a partnership between Sussex Innovation Centre, Business Link Surrey and Sussex Enterprise, SECA is a regional business angel network for investment opportunities in high growth potential companies.
The Alchemists - an exclusive network of mentors / advisors seeking to promote the growth of early stage technology businesses in Sussex and Kent. Established by universities in the region together with selected incubators and run by Finance South East. Investment presentations are run 3 times per year.
South East Growth Fund - a £30 million regional venture capital fund for SME companies in the south east that can show significant growth potential. Investment amounts between £100,000 and £500,000.
NESTA - National Endowment for Science Technology and the ARTS, runs an extensive Invention and Innovation programme to provide early stage investment funds for "ground-breaking" ideas with commercial or social potential.
Cascade Fund - a collaborative seed fund to develop technologies with commercial potential connected with the five University partners (Sussex, Reading, Brunel, Royal Holloway and Surrey).
South East Proof of Concept Fund (SEPOC) - funds for first stage commercialisation, "Proof of Concept" for projects from Brighton, Oxford Brookes, Portsmouth, Greenwich and Kent Universities.
Potential investors or companies seeking to raise investment should in the first instance contact Paul Jordan (paulj@sinc.co.uk).
