The Angels Are Coming: Venta Launchpad Investor Day
Norwich Research Park provides funding opportunity for novel life science companies
Innovative Life science companies are being offered the chance to pitch to investors thanks to a new initiative from Norwich Research Park (NRP). New and existing businesses looking to exploit their ideas with business angel funding are invited to take part in the NRP Venta programme, to be launched on 16th November 2011.
The Venta scheme, run by NRP in partnership with the Cambridge Capital Group (CCG), is designed to bring businesses and investors together in Angel Investment Days. Struan McDougall, Chief Executive of CCG, explains: “Members of CCG are committed to supporting new businesses and ensuring that anyone with a bright idea is able to commercialise it. Venta provides the opportunity for life sciences businesses to receive valuable feedback from the investor community and for investors to discover the exciting prospects coming out of the east of England.”
At the first Venta Launchpad Investor Day, four of the region’s most promising small companies will present their plans to up to 40 business angels and guests. The organisers are very keen to hear from emerging companies interested in the event, and are looking for applications from businesses who would like to present.
John Irving from NRP has been instrumental in developing the scheme. He says: “NRP helped set up the Venta programme because we have seen the excellent quality and potential of life science innovation in the region. We also know how just how valuable the support of investors is, not only for capital injection, but of equal importance for their business experience and advice.”
Norwich Research Park encompasses six leading research institutions, and over thirty commercial companies. A £26m grant from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was awarded to NRP earlier this year to help deliver further state-of-the-art buildings and the necessary infrastructure to benefit new and established science-based companies looking for the facilities and support needed to grow.
Life science companies requiring investment in order to grow can apply to be one of the four presenters at the Venta Launchpad Investor Day. Applications should consist of an Executive Summary no longer than three sides of A4 and can be sent to John Irving at venta@nrpic.com before 3rd October 2011.
Cambridge Capital Group (CCG)
CCG is a group of business angel investors which invests £50,000 to £500,000 in disruptive technologies within the cleantech, healthcare, medtech, new materials and processes sectors. Investors from CCG have been supporting innovative Cambridge companies for the last 20 years, with some very profitable results, and now their support is available for the first time in Norfolk. Their recent successes have included the acquisition of Phonetic Arts by Google and the launch of Ubisense Group on AIM. CCG sees a major opportunity in disruptive technologies emerging from the NRP so is keen to expand from its focus on Cambridge to meet companies which are taking advantage of NRP’s services.