London Business Angels reports a record £15m of investment year in 2013

 
London Business Angels (LBA) scored a record year in 2013 with £3.5m invested into 22 SMEs by its members alongside a further £11.5m of co-investment, making it one of the most active angel communities in the U.K and indeed Europe for the period.
According to a recent report by UKfunders, LBA was the most prolific angel investor network of the year in the first half of 2013 and in September 2013, LBA was awarded the investor all stars private investor network of the year award. These 22 investments were completed across a range of sectors including Cleantech, Medtech, Life Sciences and Digital Software. Notable examples of  companies that received investment include; Blu Wireless Technology, a Bristol Based semi-conductor specialist; Eagle Genomics, a bio-informatics specialist and Syrinix, a provider of innovative pipeline monitoring products.

Syndicated equity Investment focuses Laser Wire Solutions' ambitious growth plans

An Abertillery-based company whose high-tech products are based on technology originally developed for NASA's Space Shuttle programme has secured a £275,000 equity investment package from Finance Wales and a group of business angels syndicated through xénos, the Wales Business Angel Network (xénos).
Finance Wales and three xénos business angels invested alongside an angel from the South West Angel and Investor Network (SWAIN).
Laser Wire Solutions (LWS) used a Smart Cymru research and development grant to develop a range of laser-based wire-stripping products.  These products can improve the quality of high-value electrical wiring systems and can be used to strip wires in complex wiring systems.
The funding package has provided LWS with the capital it needs to commercialise its current products and further develop its technology.

BaseKit secures new £4.5m investment

BaseKit, the leading website building platform, has today announced that is has secured a further £4.5m funding from the Angel CoFund backed by the British Business Bank; alongside existing investment from Eden Ventures, NESTA and Nauta Capital.

The additional funding follows a previous investment of £10m, and comes at a significant time for both parties, confirming the economic growth as discussed in this years' Autumn Statement.
George Whitehead, chairman of the Angel CoFund comments: "We are very impressed with what BaseKit has achieved and also its potential for the future.  Our goal is to provide cash for high-growth UK businesses - and BaseKit's company vision, ability to execute and current momentum classify it is as exactly the kind of business we like to invest in."

Start Up Loans Partners with Crowdcube

We are thrilled to announce that Start Up Loans has partnered with Crowdcube.

The government funded scheme that provides loans and mentors for entrepreneurs is partnering with us to assist those recipients of Start Ups Loans with further funding via the Crowdcube platform. All businesses referred by Start Up Loans that succeed in reaching their target on Crowdcube will only be charged a fee of four percent rather than the usual five percent.
The company, which is chaired by James Caan, was created within The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It was designed to go some way to help solve the problem of supporting people who have a feasible business idea but no access to finance, aiming to equip enterprising individuals with the tools needed to make their businesses a success.