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There are number of useful organisations in the West of Scotland to assist the development and growth of technology companies. For more information, please click on the links below.
Scottish Enterprise provides development assistance to help business start-ups and helping existing companies to grow.
The Proof of Concept Fund supports the pre-commercialisation of leading-edge technologies emerging from Scotland's universities, research institutes and NHS Trusts. It helps researchers to export their ideas and inventions from the lab to the global marketplace. For further information, please see www.scottish-enterprise.com/proofofconceptfund
Advice and financial support to companies requiring professional help to improve the quality of investment propositions. Financial support is available to help companies with the cost of making their propositions investment ready - up to 50% of total costs, normally to a maximum of £10k.
For more information, see the Scottish Enterprise website
Small businesses and young companies often experience difficulties in raising sufficient funds from banks and private investors due to their size and risk profile. The Scottish Enterprise Business Growth Fund (BGF) aims to improve the availability of finance for start up and growing companies in Scotland.
The Fund provides loans and equity investments between £20,000 and £100,000 to businesses which show ambition to grow, and that satisfy various criteria relating to their size and commercial viability. A new equity option means that young companies can improve their balance sheet in order to leverage support from banks and other investors. Contact the appropriate LEC for further information
A £20m equity investment fund set up by Scottish Enterprise to invest from £10,000 to £500,000 in company finance deals between the sizes of £20,000 and £1m. Unlike a conventional venture capital fund, the Scottish Co-Investment Fund invests only in partnership with private sector investors. Those private sector partners make the investment decisions.
For details of the programme, including the list of funding partners, go to the Scottish Enterprise website
There are 5 Local Enterprise Companies (LEC) throughout the West of Scotland area. They are the localised centres for access to all areas of Scottish Enterprise's activity. Contact the appropriate LEC for further information
Ayrshire
Dunbartonshire
Glasgow
Lanarkshire
Renfrewshire
Connect Scotland is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee created to support the creation, development and growth of technology based ventures throughout Scotland
Connect works to fulfil the needs and aspirations of emerging technology companies through access to an outstanding network of investors, business professionals and entrepreneurs. Working with this network, companies are able to source expert advice and key resources, including finance. Connect Scotland’s events and activities are designed to offer tangible and practical value, focussing on the investment process. For more information see www.connectonthenet.com.
LINC Scotland is an independent not-for-profit organisation acting as the national business angel network for Scotland. LINC Scotland’s principal role is to stimulate and support the overall development of the business angel sector and their membership comprises both numerous individual investors and most of the established Syndicates operating in our marketplace.
LINC Scotland also offers a nationwide business introduction network or "marriage bureau" for companies and investors. This work is supported by a wide range of public and private sector sponsors so they are able to offer a strictly independent and impartial service.
This site will give you a guide to the process of informal investment from both points of view and also contains a Members Area where registered investors can view the latest opportunities and other useful information. For more information, see www.lincscot.co.uk.
The BVCA represents around 165 UK-based private equity and venture capital firms, the vast majority of all such firms in the UK. The BVCA is the public face of the industry providing services to its members, investors and entrepreneurs as well as the Government and media. For further information see www.bvca.co.uk.
Braveheart Ventures is an investment syndicate that invests in unquoted British Companies. Braveheart Ventures has been operating since 1997 and have grown steadily year on year. Their membership numbers over 50 investors including both private and intermediary investors. They have made 27 investments in 19 companies. For further information, please see www.braveheart-ventures.co.uk
Archangel Informal Investment is the collective name used by a group of prominent Edinburgh based entrepreneurs and investors, who by subscribing to Archangel Informal Investment Limited have joined forces to help fledgling and ambitious companies realise their true potential. The group offers a combination of equity based financial resources and hands-on experience of growing businesses.
The consortium was one of the first Business Angel groups to be formed in Scotland and has provided equity funding in excess of £35m to a number of companies over a period of 12 years. Archangel is currently investing between £5 million and £6 million a year. It has been involved in product development, business start-ups, growth capital for existing ventures and management buy-outs in a wide variety of sectors.
Archangel was the first partner to be appointed alongside the Scottish Co-Investment Fund and has £6 million of matching funding over 4 years. For more information, please see www.archangelsonline.com
Scottish Equity Partners is one of the UK's largest and most established privately owned venture capital firms. With more than 60 years experience in venture capital investing, their investment team has a long and successful track record. Scottish Equity Partners’ principal focus is on high growth potential technology businesses, and typically invest between £500,000 and £5 million in equity financings of up to £20 million. For further information, please see www.scottishdevelopmentfinance.co.uk
Seven Hills Venture Partners is a venture investment and advisory group focused on embryonic and early-stage life science companies. Seven Hills exploits its genuine experience in company incubation, raising capital and management to create and develop viable and successful businesses. The Seven Hills approach is uniquely hands-on, working closely with entrepreneurs as they build and grow their companies and exploiting its networks to source potential business development opportunities.
Seven Hills Venture Partners is the dedicated management company of the Seven Hills Life Science Partnership, a fund established with Noble Fund Managers Ltd, Scotland. The fund invests in early-stage life science companies in Scotland and northern England.
For more information see www.shvp.co.uk
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