Croydon College is set to co-host a free startup funding event with Oxford Innovation – in concert with Innvotec – one of the UK’s largest venture capital groups.
The event aims to review the opportunities for the seed enterprise investment scheme both for investments and investors and will explore the opportunity for seed funding for London’s startup businesses.
Frances Wadsworth, principal at Croydon College will open the event, she said:
“We’re delighted to be part of this event, highlighting this government sponsored initiative in support of startup enterprises.
“There is considerable interest from a range of advisors, investors and those seeking to learn more about this avenue of funding, including some of our own students.
“We hope that this event will be the first in a series promoting opportunities for enterprise and outlining risk capital available for very early startup businesses.”
Presentations
The event will also feature presentations from five early-stage investments including Koko-Nata, a premium coconut water manufacturer, Marcelo’s a Mexican food company, AutoMosys, a motor diagnostic application, Fourth State Medicine, a medical innovation that reduces the need for antibiotics and GamerDating, an online dating platform for gamers looking for a partner.
These five companies are looking for nearly £2m of funding between them.
Speakers will include Mike Herd from the Croydon based Sussex University Innovation Centre and Nick Gurney-Sharpe, chief investment officer at Innvotec.
Gurney-Sharpe said:
“In the short time since its launch the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme – SEIS – has become the pre-eminent source of risk capital in the UK for very early stage and startup businesses. Small businesses are the engine room of the economy, and the vast majority of growth in the economy – and job creation – comes from such enterprises.”
The event will take place at Croydon College on the 25 February 4:30- until 7pm