£125m Now officially launched by ONE North East
A new £125m 'super fund' will be officially launched today (Friday 22 January) aimed at supporting hundreds of businesses which will help lead the North East's economic recovery. The Finance for Business North East Fund was unveiled by Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination, at an event at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham on the 22nd January. Over the next five years, it will support up to 850 small and medium-sized North East companies, with the aim of creating more than 5,000 jobs. The European Investment Bank is committing £62.5m into the fund, with £44.25m coming from the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 and £18.25m from regional development agency One North East. Finance for Business North East comprises six separate funds and businesses in the audience will have the opportunity to speak with the newly-appointed fund managers about how to access the finance available. The fund management firms leading the six funds that will comprise JEREMIE are:
· IP Group, which operates on a nationwide basis, who will run the £25m Technology Fund from offices in Newcastle. · Rivers Capital Partners, a new joint venture between leading technology investment firm E-Synergy and local business advisors Finance Tree of Newcastle - who will manage the £7.5m Angel Match Fund. · FW Capital, a specialist in regional investment, who will manage the £20m Growth Plus Fund through their new North East office. · NEL Fund Managers, of Newcastle, who will run the £20m Growth Fund.
We have now grown our strategy, business planning and corporate finance service using experts who can help you plan for growth and meet investors.
For the last 9 months we have been developing our investor contacts and making introductions. We also have a number of new corporate finance managers who have been working with a growing number of clients helping them directly to seek investment. David Pope has joined the team, bringing over 12 years experience and track record of capital raising.
To find out more contact us at the office: CLICK HERE
Well done all the BluePrint Winners 2009 !
About says it all really. Jonathan Gold, one of the judges said..."Having been involved in this North East Universities business plan competition for entrepreneurs for the last 5 years I have to say they are all great people and some outstanding businesses too". Special mentions to:
FScan: revolutionising imaging with novel radiometric methods
StuRents: a portal for student accomodation
Touchscape: taking touchscreen technology one step beyond
Anyway dont forget all its not winning the competition that matters its winning business! Good Luck all !
Software and IT businesses Investment ready? New programme!
The Software Ventures programme is ideal for anyone with a software related business idea, those looking to buy a software related business or individuals who would like to explore what the software industry can offer. Finance Tree are delivering the programme on behalf of Sunderland Software City and the North East BIC.
Willie Herdman, Programme Manager for the North East BIC, says "The programme offers input from leading industry specialists who can really help kick start businesses, and the continuing support and advice ensures the best possible start. We are using industry experts for the Software Ventures programme who will facilitate, help and develop individual ideas into fully worked-up business plans".
The programme, valued at £3000, is fully funded for successful applicants and delivered on a Tuesday evening over a seven week period and culminates in a unique opportunity to present the plan to a panel of investors. Throughout the programme delegates will be assisted by an appropriate mentor. They will also have opportunities to network with professionals, entrepreneurs and investors with an interest in the software sector.
The next programme starts on Tuesday 29th September. For more details click here or call Angela Haworth at the North East BIC on 0191 516 6097
Winners announced: Big Ideas
Congratulations to Sam Crowe (13), Jonathan Old (13), Thomas Jobling (13) and Jacob Jackson-Carter (13), collectively known as 'The Elements', the youngsters from St Aidan's RC school in Sunderland, the winning team of he Big Ideas Youth Challenge...
GBP 150 million Innovation Investment Fund
The UK government has announced the launch of a GBP 150 million Innovation Investment Fund in its strategic plan, 'Building Britain's Future', published in June 2009. The fund of funds will support high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start ups and spin-outs with high growth and innovation potential. The government aims to attract additional resources from pension funds and from the private sector creating a GBP 1 billion fund within 10 years. The fund is constituted to address the barriers faced by these companies in raising equity essential for their growth. Key sectors, such as life sciences, low carbon technologies, ICT and advanced manufacturing, are among the priorities of the new fund. Follow this link to read more: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=404169&NewsAreaID=2
The UK Innovation Investment Fund is part of the government's vision and strategy to build growth and create jobs in order to survive the global economic downturn and prepare for the future. The government's view and strategy is spelt out in the policy document, 'New Industry New Jobs' (published in April), and in the strategic plan, 'Building Britain's Future'.
Final of the Big Ideas Youth Challenge in the North East
10th July 2009
The final of the North East Big ideas youth challenge was held this morning at Otterburn Hall in Northumberland. This is the third year of the project in the North East and with 6 teams of kids from schools across the region it goes from strength to strength. Organised by the BIC North East and supported by BT, Microsoft and a host of local sponsors, including Finance Tree, the lucky six groups of kids have just spent the best part of a week at Otterburn receiving business coaching and seminars from a range of entrepreneurs and other business professionals. However this is just the culmination of around 5 months work for them and two hotly contested rounds which started earlier in the year with over 30 teams. I can't really announce the winners, but I am sure they will be posted to the official site, see link below... I'll be back judging with the others (if they will have me) next year.
Rivers Capital Partners formed, a new Newcastle based venture capital company
Jonathan Gold founder of Newcastle based Finance Tree Limited, the North East region's leading investment readiness and understanding finance for business trainer, has today announced a new partnership with E-Synergy Limited, one of Europe's most active early stage venture capital fund managers.
John White the CEO of E-Synergy said; "we see great opportunity in the North East and this collaboration is a natural extension of our existing fund management activity".
The deal has Finance Tree joining forces with E-Synergy to launch a unique early stage investment management company based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and focused on the North of England
The new joint venture, to be known as Rivers Capital Partners Limited ("RCP"), will offer a decade of combined experience in developing early stage investment support. Bringing together the expertise of E-Synergy's FSA approved investment management team, currently based in offices in London, Silverstone, Nottingham, Belfast and Geneva, with Finance Tree's team's network and operation in the region.
Jonathan Gold said; "while we are still establishing the Company, our new collaboration provides immediate access to E-Synergy's investor networks and expertise. We feel E-Synergy is a natural partner for us here in the North East and builds on our current investment readiness activities"
John White added; "We will be bidding for new funds in the North East but we see the region as a natural base for us to cover the wider Northern region and will attract investment activity across the wider North.
The collaboration will be bidding for funds under the ONE NorthEast managed JEREMIE framework utilising Finance Tree and E-Synergy's teams to design and develop a new approach to the management of regionally focused European investment funds.
It is intended that the addition of E-Synergy's specialist VC fund management capacity and its ability to attract private investors to co-invest significant sums in early stage enterprises will broaden the offer and help bridge the region's "debt/equity gap".
Professor Richard Brook OBE, Director of E-Synergy, said: "We are delighted to have entered into this joint venture arrangement with Finance Tree. We look forward to working with entrepreneurs across the region to make their business vision a commercial reality. We believe that an integrated approach to support for early stage companies is vital and the ONE NorthEast JEREMIE initiative looks like it will provide just that. We believe RCP will be well placed to support the region's emerging high performance enterprises to exploit opportunities that arise out the economic downturn."
E-Synergy CEO, John White, commented: "We have frequently been active in the North East and see our long standing relationship with Finance Tree as the ideal platform from which to launch a new dedicated venture. RCP will enable an innovative contribution from E-Synergy to the region's ongoing success". White says the new venture illustrates E-Synergy's commitment to providing a responsive service. "Everyone here is looking forward to working alongside the team at Finance Tree to make the new venture a resounding success for all parties." For more information see RCP
Software Ventures programme... underway!... from 24th March 09
Finance Tree is delivering The Software Ventures programme on behalf of Software City and the North East BIC.
The programme is ideal for anyone with a software related business idea, those looking to buy a software related business or individuals who would like to explore what the software industry can offer.
Willie Herdman, Programme Manager for the North East BIC, says "The programme offers input from leading industry specialists who can really help kick start businesses, and the continuing support and advice ensures the best possible start. We are using industry experts for the Software Ventures programme who will facilitate, help and develop individual ideas into fully worked-up business plans".
The programme, valued at £3000 per person, is fully funded for successful applicants and delivered on a Tuesday evening over a seven week period and culminates in a unique opportunity to present the plan to a panel of investors.
Throughout the programme delegates will be assisted by an appropriate mentor. They will also have opportunities to network with professionals, entrepreneurs and investors with an interest in the software sector. To apply contact:
Angela Haworth on 0191 516 6087 or...Go direct to the North East BIC...
Finance Tree in the news...
More News...
16th January 2009
CONNECT North East Launched
Finance Tree is as founding partner in the new technology network in the North East of England. The focus of Connect North East would be that of early stage, science and technology start up companies. Connect North East would seek to facilitate experience exchange, peer to peer learning, and introductions to professional service and business support providers for the young businesses. Awareness of, education about ,and access to, appropriate sources of finance would also be an inherent function of Connect North East.
Find out more at: www.connectnortheast.com
