Collaboration boosts start up companies
HALTON’S worlds leading science campus Sci-Tech Daresbury has teamed up with a start-up investment group to kickstart growth for fledgling firms.
The research park is working with Minerva Business Angels, the Activate knowledge transfer programme and Liverpool John Moores University in a bid to boost the amount of investment funds available to business and to drive talent acquisition.
A spokesman for SciTech Daresbury joint group member Langtree said the North West is only receiving a small share of £2.1bn of government Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme cash pumped into the economy every year, with two thirds going to the South East.
Minerva wants to boost the North West’s share by attracting savvy entrepreneurs and investors to its network and telling them about the investment opportunities.
Both Activate, Liverpool John Moores University and Sci-Tech Daresbury have a track record of identifying innovative products and solutions that have commercial potential and providing access to support, and expertise to firms looking to accelerate the growth of their business.
Alex Toft, head of Minerva, welcomed the network’s launch.
He said: “Minerva is leading the way in connecting universities, business angels and entrepreneurs to grow an access to finance ecosystem for the benefit of our region’s SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises).
“We are delighted to be partnering with both of these innovative and successful organisations to bring together entrepreneurs seeking support with investors looking for hands-on investment opportunities.”
John Downes, Langtree managing director and Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture company chairman, said: “Collaboration is the bedrock of Sci-Tech Daresbury and while investment is about funding, it’s also about igniting growth to create jobs and economic uplift and helping brilliant businesses reach their potential, prosper and move to the next level.
“Bringing entrepreneurs together happens on a daily basis at Sci-Tech Daresbury, Activate and Liverpool John Moores University’s involvement is an exciting development that will help Minerva’s work have greater reach and impact with our community of start-up and growing businesses.”