Angels offer help with SME funding

North East entrepreneurs looking for investment are to be invited to a special seminar to find out how to give themselves the best possible chance of securing funds.

Rivers Capital are holding a North East Angel Fund Investment Seminar to highlight the range of funds available. Jonathan Gold, director of the North East Angel Fund will discuss the criteria they look for in potential businesses, providing insight and guidance to interested companies.

Attendees will also be able to speak informally to members of the investment team, starting discussions about any potential business opportunities.

Stephen Slater, director of RMT will also be in attendance to discuss financial and business planning in the investment process, and businesses who have gained investment will also share their stories.

Michael Dickens, of Rivers Capital Partners says: “Experience suggests that this sort of direct contact with fund managers give entrepreneurs a head start in the investment process, we have a number of firms in our investee portfolio that made their first contact with us at one of these seminars.

“The seminar will help companies understand how the venture capital process works, what investment of this type will involve and what they should be doing to stand the best possible chance of securing the money they need to take their business forward.”

The Angel Fund is a  £7.5 million fund which invests in start-up and existing businesses with growth potential, and is part of the wider Finance For Business North East initiative. It typically invests between £10,000 and £150,000 in growing businesses with strong management teams in most sectors, and is predominantly aimed at early stage firms.

Stephen Slater, who has advised on a number of Finance For Business North East Fund investments over the last two years, adds: “The ready availability of investment capital gives north east businesses a real chance to build a competitive advantage over their rivals.

“Many of the investee businesses that we’ve worked with in the past have already gone on to achieve their commercial goals, and we would urge every company with ambitions to grow to investigate what might be available to them.”

The event will take place on the 17 May at RMT Accountants and Business Advisors Gosforth.