South West Ventures Fund - Funding Matters
October 2005
Welcome to the first edition of the new email newsletter from South West Ventures Fund, which is managed by YFM Venture Finance. This £25 million fund provides venture capital to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based in the South West. Investment amount is typically limited to £500,000 although the fund can invest more to support subsequent financing rounds. Here is our latest news direct to your mail box.
South West Ventures Fund puts Video Phone Company in the Picture
A West Country company that develops state-of-the-art video communications products, AuPix Ltd, is the latest to benefit from the £25 million South West Ventures Fund.
Established in February this year, AuPix Ltd has developed an innovative video communications product, the AP-100 VoIP ("voice over IP") video phone, which allows decision-makers to make instant video and audio calls from their desktops for a fraction of typical call costs.
The £150,000 AuPix has secured from the South West Ventures Fund will allow the company to effectively market the video phone and help realise its vision of a video phone on every key decision maker's desk by 2010.
Simon Griffiths, Investment Manager with South West Ventures Fund, said: "This deal is a great opportunity because not only does it support an experienced team with excellent technical knowledge but it also means this exciting new technology remains in the South West."
New Head for South West VenturesThe South West Ventures Fund has appointed Peter Davies as Investment Director.
He will lead the Bristol team who are making venture capital funding available to South West SMEs with high growth potential.
A chartered accountant and Oxford University graduate, he joins the Bristol-based South West Ventures Fund office from corporate finance firm GP Capital where he was a Director. Prior to this he was Investment Director with the venture capital trust division of Advent Venture Partners and was an Investment Manager for 3i plc's regional operation.
Mr Davies said: "I am joining the South West Ventures Fund at an exciting time for the business. The money is there to invest and we are eager to work closely with companies in the region that have high growth potential. We want to help them build successful enterprises that will maximise our returns."
STOP PRESS
SWVF have just completed on two new deals with OrchreSoft and Nanosight. See our next edition for further information.