How to get involved locally

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Quarterly Investment Briefing

The Quarterly Investment Briefing is an update on all things Investment in the South West, and along with the content we collate this includes a link to the decks of companies looking to raise in the region each quarter.

We also hold one annual event in January which brings investors and enablers of investment (lawyers, accountants etc.) together to network, share and learn. The event is a great opportunity to find out more about the investment ecosystem locally.

Each event includes a rundown of who is investing, an update on the latest investment news and lightning speakers related to our event theme.

Sign up to the newsletter for all the latest investment news and invites to the QIB events.

Silicon Gorge Investor Showcase

Silicon Gorge Investor Showcase happens in May, shining a light on 10-12 of the best startups and scaleups in the region all looking for between £100k – £2m.

Alumni of Silicon Gorge include Immersive Labs and Martin Bysh from Huboo, who have raised £68m and £60m in 2021 alone, plus many others who have raised millions since they pitched: Lettus Grow, KETS Quantum Security, Yellowdog, TravelLocal, Virti, Neighbourly to name just a few.

At each event we have a small panel to help bring out any extra details from the pitchers, and previous panellists include Jean de Fougerolles, Managing Partner at Ascension Ventures, Charles Grimsdale, Angel and Founder at Eden Ventures, Lisa Matthews, Portfolio Manager at Jenson Funding Partners, and Simon Murdoch, Managing Partner at Episode 1.

The next Silicon Gorge Investor Showcase will take place on the afternoon of 18th May 2023, sign up to our mailing list to receive an invite, or contact abby@techspark.co for more details.

Other ways you can engage with the region

There are a number of investors physically located in the region. These include Bristol Private Equity Club, Dorset Business Angels and Maven Capital Partners. Recently we have seen a couple of new investment funds launched in the region – Science Creates Ventures and Newable with BPEC. However, with close proximity to London and the Golden Triangle, we’re keen to welcome more investors to the region, even just for a few hours or days.

Venture capitalists from London and overseas are being more and more creative in how they engage with local founders – whether bringing their whole team to join the SPARKies (TechSPARK’s annual tech awards), relocating a team member for a few months, or running sessions for our startups via incubators. Why don’t you get involved this year?

You might also like to check out the investment ecosystem locally to discover the angel groups that are active in the South West.

Sending an analyst to live here and get to know the key people for 3 months
Bring your team to enjoy the SPARKies
Open a local office
Start a new angel syndicate or group
Attend or host dinners to talk about investment and meet founders
Become an investor in residence at Engine Shed
Attend our Quarterly Investment Briefing & Silicon Gorge Investor Showcase
Sign up to receive information about our events and news

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The Investment Activator Programme (IAP) supports companies and investors to increase the flow of equity investment in the South West.