Oxford business angels report a record year

While OION Network is headquartered in Oxford it supports technology companies from across the UK to secure funding from £150,000 to £2 million. Its investor members include high net worth individuals, venture capital trusts, funds and corporate venturers.

Director Don McLaverty said, “I am delighted that OION has enjoyed a blockbuster year as Europe’s most successful technology business angel network, despite the worsening economic conditions since last October.

McLaverty said this success is down to three main factors. OION has a consistent track record of matching investors with companies that have solid growth potential and which need relatively small but crucial amounts of funding to realise that potential.

Secondly, it has a co-investment programme with institutional investors which enables members to leverage additional funding alongside their investments.

Thirdly, OION has instituted a meetings and investor training programme for new investors. “This provides a forum for our new investors to make contact with our experienced members, while also raising technical questions about investing, and has proved to be extremely popular,” said McLaverty.

McLaverty added, “It is overwhelmingly clear that business angels have a unique role to play during this recession and are more important than ever during these difficult times. They supply a bedrock of investment combined with valuable management experience, often gained during hard times, which can be crucial to the survival and growth of early stage technology companies.”

OION is one of three Investment Networks managed by Oxford Innovation, which manages 14 Innovation Centres providing office and laboratory space for over 350 growing companies.