What type of businesses can the Fund invest in?
The Fund is open to applications from almost all industrial fields although there are a few ‘prohibited sectors’ which are generally related to European regulations related to agriculture and fisheries. Businesses must be commercially viable and seeking capital to expand and must also be able to attract a matching private sector investment. The Fund is not able to invest in order to rescue failing businesses. Since the Fund can invest between £10,000 and £100,000 and this must be at least matched by a private investor, the scheme can provide investments ranging up to £200,000 (or more if the private investors contribute more than 50% of the funds), well below the levels usually considered by other venture capital funds. All the businesses will need to be limited companies so that they can issue shares.
