Investment Readiness
This project assists SMEs and Entrpreneurs seeking finance. It provides unique training courses, software tools, guides, mentoring and advice. The Finance & Business programme is funded by ONE North East and the ERDF as part of the regions economic development initiatives. Details can be found at: www.financeandbusiness.biz
Sponsors of the North East Proof of Concept Fund (POC)
Finance Tree can provide advice and guidance for companies looking to access this investment fund which specialises in science and technology propositions and SMEs seeking their first £60,000. To find out more visit: www.northstarei.com/proof-of-concept-fund.asp
Regional Enterprise Loan Fund (REFL)
This is a new £2.25 million loan fund which aims to assist new or growing businesses that are unable to fully finance their borrowing needs from banks and other traditional sources. RELF is managed by Entrust, in partnership with the North East Business and Innovation Centre and Finance Tree, on behalf of One NorthEast. The fund is looking to lend £750,000 per year, to developing regional enterprises during the next three years with the overall aim to encourage new business start-up, enhance current business growth, create new jobs and generate more economic value in the region. To find out more about the Regional Enterprise Loan Fund log on to www.entrustrelf.co.uk
Training for Business Angels
To help encourage new investors, we have teamed up with Finance South East to take the successful “Ready for Equity!” training package for Business Angels into the North East of England. This is currently being run as a pilot programme, see the “News and Events” page of this website.
Achieve More... an EU Framework 7 programme
ACHIEVE MORE , a €1.8 million consortium project, has just been launched, with support from the European Commission’s DG Enterprise and Industry; Innovation and Policy Development unit and its Europe Innova programme The project lasts for three years. Project ACHIEVE MORE will develop, test and implement a proactive and focused mechanism (namely the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Exchange (E&I Exchange)) to supporting young innovative KIS-ventures with high growth potential. This will focus on the software sector by working closely with a network of up to 50 European ICT business incubators, up to 5 leading investment organisations and up to 15 cluster animators, thus supporting up to 400 SMEs with high growth potential.
