News

Success stories - view case studies of companies that have successfully raised funds through OION.

View details of OION's Next Investment Meeting

Back to news item list.

Press releases — 3 May 2006

Oxford Business Angels Network announces Superb Results

Oxfordshire Investment Opportunity Network (OION) is celebrating another successful year of raising crucial development finance for innovative companies. Over 140 guests at the Network’s Annual Dinner heard Chairman, Colin Alexander, announce results showing that OION helped 13 companies raise £3.9 million in the year to 31 March 2006. The results mean that OION remains Europe’s most successful technology business angel network that links investors with entrepreneurs seeking funds from £150,000 to £2m. During the last five years, OION has helped 92 companies raise £19.1m.

Mr Alexander said:

“We are delighted that OION has retained its position as European leader. The Network brokers deals for technology companies across the UK, helping them raise finance to develop their businesses to the stage where they can attract the attention of venture capitalists.”

OION is managed by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading operator of Innovation Centres, which manages 12 Centres housing over 300 companies.

Dr David Kingham, Chief Executive of Oxford Innovation, said:

“I would like to congratulate OION’s manager, Jon Cox, on his achievement this year, and thank our sponsors for their support. We are also delighted that OION is a partner in the IQ Capital Fund, which is one of the first Enterprise Capital Funds announced in the Budget and managed by NW Brown. IQ Capital is a £25m Fund that will invest alongside business angels, so it should really gear up their investment in growing companies as well as raising the profile of the Network. ”

Guests at the Annual Dinner, including business angels, serial entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, also enjoyed hearing Guest Speaker, Professor Steve Davies, founder of Oxford Asymmetry International plc, describe the challenges of growing and financing OAI from an innovative technology start-up into a global company.

Professor Davies also described the phenomenal growth of chemical genomics company, Vastox Plc, of which he is founder and chairman. Vastox provides screening services for biopharmaceutical companies and is pioneering a unique approach to drug testing that uses zebra fish and fruit flies to predict potential toxicity and side effects in humans. The company floated on AIM just 18 months after incorporation and now employs 45 staff at its Milton Park premises.

The OION model has proved so successful that Oxford Innovation has extended it to Northamptonshire. Silverstone Investment Network was launched recently by Sir Jackie Stewart and will help companies involved with the motorsport industry to raise finance.

Press Release Ends

NOTES FOR EDITORS

PHOTO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Dr David Kingham, Chief Executive of Oxford Innovation, with Professor Steve Davies, founder of Oxford Asymmetry International plc and of Vastox plc, who was Guest Speaker at the Annual Dinner of Oxfordshire Investment Opportunity Network.

Press enquiries to: Margaret Henry, OION PR Manager.
Tel: +44 (0)1865 811199  E-mail: Margaret Henry

  1. ABOUT OXFORDSHIRE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY NETWORK (OION) www.oion.co.uk

    Oxfordshire Investment Opportunity Network is Europe’s most successful technology business angel network that links investors with entrepreneurs seeking business development funds from £150,000 to £2m. OION holds monthly meetings where selected companies can pitch their proposals to OION’s members, which include over 150 active business angels, VCTs and venture capitalists.

    Many of these companies are university spin-outs and OION is uniquely positioned to help them. OION holds regular joint presentation meetings, and has strong links with, universities with a reputation for spinning out quality technology companies such as, Warwick, Oxford, Bristol, University College London and Imperial College London.

    OION is managed by Oxford Innovation Ltd (www.oxin.co.uk), the UK’s leading operator of innovation centre premises for start-up companies, and sponsored by HSBC, Grant Thornton, Laytons, Frank B Dehn & Co, NESTA and Business Link.