Oxford Investment Opportunity Network

The following four companies are seeking investment via the Network as a result of the 16 February 2010 OION investment meeting at Egrove Park in Oxford. The descriptions available summarise the investment proposal made by the company. The information is provided by the company and has not been vetted in any way by OION.

If you are interested in receiving further information on any of the companies then please contact us.

In the past 30 years the market for infertility treatment has grown from zero to £10 billion p.a. It continues to grow rapidly due to couples throughout the world leaving the rearing of children to later in life. Company A’s first product addresses the cause of infertility in around 45% of infertile women by accurately predicting the female fertile period in advance and detecting ineffective or absent ovulation. It will enter the market in 2010. Compan A’s second product is an approved surgical instrument for the early diagnosis and immediate corrective surgery of physical causes of female infertility – the cause of infertility in ca.40% of infertile women. Company A’s commercial infrastructure is almost complete and has already generated £100,000 in sales of the first product since launch in June 2008. So far, £2.8 million has been raised from Angels and a small VC investor. The company is now raising another £1m in angel investment to accelerate the marketing programme. Company A is also in the process of being shortlisted by two funds in France. EIS relief is available.

Company B is a revenue generating Oxford biotechnology company.
Revenue comes from virology services and the supply of high value native antigens to the in vitro diagnostics sector. The first long term supply contract is in place with a major European distributor. This high margin contract manufacturing business can now grow to exceed a £1million pa turnover over the next 18 months.
The patent protected product pipeline includes our unique viral vaccine platform; our novel adjuvant system; and our oncolytic viral platform. Each platform’s lead candidate has high quality pre-clinical proof of concept data. Using a mixed product and platform business model we are developing these platforms towards clinical proof of concept using off balance sheet grant funding and partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies. Our most advanced program has approval from GTAC for the conduct of a phase I clinical trial to be held at the Churchill Hospital starting in early 2011.
Founded by Professor Len Seymour, Chair of Gene Therapy and managed by Dr John Beadle, former co-founder of PowderMed, Company B has reached this late stage of development through a highly efficient use of grant funding, revenues and minimal seed funding. Company B now seeks a second seed round of between £300k to £1 million to further accelerate revenue growth.

Company C has developed and produced a portable electronic temperature controlled microtitre plate which protects biological samples from thermal degradation even when moved around the lab, and allows researchers to analyse the effect of 5 different temperatures at once. The product thus enables researchers to overcome two major limitations of current lab practice. The product is compatible with associated lab instruments such as microscopes and liquid dispensing systems to permit easy integration.

The company’s initial target is the £139m automated protein crystallisation market, where Company C has strong understanding and contacts. The product technology has applications in related markets and the company has received requests from prospective customers to adapt the product to their needs. These markets include enzymology, drug crystallization and high content screening among others.

The product is currently in production and customer shipments commence end January. The company has POs of £30k and a sales pipeline of £120k. Initial clients include pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions worldwide such as Pfizer and Max Planck Institute. The company currently sells directly, and is also negotiating both OEM and distribution agreements.

Company C is looking for a total investment of £230k to ramp-up sales in the protein crystallization market and expand into a second market during 2010. Exit is expected within 3 years.

Digital Forensics is the science of identifying evidence, or intelligence, from digital media. Company D has operated successfully in this market since 1993 and is widely considered a “thought leader” in the field.

Current digital forensic tools and techniques are failing to cope with the explosion in digital devices and data volumes encountered by counter terrorism, criminal investigation and intelligence gathering agencies. Company D has developed and launched a suite of products that enable front line users from such agencies to make early, informed decisions about potential evidence or intelligence, expanding agency capability and resulting in faster, more efficient analysis at lower cost.

The company has gained strong market traction with its products and this month DELL announced the integration of Company D’s triage tools into their own customer solution for government agencies. A global distribution and support agreement with DELL is under negotiation. In addition the company is managing a qualified pipeline of c£6m.

Company D is looking to raise external funding in order to maximise the value from these opportunities and to accelerate market penetration of the product suite worldwide.