Oxford Investment Opportunity Network

The following four companies are seeking investment via the Network as a result of the 25 November 2009 OION investment meeting at the Said Business School 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.

Company A represents an excellent opportunity to invest in a successful early-stage company that provides software tools that enable the rapid development of reliable embedded systems.

Tools for the creation of high-reliability embedded systems have focussed historically on safety-critical markets (e.g. aerospace), where system failures can have fatal consequences. In these markets, time-triggered (TT) design techniques have become “standard”.

These high-end markets remain important, but embedded processors now also have an enormous impact in much broader areas of product development, including relatively simple consumer applications such as washing machines and set-top boxes. Building on 15 years of university research, the patent-protected products from Company A now enable developers with little knowledge of TT designs to benefit from “aerospace levels of reliability”. In short, the product allows companies to produce mass-market consumer products with a much shorter time to market, and significantly reduced development, testing and warranty costs.

Having begun trading in 2008, Company A already has several large customers and is approaching a “break even” position. With a strong team in place, the company is now seeking £1m of development capital which will enable it to maximise its growth potential and exploit the very large market opportunity to the full.

Company B is a pioneering biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of its proprietary nanotechnology platform, Ultrasound Mediated Activation (UMA™) that directly targets organic systemic locations while reducing toxic side effects.
The Company’s business strategy is to maximize its technology platform, operating development facilities in the US and UK. The corporate structure for development is concentrated on three distinct groups:
Bio Aesthetic Medicine: which represents several significant short term revenue opportunities for the Company. Company B has outlined several development projects in this market.
Research Services: the product platform is very expansive and can be used in literally hundreds of applications and potential applications, far too large for any company to individually develop.
Novel Therapeutics. Company B will work to develop novel and proprietary therapeutics in the cancer therapy, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and CNS markets.
The Company’s financial objective is to exceed annual revenues of $200 million in a 5 to 8 year timeline and is seeking an angel round of $1,000,000.
The Company will seek a Series A finance round of $7 million in 2010 that will permit it to complete the development of its initial bio-aesthetic products, organize and complete a human Phase 1 clinical trial with a Series B funding round in 2011 of $25 million for continued commercialization efforts of applications using its novel platform technology. Company B projects liquidity for investors taking place thru an IPO of the Company’s securities on the AIM exchange and/or NASDAQ, depending on market conditions. The Company also projects that several of its core products may be attractive buyout candidates for large pharmaceutical companies.

Company C was established in 1996 from the carbon and catalysis group of the BP Research Centre to support existing BP projects. This then expanded into the development of new nanoporous carbon materials and processes in the fields of catalysis and separation technologies (air and water purification). This subsequently expanded into the areas of energy management (fuel cells and supercapacitors) and biomedical materials (oral adsorption, blood filtration, wound dressings).

Company C’s technology platform in high value/high margin nanoporous carbons is unique and allows us to provide materials for an expanding range of high technology end uses.

Company C’s philosophy has been to operate through part funded government/EU sponsored projects, which have allowed us to establish vertically integrated supply chains, supported by fully funded projects on behalf of the MOD and other blue chip companies. At present Company C’s turnover (~£1million) is approximately 60% from R and D projects and 40% from materials sales.

To take the new products to the market the investment required can no longer be met from internally generated resources. We require £550K to complete the market development of our monolithic carbons and £350K to expand the markets for our carbon cloth materials (projected markets of >£25million and >£15million respectively).

Company D has developed an energy efficient compressor and engine. Compressors are a $10bn global industry, and 10% of all industrial electricity is converted to compressed air. It’s a significant op-ex in manufacturing, and Company D's product reduces energy spend by 20%. The product is a major development in the sector and is a displacement technology.
The patented technology is proven, with prototypes demonstrating the efficiency. The Northampton based start-up is now focusing on three initial markets for exploitation of the compressor:
• Water industry low pressure compressors. Development relationship established with Severn Trent Water
• Supercharger for downsized engines. Project underway with an auto major for a vehicle demonstrator in 2010. In negotiation to license the technology
• Industrial air compressor. Aim to secure relationship in 2010
The company has a dynamic team and experienced board, led by the former CEO of AEA Technology. The company has secured £1.6m to date, has one grant funded project underway and is shortlisted for two further major grants.
Company D has been incubated by the Carbon Trust.
The company is seeking £500k to support joint industry projects throughout 2010 and to establish further customer relationships ahead of a Series A in early 2011.