Oxford Investment Opportunity Network

The following five companies are seeking investment via the Network as a result of the 29 September 2009 OION investment meeting at The Chemistry Research Laboratory 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 designs and manufactures nano-precision form and defect measuring instruments for R&D and quality control. They are addressing the 3D form metrology market, which has an annual size of £470M with initial focus on the £10M orthopaedics niche.

Since founding Company A in 2005, they have developed a 4-axis optical coordinate measuring machine. This is a breakthrough in the field of precision form measurement for artificial hip joints, as it saves an average customer between £75k and £150k per year, while greatly enhancing their measurement capabilities. The first unit has been sold to a test customer, where it is used successfully in R&D and quality control.

The funding is required to take this product to market and for further technological developments over the next 18 months. These improvements will allow the measurement of for example artificial knee joints. Additional markets for the technology are aerospace and automotive.

Exit is expected within 5-6 years through a trade sale.

Company B is exploiting opportunities in the application of silicon chemistry to new drug discovery.

Silicon-containing analogues of existing drugs are demonstrably patentable, can have material advantages over the original drug, and can be developed rapidly at lower cost than the original. Company B have developed a database of over 80 opportunities for ‘switching’ conventional drugs to silicon compounds, from Phase II candidates through on-patent blockbusters to generics. Their proposition is to make, test and then sell these projects at preclinical stage, generating cash upfront and milestone payments.

In the past 2 years they have validated our approach by i) with technical success (including in vivo), ii) successful filing and searching of patents on a range of compounds (one to PCT), iii) closing one licensing deal for co-development of one project compound and iv) placing another two projects for evaluation with future partners under CDA.

Company B was founded in 2006 by an experienced entrepreneurial team. Their business model is highly scalable, and with an investment of £700k can produce profitability and revenue returns of 6x investment in 7 years. High exit valuations in recent months show that a high multiple exit is practical in 4 - 5 years if further investment is accepted.

Since October 2008 Company C, have already begun to establish itself as the world’s first premiere online publication, community and resource site, created for and by gamers, musicians, artists and authors who seek a collective space in which to express themselves while gaining inspiration from others.

Since its Open Beta Launch in June ’09, Company C's community has enjoyed explosive growth due to the enthusiasm generated by the membership itself, coupled with the popularity of products launched. By focusing exclusively on the needs of the core interests areas, Company C is fast becoming one of the most powerful online vehicles for targeted online marketing, web development and social media within a rapidly growing group of technology, gaming and social interest areas.

• The online publication, community and resource site, providing targeted niche online advertising, sponsorship, web development and marketing services to relevant industry specific clientele.
• I-Dream downloads (offering unsigned artists a place to promote their work). I-Dream, is the world’s first 100% truly royalty free download application (all proceeds go direct to the artist).

Company C are seeking £250,000 to fund an exciting second phase marketing campaign at the same time as putting in place a firm staffing infrastructure to support future growth and financial management.

Company D have developed an innovative breath-activated product designed to replace the full tobacco smoking experience with a safe, intuitive and easy to use device which delivers nicotine safely to the lungs without the harmful components of cigarettes. The company intends to launch the product through the consumer market with a commercial partner.

The product will be the first of its kind smoking replacement product providing chronic smokers with a sophisticated alternative which most closely captures the functionality and physiological smoking sensations of a tobacco cigarette. The concept has already been embraced by leading anti-smoking experts and offers attractive financial returns to investors, producers, distributors and retailers as well as promising enhanced savings for users as well as the opportunity to save many lives.

Company D have raised over £700,00 to date from its experienced non-executive directors and investors who include Sir Peter Davis (former CEO of Sainsbury's Prudential and Reed Elsevier), Martin Beaumont as Chairman (former CEO of the Co-op), Zoe Morgan (former Marketing director of Boots and the Co-op), and Grant Berry (former MD at Lloyds Development Capital).

Company D are looking to raise up £500K to finalise product development.