Oxford Investment Opportunity Network

The following eight companies are seeking investment via the Network as a result of the OION investment meeting at Venturefest, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell. 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.

We all drive around on under inflated tyres and the increased rolling resistance wastes fuel generates unnecessary CO2, wears tyres and causes accidents.
Company A’s tyre pressure sensor is bolted to the road surface and looks like a thin “Sleeping Policeman”. As a vehicle drives over the data is acquired. There is no equipment on the vehicle so every vehicle can be checked.
The initial market is the commercial vehicle fleet operator for whom this technology can save up to £1,000 per year per vehicle in fuel and tyres alone. The information is sent wirelessly to the customer. 12 months away from launch Company A is seeking £700k (in 2 stages) in this final funding round before revenue.

Company B has developed Web 2.0 server side software applications that allow for build and distribution of IPTV, Broadband TV and Mobile TV through a web browser. The platform enables the professional community to self publish video synchronised with other media in their very own channel. The first two of these products are ready to market.

The corporate multimedia market was worth “€472m in 2004 increasing to €5.35bn by 2008” (Multimedia Research Group). The development plan is based on entry into seven growth areas in this market. The company has secured distribution contracts with Real Networks among other leading software distributors. Company B is seeking £1 Million pounds investment, £350k committed.

Company C is developing software to personalize search using patentable Fuzzy Mathematics technology spun out from De Montfort University. The product transforms the relevance of search results to individual users. It interfaces with Google and other major search engines and can be used to enhance Internet, Intranet or Extranet search, as well as searches in large datasets in the legal and medical markets. A pilot implementation is already under way with a major city council. Following seed investment by the Lachesis fund, the company is looking for further investment of £200k to build its sales and delivery capability.

Company D has developed a new product – a rapid, easy-to-use, point-of-care test for smoking. It detects nicotine breakdown products in urine by a colour change. Possible market opportunities are life insurance, medical research, smoking cessation clinics and smoking-related diseases including surgery and pregnancy. The manufacturing is well established, and the product has already been evaluated by independent clinical trials. The product is already generating significant sales from several countries, and the patented technology is currently being developed for a range of tests, including one for TB. The experienced management team seeks £350,000 to build sales and improve marketing. It is offering 25% of the company.

Company E produces revolutionary molecular diagnostics for life-threatening fungal diseases. The market need is urgent, current techniques are universally acknowledged as inadequate. First revenues in 2007 post CE Marking in September. (FDA approval Spring 2008)

The world market for the first test alone is $100m+. Several other tests with market opportunities of $25M to >$2Bn are in development. Company E was founded by Professor David Denning, a clinical world authority on fungal diseases, supported by a n experienced commercial team. Amphion Innovations invested 1st round funding of £1m in 2006 and Company E is now seeking £2.5m, a significant part of which has already been committed.

Company G approach is an extension of an established method of allergy therapy with a long track record of clinical safety. Unlike any other treatment currently available for RA or MS it tackles the root cause of the disease. Therefore it offers the prospect of a therapy which does not compromise the operation of the immune system and which could release patients from a lifetime of drug-dependence. Pre-clinical results, in the industry standard model for RA, have been very encouraging.

The company has assembled a strong management team, chaired by Prof. Russell Smith. We are seeking £600K for further pre-clinical development in RA and MS over the next twelve months, leading to a fast track entry to human trials.

Company H has commercialized a unique, robust, battery-powered tracking device for road and rail trailer, plant and machinery and container markets. The USP of the product is in the power management system giving long-life usage, typically 3 years+ on four positions per day. The product provides not only location monitoring using GPS and GSM, but also condition monitoring, including temperature, humidity, shock and inventory (“which boxes are in my container?”) using RFID. It answers most if not all of a shipper’s questions during transit.

Company H is already generating revenue from blue-chip clients, including BT and Balfour Beatty, and is close to entering the container market following a long trial with one of world’s largest container/reefer companies where the market opportunity is huge. Revenue this year is estimated at £500k.

Company H is now seeking new investment to develop its sales and marketing and to continue product development, £600k in first stage. Exit would be through a trade sale.