Summit launched to showcase funding opportunities

A new summit will highlight funding opportunities, encourage key debate on the investment landscape and showcase companies looking to raise capital in the South West.
 
Delivered by Tech South West in partnership with the SW of England Access to Finance Platform on Wednesday 20 March, the SW Investment Summit will bring together over a hundred delegates at Winslade Park, Exeter.
 
Investment funds, angel investors, data providers, support organisations and company leaders will gather to discuss the investment landscape, including opportunities and challenges. Investment managers from Qantx, Mercia, The FSE Group, Deepbridge Capital and Maven are amongst SW-focused funds attending. Representatives from British Business Bank, Bristol Angel Investors, MAINSTREAM Investor Group and Dorset Angels are also taking part.
 
Ben Cooper, Tech South West’s Funding and Finance Director, said: “The summit will give business leaders access to up-to-date insight and expertise around navigating the funding landscape in 2024.
 
“Securing access to the right type of funds remains a key obstacle to the growth of innovative companies in the region. By bringing together funding and investment experts with founders and business leaders, the event aims to address this issue and forge fruitful dialogue across the sector.”
 
Ahmed Goga, Director of the Great South West regional partnership, will deliver a keynote at the summit, which is also partnering with the Angel Investor Programme running across the Great South West region.
 
Mr Goga said: "The Great South West is critical to driving growth in the UK economy: from achieving our legal commitments to net zero targets, to increasing food and energy security for our country, and providing the defence spine for our nation, the South West matters. This rich asset base of national importance opens up an array of investment opportunities in the Government's priority areas.
 
"It's now vital that we demonstrate our strengths in marine, energy, agriculture, photonics, technology, aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing, that, combined with world-class research facilities and institutions, show how well equipped we are to deliver real growth opportunities for investors and the economy.”
 
Investor panels, roundtable discussions, and a showcase of firms actively raising capital will feature at the summit. Topics include becoming an angel investor, EIS/SEIS, how to impress investors, and a Q&A with fund managers from the likes of Deepbridge Capital, The FSE Group, Mercia and Maven.
 
An Angel Investor Panel will focus on what investors look for in companies and common traps for founders to avoid. There will also be an update on the Angel Investor Programme being run with support from a range of local authorities in the region, helping to identify and train new angel investors and set up new angel groups in the South West.
 
Companies looking to raise will have the chance to take part in a showcase session.
 
The summit runs from 12-4.30pm on Wednesday 20 March, and includes networking and lunch alongside panels, speakers and showcase sessions. Tickets are available at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/techsouthwest/1112813