In February 2020 Henley Business Angels hit the landmark of over £1 million invested by its members and guests.

Since first being established in October 2016, Henley Business Angels has received applications from 179 companies, of which 64 have presented to members over 13 investment rounds. A total of 19 companies have received investment from HBA members and guests, with 10 of those companies resubmitting for more than one round, towards a total of £1.1m.

The exit plan needs to be part of the decision whether to invest. That’s the advice for business angels looking to invest in start-up and early stage businesses.  New research identifies that the average return of a pro-active exit is more than twice as high as those achieved by exits that occur opportunistically.

In one of the first academic studies to ask ‘how do exits happen?’ researchers from University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School, University of East Anglia and University of Edinburgh Management School, highlight best practice that can be adopted by the business angel community.

Process Vision, a leading business in preventing pipeline contamination and pipeline failures in the oil and gas industries, has received investment from three members of the Henley Business Angels (HBA), contributing towards a total funding round of £383k.

Leading marine and automotive insurtech Concirrus has announced that it has closed a $20 million Series B funding round led by AlbionVC.  The funding also includes participation from current investors IQ Capital, EOS Venture Partners and several angel investors.  The company has developed a behavioural-based underwriting platform called Quest which delivers portfolio management and predictive analytics using the latest advancements in big data aggregation, AI and machine learning. Adoption of the platform is changing the future of risk selection, pricing and claims throughout the value chain.

Online sales are driving rapid growth at a Bristol-based father and son beachwear business.  Tom & Teddy, a beachwear range offering matching attire for fathers and sons, was the brainchild of husband and wife team Jelle de Jong and Michelle L’Huillier. 

The Angel CoFund (ACF) has made two appointments to the team and board. Experienced investor and former Chairman of the Angel CoFund, George Whitehead has moved into the position of Partner. Alliott Cole, the current CEO of Octopus Ventures, will also be joining the fund as Non-Exec Director. 

Angel CoFund backed LivingLens, the video feedback platform, to humanize feedback and bring the voice of the customer and employee to life, has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Medallia.

Equity Gap, the Edinburgh based business angel syndicate, reports its 2019 performance, which saw the firm deliver 23 funding rounds, add 5 new companies to its portfolio and win the UK Business Angel Association’s ‘Most active investor in the regions’ award.

Equity Gap invested £3.6m last year, taking the total portfolio value since it was founded in 2010 to £16.2m. Factoring in the involvement of partners and other stakeholders, this activity leveraged a record total investment into the portfolio of £21.5m for the year.

Newport-based early years education technology specialists Kinderly has secured a £300,000 investment to help give children a great start in life, regardless of their circumstances or need.

Direct to Consumer brand Wild Cosmetics has raised £500K of seed capital from Angel investors to disrupt sustainability in the bathroom with the imminent launch of their natural, refill deodorants. 

HBAN (Halo Business Angel Network), the all-island organisation responsible for the promotion of business angel investment, and an initiative of Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland, today announces that business angels invested €16.8 million in 66 Irish start-ups in 2019.

Angel Investment Network (AIN), the UK’s largest online angel investment platform, has revealed its latest ‘State of the Angel Investment Nation’ findings. It is based on the data of more than 100,000 UK registered businesses looking for funding and 30,000 investors.