Paul is currently Chairman of Fredericks Foundation a charity he founded in 2001 and is currently a lender of last resort for people needing microfinance to establish their business.  

In support of our Hero of the Month's charitable endeavours, this month we encourage people wanting to donate to a good cause to consider The Fredericks Foundation. 

The peak season for investment is now upon us, as we run up to the end of the tax year.  Time will be of the essence in 2018 as Easter Sunday falls on 1st April so it is likely that you may be on holiday in the week the tax year ends.  

Whilst word of mouth is a common source of deal flow you never know what you might find from these high-quality angel groups.

The recent Autumn Budget has confirmed that, once pensions and ISAs have been fully used, EIS and Seed EIS are now very much the third pillar of tax planning, writes Andrew Aldridge from Deepbridge Capital.

Dr. Brian Moretta, Head of Tax Enhanced Services at Hardman & Co outlines why investors in start-ups should be cautious about Brexit

While the UK venture capital industry is digesting the response to the Patient Capital Review, the budget this year was firmly aimed at Brexit. Others will comment on whether it hit the mark, but Brexit should be the hot topic for startup investors. One year ago I highlighted at an industry forum how noone was talking about it. This is still largely true, but now the areas of risk are becoming clearer. These are the largest ones that investors need to consider:

Seneca’s Business Development Director, Ian Battersby gives his view on the EIS market in the run up to tax year end, the potential impact of changes announced in the Budget and the proposals outlined in the much awaited Patient Capital Review.

Governments wanting to build their own “Silicon Valley” may end up harming their homegrown VC industry, says Dr Arthur Krebbers.

Ian Martin, Editor of Reaction, comments on the rise of rough sleepers in Britains major cities

Anyone with their eyes open who works in or visits one of Britain’s largest cities will have noticed the rise in rough sleeping in recent years. Near the National Portrait Gallery, in the heart of the capital’s theatre land, and on busy Tottenham Court Road, or in the centre of Manchester, or in numerous other cities, it is ever more apparent. 

https://reaction.life/rough-sleeping-scandal-shames-britain-dooms-tories/

Now that equity crowdfunding is firmly established in the funding ecosystem the EIS statistics are getting more interesting to analyse – especially the table on the amounts investors are allocating to the scheme each year. 

Henry Morgan procured his seed capital in a manner decidedly more unusual than most.

On 17th November the BBC will once again be holding its Children in Need fundraiser.  You can donate at https://mydonatetelethonsappeals.bt.com/donate/cin2017/.