The deals that the Secret Investor sees tell us a lot about where entrepreneurship is heading.

Dealmaking appetite in Europe has seen a swift turnaround following the shock of last year’s Brexit vote, according to the fifth edition of the European M&A Outlook, published by CMS in association with Mergermarket.

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While you were away, summer came and summer went, and the story of constant progress of the European tech investment market continues.

The Headline Transactions Index (HTI) continues to plough on, and similarly the Scaleup Index (focused on €5-100m financings) is progressing too. Year-to-date the overall market nearly doubled in number of transactions, and increased by more than 50% in value. Within that, the market for mega rounds (≥€100m) exploded (doubled in size and value – and pulling the whole of the market with it), and activity at the early-stage continued unabated. Comparatively, the Scaleup segment progressed less, with a 50% increase in number, but only a 33% progression by value.

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Gannons Corporate Partner, Helen Curtis, offers some advice to angel investors on managing their relationship with founders. 

Angels invest in people. Studies show that one of the top reasons for angel investment is the belief that the founder or founding team can grow the company. But life gets in the way and the founder may want to move on or may be forced by circumstances to leave the start up before you have realised your investment. What happens to the start up when the founder is no longer in the game?  

PEER-TO-PEER allows investors to put their money into all sorts of different loans, from those to individuals looking to buy a new car or kitchen to businesses looking to fund their expansion plans. There are now a host of platforms offering investors the chance to invest in property, but the way they work – and the returns they promise – can vary significantly. So which peer-to-peer platforms should you consider if you want to invest in property?

Shoosmiths corporate partner Steve Barnett, assisted by solicitor Rebecca Chafer, advised rapidly-growing men’s online grooming business Cornerstone on its £3.5m investment, led by Calculus Capital.

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has responded to HM Treasury’s consultation Financing Growth in Innovative Firms.  In its response, the AIC demonstrates how VCTs are an ideal means to raise much needed capital from retail investors to help smaller businesses grow.  The AIC has also proposed measures to ensure VCT and EIS investment is focussed even more closely on young, innovative businesses.  Key amongst these are a restriction on allowing VCT and EIS money to be used to purchase property.

Capital Cell, the first pan-European equity crowdfunding platform dedicated to life sciences, has announced the launch of its first active UK campaign. The platform is raising seed finance for companies across biotechnology and healthcare, with products varying from cancer therapeutics to fertility monitoring devices.

Startup Funding Club (SFC) has announced the launch of the Startup Funding Club Angel Fund. This latest edition of SFC’s SEIS/EIS Fund will allow qualified investors to get exposure to the very best of Startup Funding Club’s dealflow.

Green Angel Syndicate has completed a funding round for the syndicate with thirteen of its most enthusiastic members investing in equity in the syndicate itself.  This investment is intended to support the marketing of the syndicate to the wider population of angels and potential angels, whose concerns for resource use and environmental challenges might find resonance in Green Angel Syndicate.

BGF has agreed to successfully exit its minority stake in aircraft seat manufacturer, Acro Aircraft Seating. The company will, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including regulatory approval, be acquired by Zhejiang Science and Technology Investment Company (ZTC) for £55m. 

Maven Capital Partners has completed a £1m investment in hedgehog lab Limited, a mobile app designer and technology consultancy headquartered in Newcastle.