Oxford Innovation Finance

Introducing Oxford Innovation Finance - the home of OION and the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund. We’re pleased to announce that from April 2022, Oxford Innovation Finance has become the home of OION and the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund. OION has been a part of Oxford Innovation since 1994 and by introducing Oxford Innovation Finance as our new over-arching brand, it will allow us to better reflect the full range of support we provide to early-stage and start-up companies, including that available from our sister companies Oxford Innovation Advice and Oxford Innovation Space. https://lnkd.in/eNZvw_2N #oxfordinnovationfinance #oion #angelinvestment #innovation #entrepreneurs #eis #seis

🇬🇧 Following the delivery of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement later today, Jens Tholstrup, Jemima King and Laura Hankey will be unpicking any significant announcements on individual investment limits and tax thresholds as part of our insightful webinar with Richardsons tomorrow at 1pm. 🎙️ As well as discussing the Spring Statement, they will also break down the key differences between SEIS and EIS and share real-world examples of how tax relief, loss relief and CGT relief are applied to SEIS and EIS investments – helping you to utilise the tax advantages these schemes offer. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to gain answers to your burning questions in a live Q&A session! 🔗 Don’t miss out – secure your spot here: https://lnkd.in/e6p9zAtk #oxfordinnovationfinance #seis #eis #investing #innovation #earlystage

In the third of our ‘Meet the Team’ posts, we introduce Jens Tholstrup. With more than 40 years’ experience in private sector investing, he shares his thoughts on the top 3 reasons why you should consider investing in a SEIS or EIS Fund:   1) Diversification – Investing in early-stage businesses carries inherent risks, but diversification is one of the most effective ways to mitigate them. While evidence shows that early-stage companies have a high failure rate, some go on to achieve significant success, potentially delivering substantial returns on investment. A SEIS or EIS fund offers investors a ‘ready-made’ diversified portfolio, spreading risk across multiple companies. Typically, our funds invest in 8 to 10 businesses, spanning various sectors and stages, enhancing the potential for strong overall returns.   2) Due Diligence – Building a well-diversified portfolio of early-stage investments requires significant time, expertise and effort - resources that many investors simply don’t have. SEIS and EIS funds alleviate this burden by handling the entire process on behalf of investors. Our experienced fund team conducts rigorous selection, technical and legal due diligence, and negotiates investment terms, ensuring that only high-potential companies are included in the portfolio.   3) Support – Early-stage companies often need active guidance as they grow and commercialise their businesses. To support their success, our funds typically appoint a Board Observer to represent investors’ interests and monitor each investee company. The Board Observer helps identify key needs, such as follow-on funding or leadership changes, and collaborates with the fund team to determine the best course of action. Additionally, when an investee company prepares for an exit, such as a trade sale, the fund provides strategic support to maximise investor returns.   If you are interested in investing in the Oxford Innovation Growth Funds which provide access to a diverse selection of high-quality and high-growth early-stage companies from across the UK, our Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and Oxford Innovation SEIS Growth Fund have their next close on 30th April 2025, visit our website where you’ll find all the relevant information: https://lnkd.in/eJxEvSRs CAPITAL AT RISK - Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. #oxfordinnovationfinance #seis #eis #scienceandtechnology #growthinvesting #earlystage #innovation #nextgeneration Richard Cooper Eileen Modral FRSA Christopher Buckland Chris Oliver Steve Piercy Kate Wright Jo Stevens Jane Galsworthy Andrew Finley Oxford Innovation Oxford Innovation Space Oxford Innovation Advice SQW Cazenove Capital PwC Mishcon de Reya LLP Richardsons Moorcrofts LLP Justin Lawson Alex Upton Nicola McConville Jemima King Heather Stewart Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) UK Business Angels Association

Oxford Innovation Finance's EIS Growth Fund and OION Angel Network have invested £350,000 in Study Hall Ltd, an agentic learning platform that provides personalised learning agents for reading, writing and exam preparation https://lnkd.in/e4Wyuu66

Across the UK market, it is compellingly the case that not enough capital flows into female founded businesses compared with male-led businesses. There is clearly a gender gap in terms of venture or early-stage investment. In our latest blog, our Group CEO David Crichton-Miller explores the UK’s gender funding gap and how it might be addressed, looks at the findings of our own data on investment in female-led businesses through Oxford Innovation Finance and considers the reason why Oxford Innovation experiences a better return for all-female founded businesses than the market average. Although only 2.9% of the businesses that pitched with Oxford Innovation were led and founded by women only teams, which is similar to the national pattern of many fewer all-female founded businesses seeking venture funding, these all-female teams were in fact the most successful at raising finance. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e8v2As6J #femaleleaders #womeninbusiness #entrepreneurs #SMEs #angelinvestment #investment #businessfinance #RoseReview #equity #equityinvestment #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay Oxford Innovation Advice Oxford Innovation Space

May I strongly recommend this webinar for anyone thinking about the tax efficiencies of investing in companies that have, because of their early stage and innovative technologies, EIS and SEIS tax reliefs available for investors.

⏳ Only 1 week to go! Have you secured your spot yet? 🎙️ Join us next Thursday, 27 March, at 1pm for an insightful webinar with Richardsons as we break down the key differences between SEIS and EIS – helping you to utilise the tax advantages these schemes offer. 🇬🇧 With the Chancellor’s Spring Statement just around the corner, Jens Tholstrup, Jemima King and Laura Hankey will be unpicking the latest updates and sharing real-world examples of how tax relief, loss relief and CGT relief are applied to SEIS and EIS investments. Plus, they’ll answer your burning questions in a live Q&A session! 🔗 Don't miss out - register now: https://lnkd.in/e6p9zAtk #oxfordinnovationfinance #seis #eis #investing #innovation #earlystage

In the second of our ‘Meet the Team’ posts, we introduce David Crichton-Miller. David has been investing in early-stage businesses for over a decade and shares his thoughts below on what makes a great investment: 1) Market fit – is essentially how convincingly a product, innovation or software addresses a real customer need. Ideally, it is demonstrated by existing commercial sales, but in early-stage businesses, it often requires assessing whether the solution will deliver a clear and compelling benefit. I prioritise cost savings over promises of higher quality, as savings tend to be more tangible and reliably valued by customers, whereas quality improvements are often overestimated by management teams. 2) Leadership – isn’t just about having an experienced or talented management team, it’s about having the right team to execute the business’s mission and tackle its specific challenges. I value leadership teams that are self-aware, recognising their strengths and proactively addressing weaknesses through strategic hires, advisors and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs). Equally important are strong listening skills, as the ability to seek, absorb and act on feedback is crucial for a startup’s success. 3) Valuation story – While every investor wants to buy in at a low price and achieve high returns, what truly matters is a sensible valuation story. The valuation should align with the current funding round, the milestones expected before the next raise and the likelihood of securing future investment - ultimately leading to a successful exit. An inflated early valuation can backfire, making subsequent funding rounds more challenging. Start-up leaders often worry about giving away too much equity, but a strong, committed leadership team doing a great job will always have ample financial incentive. Even institutional investors, despite their reputation, recognise the importance of a highly financially motivated leadership team. If you are interested in investing in the Oxford Innovation Growth Funds which provide access to a diverse selection of high-quality and high-growth early-stage companies from across the UK, our Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and Oxford Innovation SEIS Growth Fund have their next close on 30th April 2025, visit our website where you’ll find all the relevant information: https://lnkd.in/eJxEvSRs CAPITAL AT RISK - Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. #oxfordinnovationfinance #seis #eis #scienceandtechnology #growthinvesting #earlystage #innovation Richard Cooper Jens Tholstrup Eileen Modral FRSA Christopher Buckland Chris Oliver Steve Piercy Kate Wright Jo Stevens Jane Galsworthy Andrew Finley Oxford Innovation Oxford Innovation Space Oxford Innovation Advice SQW Cazenove Capital Mishcon de Reya LLP PwC Richardsons Moorcrofts LLP Justin Lawson Nicola McConville Alex Upton Jemima King Heather Stewart Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) UK Business Angels Association

📣 Oxford Innovation Finance invests in educational platform Study Hall Ltd, an agentic learning platform that provides personalised learning agents for reading, writing and exam preparation.   📚 Study Hall’s comprehensive platform integrates reading, writing and assessment solutions to provide students with a high-quality, engaging and effective education. By equipping learners with essential knowledge and skills, it empowers them to succeed academically and confidently navigate the evolving landscape of AI, preparing them for future opportunities. 👀 Read the full PR here: https://bit.ly/3R7vQe5 Oxford Innovation Finance provides all-important access to finance for early-stage science and technology businesses and supports them on their growth journey. If you are interested in investing in the Oxford Innovation Growth Funds which provide access to a diverse selection of high-quality and high-growth early-stage companies from across the UK, our Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and Oxford Innovation SEIS Growth Fund have their next close on 30th April 2025, visit our website where you’ll find all the relevant information: https://lnkd.in/eJxEvSRs CAPITAL AT RISK - Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. #oxfordinnovationfinance #eis #seis #oion #angelinvesting #earlystage #technology #education #AI #edtech

⌽ Oxford Innovation Finance presents its latest selection of innovative early-stage companies at the upcoming OION Showcase event on 12 March 2025. 💡 The online event will see 8 next generation science and technology companies pitch their innovative solutions to an audience of specialist Angel Investors from across the UK. Oxford Innovation Finance is the home of OION, one of the oldest and largest angel investment networks in the UK 🇬🇧 💰 If you’re a company seeking investment and interested in pitching at the next OION Showcase event, register here: https://lnkd.in/eYnYVepW 👼 If you’re an investor interested in accessing the innovation ecosystem of Oxford Innovation Finance through its angel network, register here: https://lnkd.in/ep8s6kk2 If you are interested in investing in the Oxford Innovation Growth Funds which provide access to a diverse selection of high-quality and high-growth early-stage companies from across the UK, our Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and Oxford Innovation SEIS Growth Fund have their next close on 30th April 2025, visit our website where you’ll find all the relevant information: https://lnkd.in/eJxEvSRs CAPITAL AT RISK - Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. #oxfordinnovationfinance #oion #innovation #nextgeneration #scienceandtechnology #angelinvesting Bioataraxis Ltd Bumblebee Power Digostics New Path Molecular Research NUUV SmartResilience Horao Group Richard Cooper Jens Tholstrup Eileen Modral FRSA Christopher Buckland Chris Oliver Steve Piercy David Crichton-Miller Kate Wright Jane Galsworthy Jo Stevens Oxford Innovation Oxford Innovation Space Oxford Innovation Advice Justin Lawson Nicola McConville Alex Upton Jemima King Heather Stewart Cazenove Capital Mishcon de Reya LLP PwC Richardsons Moorcrofts LLP