James Faulds

Following the success of the CGF Leeds Roadshow, our Managing Partner Beverley Gower-Jones OBE FEI was interviewed by Michael Crossland of the Yorkshire Post - see the article published this week below. In the interview Beverley says, “As we look to the future, the urgency to reach net-zero emissions is a defining challenge. #Leeds and #Yorkshire are uniquely positioned to take the lead in the green transition, with local strengths in energy, technology, and sustainable #manufacturing. “#Greenjobs is not only an environmental imperative but also an economic opportunity, creating thousands of roles across multiple sectors. “This city and region are attracting the kind of talent and entrepreneurial drive that are key to achieving a resilient, green economy.” Read the full article below 👇 #venturecapital #techinnovation #startups #investors #lowcarbon #netzero

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💰 Innovate UK is offering up to £25 million in loans for SMEs with innovative late-stage R&D projects! If your project has strong commercial potential and a clear route to economic impact, this could be your chance to secure funding. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gZw7U4wR #Innovation #SMEFunding #Funding #InnovationLoans

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Check out the latest funding, investments, deals, and acquisitions news from across the Scottish tech sector 👇 #Tech | #News | #Funding | #Acquisitions

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STAC has established an investment fund and partnered with The National Robotarium to support Scotland's next generation of “smart things” entrepreneurs.   The launch of the STAC Invest Syndicate - a platform to connect investors with ambitious, high-growth potential tech companies to realise market opportunities in robotics, drones, mobile devices, edge computing, advanced materials, and artificial intelligence (AI) - will make investments of around £150,000 each into a select number of STAC’s 5th cohort of companies. STAC 5 commences in early December, with applications for entry to the latest cohort of 15 companies open on 14th October.   STAC CEO Paul Wilson said: “The investment fund is a significant step forward in our mission to develop scaled, internationally competitive startups. When you look at the best accelerators around the globe - names such as Y Combinator, Techstars, Plug and Play - they recognise that investment is a key component of tech scaling, and that combining mentorship with investment leads to improved investor returns.” “We are thrilled with the response of the investor community to get involved in STAC Invest Syndicate. With our international best practice mentorship programme and fully equipped co-working space we will fuel and equip our startups to create market-leading technology businesses.”   The partnership between STAC and the National Robotarium, the UK’s centre for robotics and AI and part of the Data-Driven Innovation Initiative and Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal, will combine resources to offer robot and autonomous systems startups enhanced acceleration support across Scotland, and within the co-working spaces at STAC’s thebeyond Glasgow facility and the National Robotarium’s facility in Edinburgh. Paul Wilson said: “The National Robotarium will bring expert robotic engineering support to further boost STAC’s capabilities in smart and connected products. The partnership made perfect sense, and at the core is our shared mission to position Scotland as a centre of excellence in smart things, IoT technologies, and robotics.”   Stewart Miller, CEO at the National Robotarium, said: “Our partnership with STAC represents a significant step forward in positioning Scotland as a centre of excellence in smart things, IoT technologies, and robotics. The robotics revolution is upon us, with the global market expected to reach $283 billion by 2032 and, by combining our expertise in robotics and AI with STAC's capabilities in smart and connected products, we're creating a powerful ecosystem for innovation." “This collaboration will not only drive economic growth but also address critical challenges in sectors like healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. Together, we're ensuring that Scotland, and indeed the UK, becomes an active producer in the global robotics revolution, rather than just a passive bystander.”

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The UK real estate market presents a wealth of opportunities for those looking to invest and grow their business. Investing in real estate not only enhances your portfolio but also positions your company for long-term success. At RXCO, we provide valuable insights and resources to help you navigate this evolving landscape. Explore our pages to discover expert advice, growth analysis, and investment strategies tailored for your #business. Visit RXCO today and start maximizing your potential! #RealEstateUK #BusinessGrowth #RXCO #MarketInsights #PropertyInvestment #UKProperty #RealEstateInvesting #Web3 #decentralizedfinance #Fintech

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Private Capital plays a crucial part in our economy. Michael Moore, CEO of the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) discusses below how pivotal it is. ⬇️ #funds #economy #infrastructure

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Nearly £335 million ($423m) of VC cash was invested in businesses across East Anglia in Q1 2024, according to the latest KPMG Private Enterprise Venture Pulse report. It reports 24 deals completed across Cambridge, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk according to data compiled by PitchBook. https://lnkd.in/ejD6tSTN The largest raise came from Cambridge-based drug discovery company Apollo Therapeutics ($260m), which was ranked one of the top 10 largest financings in Europe during the quarter. Other stand out deals included Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd ($40m), £25.2m for Mission Therapeutics and a £6.7m raise for Tagomics, the first company to occupy the new Illumina Ventures’ Labs space in Cambridge. Five companies saw seed stage funding, including Colchester-based games developer Cathedral Studios ($6.66m) and Norwich-based digital health startup Evaro(€1.4m). Joe Faulkner, Senior Partner for KPMG UK’s two offices in East Anglia said: “These are strong figures to start the new financial year and a real fillip for the region when compared to the rest of the UK where VC investment has been subdued. “Over the last 18 months, the macroeconomic environment has changed dramatically with political uncertainty and the cost of borrowing both rising. Despite the global economic challenges, the diversity of fast growth businesses in East Anglia continues to appeal to investors across the globe who are looking for well managed businesses with sustainability and a robust path to growth. “It’s likely that venture capital investment will remain stable at the very least in the face of challenges such as geopolitical complexities, and our regional businesses deserve a strong round of applause for showcasing that the East of England is ripe and attractive when it comes to investment. “As the economy remains challenging, continuing to support fast growth businesses is important to our regional economic recovery and growth, and key to attracting and developing talent across our region.” Salvatore Di Maggio LLM, Emerging Giants and Founders at Cambridge lead for KPMG added:“ VC backers, including corporate investors, are really tightening their purse strings, –particularly at the later deal stages. “The only real exceptions we’re seeing right now are companies focused on AI or CleanTech which may soon extend to include cybersecurity as corporates look to manage their AI-driven cyber risk. “Investors are currently hesitant to commit larger funds as they may need to maintain their stakes for extended periods or further rounds. This trend, which we anticipate will persist, suggests a strategic pivot within venture capital towards value and longevity over rapid scaling. We expect this focus on less cash burn at growth to continue.” 

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Exciting changes for Scottish businesses! The Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Act 2023, effective end of 2024, introduces the Statutory Pledge, modernising how businesses use moveable assets like machinery or IP as collateral. This new framework will simplify securing finance, eliminate the need for physical asset transfer and reduce administrative burdens with electronic registration. By aligning Scottish law more closely with England law, the Act aims to enhance access to financing and support both large and small businesses. Read more in Michael Cox and Cameron Knaggs’ latest article: https://lnkd.in/eFKwa7sd #Corporate #STEMSector

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Don’t Miss Out! 🏘️ The Yorkshire Real Estate Investment Summit is happening TOMORROW! This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, explore new opportunities, and gain insights into the future of real estate in Yorkshire https://lnkd.in/ebBGnGFj #InvestmentSummit #PropertyInvestment #InsiderInvestment

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📢 Equity Funders Survey Results 📢 We surveyed investors from 20 of the UK's top equity funding firms. Through this survey, we identified the major challenges that equity investors faced over the last 12 months, what key strategies they are employing this year and what criteria they highly value in potential investment opportunities. Additionally, we also gained some insight into the challenges and opportunities these investors believe are facing their portfolio companies. https://lnkd.in/eXqhJmST

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🚨 The wait is over! Our latest episode with Adam Lawrence breaking down the 2024 budget is out NOW! 🏡 💼 From tax changes to rental market impacts, we’re diving into everything property investors need to know about the budget’s impact on the Scottish market. Whether you’re buying, renting, or investing, this episode is packed with insights. Tune in now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms! 🎧 #scottishpropertypodcast #budget2024 #propertyinvestment #realestate #scottishhousing #taxchanges #propertymarket #investmenttips #rentalmarket #newpodcastepisode

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🤝 Meet the Funder 🤝 🔹 Is Debt or Equity the best choice for my business? 🔹 How do I fund growth? 🔹 What is debt funding? If you need answers to these questions, book a slot with one of our investment experts today. We are one of the UK's most active investors, passionate about powering growth, and have 7️⃣ new hosts available and ready to take your booking ⏬ #MeetTheFunder #Investment #Debt #Equity #Scale #QuestionTime

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Turning challenges into opportunities... The recent UK Budget may bring cost pressures, but it also opens doors. With increased government funding in key sectors, there are new paths for growth that savvy business owners are already pursuing. Now is the time to: ✅ Build a resilient financial forecast to adapt and thrive ✅ Leverage asset disposal relief changes to add value to your business ✅ Capture growth in booming sectors like tech and green energy Want to be a winner? Get in touch to see how we can help you unlock new potential and make the most of these opportunities! 📞 01793 239 542 💻 [email protected] #FinanceStrategy #BusinessOwner #UKEconomy #GrowthMindset #collabandsucceed

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Scotland now counts 9,000 employees across venture capital (VC) backed businesses, and last year 7% of all companies that received VC funding were based in Scotland, according to a new report from the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA). Click here for more ⬇️ #tech #news #VCfunding

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Hargreaves Lansdown has partnered with the Calculus Capital VCT to launch it's new VCT online investment service. Greater accessibility to VCTs benefits both UK entrepreneurs and investors looking to navigate a post budget tax landscape. Calculus Capital is excited to be 1 of 3 VCT managers participating in the launch. https://lnkd.in/e4UxsXg7

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Our latest episode with Mark Shanta is live! 🎉 Dive into the September market update episode, where we break down the latest in mortgage rates, house prices, and rental trends across Scotland. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just curious about the market, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Tune in now! 🎧 #scottishpropertypodcast #marketupdate #propertyinvestment #scottishhousing #markshanta #newepisode #podcastoutnow #scottishproperty

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Join us at the #ScaleUp Britain Roadshow in the North West on Tuesday, 10 September 2024.   Home to two of the UK’s biggest and most culturally influential cities - Manchester and Liverpool - the wider North West region accounts for over 10% of the UK’s GDP (UK government 2022 data).   Boasting a rich heritage in textiles, shipping and sport, the North West continues to be a natural home for innovation and some of the United Kingdom’s fastest growing scaleups.   From Liverpool’s port, which remains a pivotal international maritime hub, to the region’s globally renowned football clubs, innovation and business continues to thrive - pumping millions into the local economy every year. The region’s history with textiles has also fuelled some of the fastest growing scaleups - propelling apparel companies like Pretty Little Thing, Flannels and boohoo.com into household names in a few years.   Supported by globally leading universities, devolution settlements and Levelling Up initiatives, the North West really is a brilliant place to grow and scale your business. And here at the London Stock Exchange we are here to support you.   Register today to discuss more with our team Bod Buckby, Marcus Stuttard, Florence K. and Luke Robert Black: https://lseg.group/4ea8AG7   #ScaleUpBritain #ScaleUp #StartUp #RaisingPrivateCapital #PrivateMarkets #ScaleUpInstitute

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