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Funding For British Innovators

The British Design Fund (the “Fund”) is an early stage investment fund that specifically invests in, and provides support for, early stage UK product design and manufacturing companies. ​The Fund seeks to work with extraordinary entrepreneurs, with scalable products, who are ready to accelerate growth into the retail space and build long term value and thriving stand-out businesses. The British Design Fund is driven by a team with strong retail product and investment experience. The Fund’s partnership with ​Sapphire Capital Partners LLP and ​Twenty20 Mentoring Limited gives it unique access to valuable sector specific expertise in order to successfully research, identify, invest in and accelerate early stage UK based companies in the product design and manufacturing sector.

They are looking for product companies, that with funding and support, have the potential to be huge hits. Each company will present significant global brand expansion opportunities, and be able to validate the demand for their product in the market before substantial funding is committed. The fund looks to invest in companies that have protection from competition and new entrants in the form of registered IP, and are eligible for SEIS or EIS advance assurance.

Twenty20 Mentoring’s product expertise and networks within retail, product design and manufacturing will be leveraged to the advantage of each company invested in, to drive growth potential. Investee Companies will receive support on:

  • Market entry
  • Sales strategy and execution
  • Product legals, IP and due diligence
  • Manufacturing, product development and margin control
  • Brand development
  • Cashflow and stock control
  • Financing growth through structured-debt

If you would like to apply to The British Design Fund then email enquiries@britishdesignfund.co.uk, but first take a moment to read the below criteria which highlights what they are looking for in the great businesses they look to work with:

  • A defined pragmatic business model and proof of concept
  • Revenue flow and/or a qualified sales pipeline and supplier partnerships
  • Cash flow positive or a clear path to achieve such
  • Company-wide market competence
  • Product or service with clear sustainable competitive difference and value to market demand
  • Ability to secure anchor customers and business partners
  • Defined commercialisation; use of capital, named customer sales plan, structured client support, clearly targeted social marketing and sales channels
  • Be required to validate the demand for their product before substantial funding is committed
  • Have protection from competition and new entrants in the form of registered IP, designs or an established brand
  • Have a clear and realistic roadmap for hitting identified milestones

With thanks to British Design Fund; this information has been extracted from: http://www.britishdesignfund.co.uk/

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