Sussex Innovation has partnered with Laurence Grant to launch a new investment initiative designed to bring the South East’s most innovative start-ups and high net worth individuals together to accelerate the growth of high potential businesses.
Suss Ventures will be managed by the Director Match founder, and is initially based out of Sussex Innovation’s East Croydon hub. Laurence, who joins the Sussex Innovation team as Head of Investment Projects, previously founded the Shaking Hands networking group and is also a Growth Champion for the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership.
“Since joining Sussex Innovation earlier this year, I have been very aware of the many companies in our ecosystem who are seeking investment for the next stage of their growth,” says Nigel Lambe, Chief Executive of Sussex Innovation, “We’re looking forward to exploring this new project with Laurence, who is very well connected with the Croydon business community and presented us with a compelling vision for Suss Ventures, matching our own ambitions.
“By finding the right investors for the right opportunity, many of our members have been able to successfully raise the finance to grow in the past. With this new initiative, we hope to create a more formalised way of doing what we’ve always done, matching more of these opportunities to private and professional investors throughout the region.”
Suss Ventures is intended to go beyond brokering investment deals, and will leverage the experience of Sussex Innovation’s in-house consultancy team to offer a complete investor readiness package to selected start-ups. In addition to seed, angel and VC investment, they will also help companies to explore alternative methods of raising capital such as grant funding and loans.
The network will be brought together for the first time in an informal launch event at Sussex Innovation Croydon later this autumn. Plans also include a series of themed pitching events, commencing in early 2020.
“I’m very proud that Sussex Innovation has brought me on board to help launch Croydon’s first dedicated service for raising finance and investment,” said Laurence Grant. “There is clearly a huge appetite for this initiative – just by posting on LinkedIn about my new role, I’ve heard from more than 200 entrepreneurs and 25 investors in less than a week! I’ve already met for coffee with many of them, and look forward to finding out about all of the great ideas brewing in our region.”
Want to find out more?
If you are an innovator seeking finance to grow, or a private or professional investor looking for new investment opportunities in the South East, contact Sussex Innovation to arrange an exploratory meeting. The Sussex Innovation network comprises an active portfolio of more than 200 innovative technologies, products and services in a wide variety of sectors. Email
laurence.grant@sinc.co.uk
Image: Nigel Lambe and Laurence Grant
