Fancy yourself as a bit of a Investment Angel? Ex Dragon Doug Richard goes on the hunt

by Startacus Admin

Enterprise champion Doug Richard is on the hunt for 10,000 new angel investors and investment ready businesses. 

The School for Startups founder will lead a tour of the country to show thousands of people that they can play a part in the resurgence of British business.

Doug’s quest to widen the pool of British investors will see him host nine half-day events this October and November in a “Windows of Opportunity” roadshow that will demonstrate that anyone, from pensioners and life-long savers to young professionals, can become an angel investor.

Doug, who with School for Startups has established himself as a champion for small business, wants to convince people who have never considered enterprise investment before to give it a go, by taking advantage of the government’s Seed Enterprise Investment (SEIS) scheme, which offers tax relief for investments in young start-ups.

There is no minimum investment with SEIS, which provides investors with the chance to invest in the next generation of young British companies - it offers a unique chance for people to do something exciting and extraordinary with their money, rather than see it do nothing in a low-interest savings account.

The “Windows of Opportunity” roadshow seeks to draw public attention to the SEIS and other financing options for start-up businesses. School for Startups has been commissioned by Growth Accelerator, a new partnership between government and private enterprise to boost high-growth business, to deliver the roadshow along with a web portal to raise awareness of the different options for investing in small businesses.

The events, which will feature high-profile business and investment figures including business angel Dale Murray, Seedrs CEO Jeff Lynn, and Market Invoice CEO Anil Stocker, will reach an audience of up to 9,000 and seek to demystify the funding options available to both small business owners and would-be investors. The roadshow is being sponsored by Seedrs, Market Invoice, Funding Circle, Ratesetter and Platform Black.

In addition to the roadshow, Doug Richard and School for Startups will deliver a web portal to raise awareness of the SEIS, and offer background and information on 21st Century forms of finance via an accessible, interactive platform.

The SEIS is the most radical tax incentive proposed by a British government, and lowers the risk of investing in young start-up companies. For qualifying equity investments up to £100,000, government will provide tax relief covering up to 50% of the investor’s outlay. It also offers capital gains tax exemption on any gains that should arise from disposal of the shares.

The roadshows are being held at the following venues:

Nottingham Playhouse: 11th October
Sheffield City Hall: 12th October
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds: 16th October
Theatre Royal, Newcastle: 17th October
Plymouth Pavilion: 24th October
Colston Hall, Bristol: 25th October
The Lowry Theatre, Manchester: 26th October
Coronet Theatre, London: 14th November
Guildhall, Portsmouth: 27th November

For more information about the “Windows of Opportunity” roadshow, visit www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/woo

Startacus wishes Doug all the best on the “Windows of Opportunity” roadshow, and fingers crossed that the tour creates some decent opportunities for both start-ups and investors alike...

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Published on: 5th October 2012