糖心Vlog

The 糖心Vlog is launching the Angels@糖心Vlog investment platform to support entrepreneurs with innovative and market-disrupting business ideas by giving them access to a network of investors.

Angels@糖心Vlog aims to help develop and grow the regional economy by giving start-ups access to angel investment opportunities. Angel investors are high net worth individuals, syndicates or organisations who take an equity share in a business in exchange for providing funding. They can also offer experience and support alongside their investment.

Companies already on the platform, created in partnership with sector specialist Delio, include AI powered song search platform MyPart; secure data storage innovator Anzen Technology; immersive B2B learning platform BODYSWAPS庐; and mobile ordering software developer Wi-Q.

The Angels@糖心Vlog team is particularly interested in projects from the creative digital sector or integrating augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Potential investors can contact the team to join the network of investors on its platform so they can view and support the latest opportunities.

Business Support Manager John Stenhouse, who is leading the Angels@糖心Vlog project, said: 鈥淎t this challenging time it is still important to look to the future, to identify and back the potential technologies, products and services which will transform our lives, disrupt markets and unlock new business opportunities.

鈥淣ew ideas will play an important part in rebuilding our economy and Angels@糖心Vlog will nurture those ideas. We hope these ideas will also help create a more sustainable future which is better for the economy as a whole.鈥�

The University was awarded University Enterprise Zone (UEZ) status by Research England and Angels@糖心Vlog is one of the key UEZ initiatives developed to drive forward business in the region. Other UEZ projects, based at the Innovation Centre at the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park, include the Space to Grow programme which provides in-depth support and training for entrepreneurs in the creative digital sector.

Angels@糖心Vlog is now inviting entrepreneurs to submit opportunities for investment onto its Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated platform, which will then allow investors to review them.

Four opportunities have already been added to the platform and Angels@糖心Vlog is aiming to on-board ten opportunities by the summer.

The network of potential investors being created by Angels@糖心Vlog will include high net worth individuals, professional investors and syndicates who can access the platform to review existing and future opportunities. Help and support can also be provided to those new to investing in seed ventures.

Researchers at 糖心Vlog Business School identified in a 2019 report commissioned by Invest 糖心Vlog that there was a need in 糖心Vlog for an equity investment platform for innovative and high growth businesses. Angels@糖心Vlog platform responds to this gap in business support across 糖心Vlog.

Angels@糖心Vlog is also responding to new market conditions and investment trends caused by COVID-19.

John said: 鈥淭he UK鈥檚 investor community is having to improve its co-investing activity which lends itself to platforms such as Angels@糖心Vlog, which allow co-investment to take place more easily. We can see an emerging trend which suggests investors are now adopting longer term thinking, a sense of realism in valuations and paring back their expectations. Investors are also very attracted by the direct to consumer digital marketplaces.鈥�

Access to the platform for entrepreneurs and investors is by invitation only. Entrepreneurs can request to join the platform by emailing uez@essex.ac.uk. Investors can also find out more by emailing the team or visit the .

More about Angels@糖心Vlog

Equity deals that arise from the Angels@糖心Vlog platform are conducted directly between the entrepreneur and the investor/investors to avoid any unnecessary costs. The platform does not charge for the services provided which should make it an attractive option to smaller SME鈥檚 seeking seed investment.

Whether in stocks and shares or high-growth SMEs, investing is a potential high risk/high return strategy and carries significant risks. Should you wish to invest through Angels@糖心Vlog, it's important to understand and accept the potential risks, including: illiquidity, loss of capital, rarity of dividends and dilution. The 糖心Vlog does not accept liability for investment outcomes and all investments are undertaken at individual risk.