Successful raising of EIS investment fund
Oxford Innovation Finance raises an EIS fund from its angel investor community with the objective of investing in a diversified group of high potential EIS eligible industry disrupting businesses. The fund is successfully invested in 9 high growth potential businesses, 7 of which have direct impact on UN sustainable development goals.
Merger with University of Oxford angel network
A continuation of the long relationship between Oxford Innovation and the University of Oxford reaches another milestone with the merger of both organisations' angel investor networks. This creates an exceptionally large pool of experienced investors able to advise, mentor and invest in the tech-rich innovative businesses that emerge from the Oxfordshire, Thames Valley and London eco-systems.
Largest programme of support to SME manufacturers
Oxford Innovation Advice started to deliver the Manufacturing Growth Programme, funded by the Dept of Housing, Communities and Local Government and European Regional Development Fund, which assists over 1,400 SME manufacturers annually, making it the largest programme of support to SME manufacturers in the UK.
Expansion of range of specialist advice
Oxford Innovation Advice was appointed by Innovate UK to deliver its programme to encourage successful innovation in the UK and assist small businesses to collaborate with SMEs from other, particularly European, countries. Later in 2016, Oxford Innovation was selected to operate a programme to help SMEs in Cornwall to access finance for their growth. This Financial Readiness Programme has been a market leader in its field and has raised over £39m in funding for Cornish businesses. It has also helped to create some great new companies, including Wildanet, a pioneering start up providing wireless broadband services.
First University Enterprise Zone innovation centre
Oxford Innovation was selected to manage the University of West England’s innovation centre, Future Space, on its campus in Bristol, the first university enterprise zone in the UK. This centre, curates tech-rich businesses and is co-located with the university’s robotics and public health research faculties and a fully equipped shared wet laboratory facility.
Government's flagship programme
Oxford Innovation was appointed as one of the members of the consortium selected to deliver the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ Growth Accelerator Programme, the largest single programme of business support to SMEs in the UK. At this point, a separate division was created, today called Oxford Innovation Advice, to deliver its part of this programme.
Expansion of angel investment activity
Oxford Innovation Finance took over the angel investment activity of the Thames Valley adding to an already flourishing early-stage finance network that now includes OEI, an initiative specifically designed to help the very earliest stage businesses to raise capital.
First laboratory-based innovation centre
Oxford Innovation became the first company in the UK to build and operate a shared life sciences laboratory in which researchers and businesses could hire laboratory facilities ‘by the bench’. These facilities made research affordable and accessible for small businesses and start-ups. This innovation centre, at Heyford Park in north Oxfordshire, has since seen over 28 patents registered to companies that worked there.
Oxford Innovation supports regeneration
Oxford Innovation partners with UKAEA to commercialise research
Angel investment network started
Oxford Innovation embarked on operating Oxfordshire’s angel investment network, called OION by all who know it (and which stands for Oxford Investment Opportunity Network). Now named Oxford Innovation Finance, it has for 26 years been bringing investors and experienced mentors, advisors and investors to the support of exciting high growth businesses seeking finance.
Founding Oxford Innovation
Sir Martin and Lady Audrey’s experience of the challenges of starting a business led them to found Oxford Innovation with a mission to support the scientific entrepreneurs of Oxfordshire by providing the assistance and services those entrepreneurs need to turn their ideas and discoveries into businesses. The first incarnation of Oxford Innovation was two portacabins on Osney Mead, Oxford.
In our first hub for entrepreneurs in an area of undergoing change in the south of England, Oxford Innovation partnered with Portsmouth City Council to develop and manage Portsmouth Technopole on land just off the M275 at the gateway to the City. Part funded by the Governments Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) through SEEDA, some of the early interventions included many community events to encourage young people into entrepreneurship and a Festival of Innovation to showcase activity from across the city.