Enterprise Ventures takes management of SYIF fund

FUND manager Enterprise Ventures has had its management contract with South Yorkshire Investment Fund extended to cover all of the Seedcorn Fund.

EV was originally appointed to co-manage part of the 18 month pilot of the Seedcorn Fund in early 2007, which aims to back early stage technology-based ventures which have the potential to become beacon companies for the region.

Jonathan Diggines, chief executive of EV, said: “That EV has been awarded sole management of the Seedcorn Fund is a vindication of the approach EV has taken with the pilot during the past two years.

“In the current economic climate, it is absolutely essential that investment in technology, at the seed and early stage, is maintained. More than ever before, planting technology investment seeds now will grow the successful businesses of tomorrow”.

In the past seven years EV has invested £22m through its three technology funds, in fifty seed and early stage technology companies.