Biz Angel UK matches entrepreneurs with investors

A GROUP of professionals have launched a venture to bring together entrepreneurs with investors and are looking to expand the service across Yorkshire and the North West.

The team behind Biz Angel UK said that since its recent launch it had received between five and 10 business plans each week from people with ideas for businesses.

Biz Angel UK, which has a base at Thorpe Park in Leeds, said it had around 120 investors and business angels from across the UK on its books, but that it expected the number to increase.

Dave Merritt, one of the team behind Biz Angel UK, said the organisation was also keen to attract fledgling businesses ready for second stage funding and support.

Mr Merritt, who also runs his own commercial finance brokerage, said many of the group’s investment requests were based in London but that Biz Angel UK was keen to increase its portfolio in the north of England.

Mr Merritt, who said that the recession had not dampened either the number of aspiring entrepreneurs or investors looking to make a healthy return on their investment, said: “We are currently receiving between five and 10 business plans per week for consideration and that is without sticking our heads above the parapet. Currently we have seven investable propositions under consideration by investors.”

Wendy Kipling, who is spearheading Biz Angel UK, said the team had formed a number of partnerships with law and accountancy firms to attract investors.

Ms Kipling said the group’s investor base covered such a wide range of sectors that Biz Angel UK could match the business idea to the relevant investor, increasing the chance of a successful pitch and negating the need for entrepreneurs to pitch in front of a Dragons’ Den type panel of intimidating investors.

“It’s about getting the right idea to the right investors,” she said. “We have a bank of investors and we know the types of businesses they want to get involved in.”

Mr Merritt added: “If required, we can also provide additional services to entrepreneur clients to ensure they are investment ready and then using knowledge of our investor base place their businesses before relevant interested parties.

“We can also access grant funding for clients to assist with the additional work. With the contacts that we have developed our investors are geographically well spread.”

Ron Downey, Tanny Qamar and Azab Raja make up the Biz Angel UK team, which charges a one off £900 registration payment for business plans it takes forward.

For further information visit www.bizangeluk.co.uk.