Investors

Oxford Innovation Finance's angel network, OION, offers Investors access to selected, high quality pre-screened investment opportunities that offer the potential of high growth. The majority of companies are SEIS or EIS eligible. More information can be found below and in the Oxford Innovation Finance Guide - Investors.

There are two ways to invest, either directly or through the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund.

How we operate

OION screens business proposals and carefully selects investment opportunities to match investor requirements. Selection criteria includes:

High growth potential with a scalable business model
Seeking between £100,000 - ~£2,000,000
Disruptive technology
Clear need for product / service with a sustainable competitive advantage
Growing, accessible market
Good management team

Benefits of OION membership

High quality, screened and selected proposals
Regular meetings and networking opportunities
Support during the investment process
Detailed summaries of investments

Benefits of business angel investments

Equity stake
Direct investment
Management involvement in growing businesses
Potential high rewards
Tax breaks

Additional Support for investors

Established strong links with professional services providers, such as accountants, solicitors and banks
Help to select an appropriate professional to assist investors with the funding process and business development issues
Good contacts within the research and higher education institutions and can provide contact details where specialist technology advice is sought

How to join OION as an Investor member

If you wish to join the OION angel network as an investor member, please register your interest via the online Investor Registration form. If you're interested in only investing in the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund, more information on next steps can be found on the Fund webpage.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 requires investors to be self-certified as Sophisticated Investors or High Net Worth Individuals, more details can be found here.

If you wish to confidentially speak to one of the team in the first instance, please contact us to arrange a time to chat.

RISK WARNING

Investments offered by Oxford Investment Opportunity Network Limited (trading as Oxford Innovation Finance) place your capital at risk and could result in the total loss of capital invested. Oxford Innovation Finance does not provide investment, tax or legal advice and recommends that you seek professional advice if you are considering investing. The investments offered are in unquoted shares in small companies. The value of these shares can be volatile, and the shares are often difficult to sell. The tax reliefs associated with the investments depend on the individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Any forecasts and performance targets provided cannot accurately predict how investments will perform.

News

OION’s ‘Pitch@Blenheim Palace’ event delivers a valuable platform for securing angel investment

Oxford Innovation Finance’s angel investment network returned to Blenheim Palace for its in-person ‘Pitch@Blenheim Palace’ Showcase event in September.

OION Angels invest in a digital planning tool redefining the funeral industry

Aura is reinventing how funerals are planned and delivered with simple, direct cremations which can be served anywhere in the UK, using its digital planning tools.

OION’s ‘Pitch@Blenheim Palace’ event returns for its second consecutive year

Oxford Innovation Finance’s angel investment network returns to Blenheim Palace providing up to ten businesses with the opportunity to pitch to its audience of experienced angel investors.

OION Angels invest in a temperature regulating solution for glass surfaces

Oxford Innovation Finance’s Angel Network (OION) invested in the latest funding round for Albotherm, the climate tech company developing a temperature regulating coating for glass surfaces.

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund invest in a proptech platform connecting communities and accelerating change

Commonplace raised £2.1 million in seed investment to accelerate its expansion and inspire thriving places.

Oxford Innovation invest in 3D printed biomimetic implants stimulating bone growth

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund alongside OION angel investors, have invested in the £1.2 million oversubscribed funding round for OSSTEC, the orthopaedics company developing bone healing implants.

Oxford Innovation invests in revolutionary Inertial and Gravity sensors

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and OION Angels invest in Silicon Microgravity, the disruptive technology company developing high-performance accelerometers and gyroscopes to deliver MEMS based tactical and navigation grade sensing.

Oxford Innovation support growth journey of ethical insurtech Arma Karma

Based in Oxford Innovation Space's Colchester Innovation Centre Knowledge Gateway, Arma Karma secure investment from expert angel investors following their pitch at Oxford Innovation Finance's OION Showcase.

Oxford Innovation make follow-on investment in a personalised digital health information platform

Following its initial investment in 2021, Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund alongside OION angel investors, has made a follow-on investment in the latest funding round for Cognitant Group.

Oxford Innovation Finance invest in a fully sustainable colouring technology

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund 2 invests in the innovative coloured advance materials company Hypetex.

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund 1 & 2 update

Despite the turbulent economic conditions of 2022, the Oxford Innovation Finance EIS Growth Fund 1 and 2 made significant progress over the year.

Oxford Innovation Finance launches its 3rd EIS Fund

Oxford Innovation Finance is pleased to launch its third EIS Fund, which will invest in innovative and ambitious technology companies that have the potential to achieve significant growth.

Hardman & Co publish research on Oxford Innovation Finance

The report is focussed on the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund 3, an Alternative Investment Fund which provides a portfolio of investments in high-growth technology companies.

Oxford Innovation invest in Qkine’s £4.3 million fund raise

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and OION Angels invest in Qkine’s latest £4.3 million fund raise.

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund and OION Angels increase investment in EcoSync’s second seed funding round

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund co-invest with OION Angels in EcoSync’s second seed funding round of over £950,000, continuing its support from the first funding round in 2021.

Oxford Innovation Finance joins UKBAA

Oxford Innovation Finance is proud to announce it is one of the latest members to join the UK Business Angels Association, the Trade Body for Angel and Early Stage Investing.

OION angels invest in a movement for change to make healthcare more accessible

Members of Oxford Innovation Finance's angel network invest in CardMedic, a unique communication app designed to reduce health inequalities secondary to communication barriers in healthcare.

OION’s first face to face Showcase in over two years reconnects the innovation ecosystem of Oxford and beyond

OION angels, part of the Oxford Innovation Finance ecosystem, held its first face to face Showcase since the pandemic at Blenheim Palace last month.

Our portfolio company FA Bio win The Radicle Inclusion Challenge presented by Nutrien

Having made it to the final pitch presentation, from over 130 applicants, FA Bio was announced as a winner receiving $250,000 investment.

OION angels invest in revolutionary venue hire platform for community spaces

OION members have invested over £200k in Sharesy, the market leading venue hire platform for community spaces in London.

Neurofenix raises £5.9 million in Series A funding

Fantastic news for Neurofenix as it raises Series A funding to support its US expansion, hiring and clinical trials.

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund 2 helps power the future

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund 2 co-invest with OION angels in the UK technology company Anaphite as part of its latest fundraise of £4.1 million.

Congratulations to Oxwash on closing their £10 million Series A funding

We first met Oxwash back in January 2020 when they pitched to our OION angel investor network as part of their £1.4 million seed investment round.

Introducing Oxford Innovation Finance

The home of OION and the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund.

Successfully Managing Innovation – Funding and navigating the innovation landscape - Episode 6

This event from The Institution of Engineering and Technology will show how to navigate the technology angels UK early-stage funding landscape for innovative technology investment.

Now Open for Investment – the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund 2

The Fund will aim to invest in promising early stage technology businesses that have the potential for significant and tax-free capital gains. (Capital at risk).

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund leads £1.45m funding round into Envorem Ltd

The Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund, managed by OION Ltd, alongside Angel investors from OION, SAIC, Danube Angels, TSP Ventures and Morrow Moylan Capital have invested in the early stage Greentech company Envorem.

Taylor Vinters - Future Focus Series: Fresh thoughts on environment and innovation

Co-hosted by Taylor Vinters and Oxfordshire Greentech, their Future Focus series highlights the innovative thinking and business practices that will tackle the world’s greatest challenges.

Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund Completes First Investments

The Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund has now completed its first two deals, investing £200k in to both Cognitant Group and FungiAlert.

Peeling back the layers of OION’s financial year

During a year unlike any other, OION has continued to assist ambitious, innovative companies with 28 of them securing funding from the network.

Exclusive Transformation Bootcamp for Funding/Investment Readiness

Impakt It out of Oxford University Innovation solving the $7.4Trillion question on why 84% of business transformations fail. Bringing you an exclusive opportunity for the Business Transformation Bootcamps with tailored focuses, including the Transformation Bootcamp for Funding and Investment-Readiness.

First EIS fund marks significant new milestone for Oxford Innovation

Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading organisation helping ambitious entrepreneurs and innovators with advice, innovation space and capital, has successfully raised a £2million EIS fund for providing finance to the next generation of innovative businesses.

Introducing the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund

Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION Ltd), is delighted to introduce the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund, offering investors the opportunity to invest in a portfolio of promising technology companies with the potential to achieve significant tax-free capital gains.

Autonomous Drone start-up, Flare Bright Ltd closes initial investment round

Flare Bright pitched at OION's September Showcase and have recently closed their round with investment from OION members.

RAB Microfluidics secures £1.24m investment

Following their pitch at OION's July 2020 Showcase, RAB Microfluidics have recently closed their round with investment from OION.

Jens Tholstrup shares his thoughts on 'How Innovation Works'

OION Ltd's Chairman, Jens Tholstrup, explores Matt Ridley's latest book.

The Founders Series - Season 3 // Mikesh Udani

For episode 2 in Season 3 of Taylor Vinter's Founders Series, they'll be meeting a spin-off CEO whose revolutionary tech-based approach addresses a health issue that’s existed for decades.

Taylor Vinters - The Founders Series

Taylor Vinters Founders Series reveals how leaders of breakthrough businesses have identified opportunities in fast-moving markets and taken a disruptive, tech-based approach to make their concepts succeed. Sign up now for Season 3.

The impact of Covid-19 on early stage investing

We've been working with Advanced Oxford to find out how Covid-19 may change the levels of early stage investment within the knowledge economy.

OION welcomes Taylor Vinters in new sponsor partnership

International legal business Taylor Vinters shows continued support for the innovation ecosystem in new partnership with Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION).

UK-Singapore Innovation Matching Day – opportunity for startups to pitch to global organisations

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and its partners are organising an event on 13 May 2020 in central London for European startups to pitch to Singapore organisations.

The Show must go on: OION’s most recent Showcase goes virtual

Following the recent developments and in the interests of all attendee’s safety, the decision was made to move OION Ltd’s March Showcase, originally scheduled to be held at Culham Science Centre, to an online only virtual event.

OION Fund portfolio company, techspert.io, closes Series A funding round

Congratulations to techspert.io who’ve just raised £3.76m Series A funding.

Messly closes round with investment from OION members

Messly pitched in September 2019 with their professional network for UK junior doctors who they connect with recruiting hospitals and agencies through a tech-enabled hiring platform.

Saltee secures investment following pitch at OION Showcase

Saltee pitched their new direct to consumer, premium beauty sector sun care brand at the October 2019 OION Ltd Showcase held at the HB Allen Centre in Oxford.

OION’s first Showcase of 2020 held at Cazenove Capital’s offices in London

The first OION Ltd Showcase of 2020 was a sell-out event with eleven impressive companies pitching for investment.

Oxford Investment Opportunity Network and Oxford Angel Network join forces

Leading angel networks in Oxford merge to catalyse early-stage tech investment in the Oxford Cluster.

Final OION Showcase of 2019 sees nine companies pitch for investment

The final OION Showcase of 2019 was hosted by OION sponsor, PwC, last week at their Frontier hub in the Reading offices.

Coffee and Danish with Jens Tholstrup of Oxford Investment Opportunity Network

OION MD Jens Tholstrup talks with Antony David at TechTribe about the early stage ecosystem in Oxford.

Keble College’s new H B Allen Centre hosts OION’s October Showcase

Our October Showcase took place last week with eleven companies presenting for investment at the recently completed H B Allen Centre, Oxford.

OION’s September Showcase held at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire

Following a short break over the summer, our Showcase events resumed last week with the first of the Autumn series held in the new Visitor Centre at Harwell Campus.

Learning with Experts, Oxford EdTech Company, Raises £800k

Learning with Experts has just completed a latest funding round above target, raising £800k with an impressive group of High Net Worth (HNW) Angels, including members of OION.

Success for Somaserve...

Somaserve has recently announced that it has secured the IP and global commercial rights to the PolyNaut technology and also the closure of its seed round funding in which a small group of investors, including OION, participated.

Eleven companies present at joint OION and OUI Showcase

Last week, the Oxford Martin School on Broad Street hosted the latest joint Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION) and Oxford University Innovation (OUI) Showcase.

Oxford Medical Simulation closes investment round with funding from OION members

Oxford Medical Simulation pitched at OION Ltd's London Stock Exchange Showcase in November and have recently closed their round with investment from OION members.

OION welcomes The Oxford Trust as new sponsor

OION is delighted to welcome The Oxford Trust as a sponsor of the network.

Crypta Labs raises investment following pitch at OION Showcase

Crypta Labs is developing the world's first portable quantum hardware security module to secure edge of network devices that rely on weak random numbers in their encryption protocols. We’re pleased to confirm that they’ve recently closed their round with investment from OION.

OION a finalist in Syndicate of the Year category at the UKBAA Awards

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for Syndicate of the Year at the UKBAA Angel Investment Awards 2019!

OION Ltd’s latest Showcase hosted by Rathbone Private Office

Eleven companies pitched for investment at OION Ltd’s most recent Showcase, held at the London offices of Rathbones.

OION sponsor, PwC, seeking ambitious businesses to test their ‘My Financepartner Digital’ Software

PwC have developed ‘My Financepartner Digital’ to allow you to login to your mobile or laptop and quickly see all the key performance metrics of your business (or businesses) without logging in to your accounting software.

Perkier Foods secures funding following pitch at OION’s London Stock Exchange Showcase

Perkier Foods, producers of healthy, free-from and plant based snack bars and breakfasts, have recently closed their £350k round with significant investment coming from OION members.

OION celebrates successes of the past year at Annual Dinner

Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION), now in its 25th year of connecting companies and investors, celebrated the occasion and the successes of the past year at the well-renowned OION Annual Dinner.

OION welcome PwC as newest sponsors

OION Ltd are delighted to welcome PwC who’ve recently joined as a sponsor of OION.

Twelve companies pitch at OION’s Blenheim Palace Showcase

Twelve companies pitched for investment at last week’s OION Ltd Showcase held at the stunning Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

OION Dinner 2019 - Tickets now available!

The OION Annual Dinner has a reputation of being a great networking event. This year will be no exception as we return to Trinity College, Oxford on Wednesday 10th April.

First OION Ltd Showcase of 2019 hosted by Centrica at Windsor HQ

Ten companies from across OION Ltd’s three investment networks (OION, TVIN & OEI) pitched for investment, followed by networking and lunch.

Advanced Materials company, Alvant, secures investment following pitches at OION

Alvant have pitched at two OION Ltd Showcase events recently, first at the Saïd Business School, Oxford in July last year and second with an update at the London Stock Exchange in November.

OION Ltd’s final Showcase of 2018 held at Sophos HQ, Abingdon

Ten companies pitched for investment at last week’s OION Ltd Showcase, the final of 2018.

RootWave receives investment following pitch to OION Ltd

RootWave pitched at OION Ltd’s July Showcase and as a result have recently closed their round with a £150k investment from OION members.

Success for Inovo Robotics

After pitching at OION Ltd’s Robotics and AI Showcase held at Culham back in January, Inovo Robotics have recently closed their round after accepting a £1.5m investment from a technology EIS Fund.

CHAIN Biotechnology raises funding from OION Ltd for the second time

Following their pitch to OION Ltd members in May at Leander Club, CHAIN Biotech have recently closed their round with investment from a number of OION members included.

OION Ltd’s latest Showcase sees thirteen companies pitch at London Stock Exchange

Last week’s OION Ltd Showcase at the London Stock Exchange featured presentations from thirteen fascinating companies seeking investment.

OION Ltd’s first Showcase of the current series held at Bisham Abbey, Marlow

Following a brief pause for the summer, September 27th saw the first OION Ltd Showcase of the current series. Held at the stunning Bisham Abbey near Marlow, ten companies from a broad range of sectors pitched.

Bookabees secures funding following pitch at OION Ltd’s May Showcase

Bookabees pitched to OION members at the May Showcase held at the Leander Club overlooking the river in Henley on Thames. Since then, we’re pleased to report that they’ve recently closed their round with investment from OION included.

Rovco named ‘Game Changer’ by the Offshore Renewables Energy Catapult

Rovco, after receiving £280,000 of investment from OION members as part of a £1.2m raise, have been named a ‘Game Changer’ by the Offshore Renewables Energy (ORE) Catapult.

OION Ltd’s final Showcase of the summer series sees ten companies pitch for investment

OION Ltd returned to Oxford’s Saïd Business School last Thursday for the final Showcase before the summer break. Ten company pitches were followed by networking and refreshments providing investors with the opportunity to find out more from the companies of interest.