First British robotics seed fund launches

Date
12/16/2016

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High Growth Robotics has announced the launch of the British Robotics Seed Fund – the first investment fund specialising in UK-based robotics start-ups. The focus of the Fund is to deliver returns to Investors by making targeted investments in promising UK-based seed-stage robotics companies wrapped within a fund format that is highly tax efficient (under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, “SEIS”). 

Automation and robotisation are beginning to drive significant productivity improvements across the global economy, making it one of today’s most exciting investment themes. According to market intelligence firm Tractica, robotics is set to grow at rates in excess of 45% with the global market to approach a quarter of trillion dollars by 2021.

There are currently no specialist UK investment vehicles to provide financial backing and strategic support for early stage robotics companies with compelling business in concepts.

Therefore, the Fund offers investors a rare opportunity to participate in a selection of the most innovative and disruptive businesses that are exploiting the new generation of robotic technologies.

The fund will invest in up to 12 robotics start-ups each year across a broad range of sectors including, construction, logistics, agriculture and domestic robots.

World-class robotics laboratories in the United Kingdom are home to some of the finest robot-engineering talent and the Fund looks, via partnerships with theses labs and incubators, to help convert this inherent potential into successful world-class companies.

The British Robotics Seed Fund is being managed by Sapphire Capital Partners LLP in partnership with High Growth Robotics which will help identify the investments and provide mentoring services to the robotics entrepreneurs and start-ups with which the fund works.

The fund is open to sophisticated investors with a minimum of £10,000 to invest and who are looking to enhance their investment portfolio with high growth robotics businesses. SEIS-qualifying robotics companies are being encouraged to apply.

High Growth Robotics Ltd is led by Dominic Keen, a successful British entrepreneur. Having previously floated the software business that he founded on the London Stock Exchange, he now helps exciting ventures to maximise their growth potential. An engineer by background, he is fascinated by robotics and acts as an evangelist in the field.

Boyd Carson, CEO of Sapphire Capital Partners LLP commented on the launch: “Robotics represents one of today’s most exciting investment themes and investors now have the opportunity to enhance their portfolio with a mixed basket of exciting early-stage robotics businesses whilst also befitting from the significant tax advantages of SEIS”.

Dominic Keen, CEO of High Growth Robotics Limited, concluded: “I genuinely believe that some of the world’s finest robotics businesses are currently being established in the UK and the British Robotics Seed Fund is ideally positioned to ensure that these companies are able to maximise their future success”.

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) was designed to boost economic growth in the UK by promoting new enterprise and entrepreneurship, and offers tax efficient investing in return for investment in small and early stage start-up businesses in the UK.

High Growth Robotics

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