Minerva Business Angel Network and Sci-Tech Daresbury host pitching event for North West start-ups

Posted 18th June 2019
 
 
5 minutes read
 
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Minerva Business Angel Network returns to Sci-Tech Daresbury for the second event in the new collaboration aimed at boosting angel investment within the North West business community.

Minerva, one of the UK’s largest angel networks providing access to investment for emerging tech businesses, first joined forces with the leading science and innovation campus in January this year to support the region’s start-up companies.

Among those preparing to make their pitch on 24th June 2019 in the hope of catching an Angel’s eye will be Sci-Tech Daresbury-based, C-Major Medical which has developed and patented what’s described as the world’s safest syringe and blood collection systems. Also pitching is UK media veteran Duncan Smith, from Liverpool, founder of mould-breaking FUBAR Radio. 

C-Major Medical has developed and patented a core technology, CHoRDTM, which will be at the centre of the world’s safest syringes (pre and operator-filled), and blood-collection systems. This technology has been developed to reduce Needle Stick Injuries and contaminating aerosols.

FUBAR Radio was founded in 2014 as an online-only talk-radio brand targeting the highly-prized 18–34 demographic. They have rapidly grown their listening audience to 415,000 and attracted the attention of MTV’s co-founder who calls FUBAR “the biggest global opportunity in youth media since MTV.”

Alex Toft, Head of Minerva, said: “We’re really pleased that these two innovative companies, C-Major Medical and FUBAR will join us at Sci-Tech Daresbury and make their pitch to Minerva’s Business Angels. We specialise in technology-based, innovative enterprises that are looking to break the mould.

“C-Major Medical was established with the sole purpose of developing a new range of safety devices that will enable hospitals, clinics, and medical practitioners everywhere to prevent Needle Stick Injuries and is set to be world leading. FUBAR Radio, with its focus on exploiting the opportunities online-radio presents, is helping to revolutionise the world of radio.

“Minerva itself has gone through significant growth in the past 12 months and we hope to bring our proven model, operating since 1994, to the North West through our association with Sci-Tech Daresbury and also potentially through fellow universities.”

Among others pitching will be QStory, provider of cloud based tools for call centre and Hvac.ai with an Internet of Things for sophisticated boiler monitoring.

John Downes, group chief executive of Langtree and chair of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture company, said: “This is an excellent initiative and by working together we hope to promote angel investment within the North West business community, and prevent the flight of capital and expertise to London and the South.  

“Providing businesses the opportunity to meet, collaborate and grow is what we do at Sci-Tech Daresbury. Minerva is introducing new companies to the campus and we are giving Minerva access to an exciting community of start-up and growing businesses, who will have another route to secure funding to help grow their business.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about Minerva should contact support@minerva.uk.net