IQ Capital Partners is new independent VC for early stage tech
Cambridge based fund managers and venture capital investors Nigel Brown, Ed Stacey, Max Bautin and Kerry Baldwin, have created IQ Capital Partners as one of the UK’s premier venture capital managers to deliver their distinctive approach to investing in successful emergent and rapidly developing UK companies.
Advertisement
IQCP is an independent and integrated early stage technology venture capital business, which manages the recently established IQ Capital Fund I, as well as two seed funds with total funds under management of £35 million.
IQCP completed an MBO of NW Brown Group’s early stage investing activities, including the GEIF, one of the UK’s premier business angel networks. The new company will be distinguished by its unique relationships with ‘IQ Angels’, private investors with strong industry expertise, who can dedicate significant time, investment and expertise in supporting investments alongside IQCP.
The IQCP team will continue to provide funding from £0.1 million upwards - predominantly to early-stage technology businesses - with the capacity to make available up to £3 million per investee. The current portfolio includes Shortfuze, Spikes Cavell, OnRelay and 25 seed investments.
At the launch, Nigel Brown, chairman of IQCP, said, “Helping early stage companies has been the main focus of my work for more than a decade and I am delighted to be continuing this with the IQ Capital team. We have been working together for several years and have many venture capital successes behind us. I have made the decision to step back and take a more active role in this new business, which I feel has the perfect blend of experience, energy and opportunity. I am looking forward to building a VC business which can really service nascent technology businesses whilst delivering excellent returns to investors.”
Founder partner Max Bautin added, “Ed, Kerry, Nigel and I are delighted to have had this unique opportunity to bring all our expertise together to create a venture capital house with a distinct focus and investment philosophy. Between us we share experience of helping well over 50 technology companies grow through early and later stages of their development. A key element in this is investing and working alongside ‘IQ Angels’, who we know from experience make a huge difference in helping investments by utilising their sector specific experience and contacts. Our team has been making and delivering strong returns since 1998 and we are determined to help more UK start-ups develop into successful global leaders, thereby demonstrating the immense potential of European early-stage technology investing.”
Funds and fund managers
IQ Capital Partners is based in Cambridge, and manages the IQ Capital Fund I and two seed funds, GEIF Ventures and COIN. The funds have the ability to invest from £0.1 million to £3 million, with a focus on UK-based rapidly developing technology businesses.
IQCP differentiates itself by ensuring each investment made not only has the appropriate degree of financial support required to deliver strong growth, but also the commitment of an ‘IQ Angel’, a seasoned investor and entrepreneur who can provide the best possible advice to the emerging business, in the specific sector.
The management team is supported by an advisory committee which includes Dr. Andrew Rickman OBE, Walter Herriot OBE, Philip Langston and Sveinn Valfells.
The fund managers are:
Kerry Baldwin - has ten years venture capital experience, starting as an investment manager with Venture Technologies (a £35 million high-technology fund with notable successes in the cases of Autonomy Corporation plc, WhereonEarth, Trustbase and Durlacher plc). She specialises in AIM and trade-sale exit opportunities, and competitive intelligence.
Max Bautin - has worked with Nigel Brown (chairman) for five years, building the seed stage part of IQCP’s venture capital business. He has led or co-led investments in over 30 high-technology companies throughout the UK including Artimi, Camrivox, DanioLabs, Novacta, OnRelay, Revieworld, Quotient, Syrinix and Transversal. He also worked with Millicom (NASDAQ: MCC), a private equity vehicle investing into GSM/D-AMPS mobile operators in developing countries throughout the world.
Ed Stacey - has worked in early stage venture capital since co-founding Venture Technologies. He has advised investors and early stage companies – particularly on strategies to raise equity funding and achieving rapid sustainable growth. He started his career in engineering with Philips Electronics, and then to Scientific Generics where he ran a wide range of technology and management consulting projects, with a particular focus in the early stage technology sector.
Comments on this story? Send an email to the editor: address - editor [@] thechilli.com
 |
|
|
© Chilli Publishing Ltd 2007 |
27 NOV 2007 |
