Steve Smith speaks at investment showcase

University of Exeter Vice Chancellor Prof Sir Steve Smith hosted and spoke at the SETsquared Partnership’s ninth annual Investment Showcase.

The event saw twenty high-tech early stage UK companies demonstrate innovations across sectors including energy generation, farming, enterprise software, clean technology, mobile apps and e-commerce.

The businesses were pitching for investment of between £150,000 and £5million each from venture capitalists, angel investors and wealthy individuals. Several of the companies are expected to announce investments soon.

Sir Steve Smith, said: “It was wonderful to see some of the UK’s most exciting start-ups meeting such a large group of potential investors.

“The event is a great opportunity for the companies to show what they do, and with SETsquared’s industry-beating average 90per cent survival rate for supported companies, it helps to reduce risks for investors.”

The investment showcase was held at One Great George Street, London, and attracted over 140 venture capitalists, angel investors and high net-worth individuals, the largest number of investors for a UK event of this type.

Over the past eight years participants at the Investment Showcase have raised more than £120 million in investment.

The SETsquared Partnership is the enterprise collaboration of the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey and provides incubation support to over 250 early-stage technology businesses.