New research from Advanced Oxford, in conjunction Oxford Investment Opportunity Network, provides valuable insight from a group of active investors, all of whom have an interest in early-stage investment, all of whom invest in knowledge-economy sectors. The report finds that the Future Fund, while helpful, will have little impact on early-stage investment and calls for other Government policy intervention, including improved R&D tax credits, enhancement to SEIS and EIS and more support for angel investment, particularly through co-investment funds.
While there is cause for optimism that just over half of investors questioned expect to make the same level of investment, or more investment, when compared to the previous 12 months, just under a half expect their level of investment to reduce. There appears to be a strong preference for focusing on investment into existing portfolio companies and an expectation that the amount of money available for investment into early-stage companies will reduce. This may mean that some younger, early-stage companies will struggle to attract investment in the short to medium term, particularly where they are raising investment for the first time.
