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The ICE Angels is an Auckland-based angel investment network that was founded by the ICEHOUSE business incubator in 2003. Its objective is to connect high-potential start-up ventures with willing investors in order to support the success of emerging New Zealand companies. The ICE Angels is composed of 110 members who have collectively invested more than $30 million in 37 companies over 70 rounds. The ICE Angels' investors are interested in early stage ventures with international growth potential within sectors including software, media, internet, communications, life sciences, and medical devices.
Tauranga Investor Engagement event a success!
Supported by:
Just under 40 people attended the Tauranga Investor Engagement Event on the 14th of August including 8 commercialisation professionals and 18 Angel investors.The workshop was split into two parts, the first involving commercialisation professionals from various Universities and CRI’s. Bill Murphy (Executive Director of Enterprise Angels) started the day off with a presentation giving an overview of how Angel investment works; giving participants a better understanding of early stage capital raising including tips on what angel Investors look for, how to access them and what is required, highlighting the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships.
Participants were then taken through a workshop led by Tim Allen (Locus Research) and Bill Murphy to identify customers, competitors, target market, customer problem and competitive advantage to further develop their business model and sales and marketing strategy. Participants then worked on refining their presentation skills in preparation for the afternoon session.
The Angel investors were welcomed in the afternoon with a guest presentation from Michael Ahie (Chairman, Plant and Food Research) gaving a talk on “How to successfully invest in seed stage opportunities” which set the scene for the project presentations from the research organisation representatives. Each participant “pitched” their projects after which the angel investors asked questions and could register their comments and interest in a project through feedback forms provided at the event.
Overall the event received a lot of positive feedback and the next Investor Engagement Event is being held in Auckland on the 12th of September.
The Auckland Investor Engagement event held on the 12th of September had a large turnout of both investors and commercialisation staff. Eleven projects from diverse areas of research were presented to a group of twenty active investors from the Auckland region.
Nineteen commercialisation staff attended the event including both presenters and those who were there to watch and learn for the day. In the morning commercialisation professionals were given the opportunity to present to a small panel of ‘guinea pig’ investors who provided valuable feedback and advice before the final presentation session.
The afternoon session was received well and investors have provided feedback on each of the projects which will be passed on to the presenters for further improvements.
Ray Thomson is looking at whether some of the technologies presented on the 12th are suitable to be presented at the Auckland Investment Showcase. This is a big step in the right direction for increasing engagement between research organisations and the angel networks.
We would like to thank Return On Science, Ice Angels, and the Angel Association for their inputs and contributions to this event.
We hope that these events have been valuable for the investors and commercialisation professionals who have attended. To make them even better in 2013 we will be running a short survey where you can help us to help you by letting us know your thoughts and improvement ideas.
Event Targeted at:
Research Organisations:
Are you commercialising technologies from a publically funded research organisation such as a University, CRI, Polytechnic, DHB, etc?
Whether you are at an engagement event or on the phone, your ability to effectively present your technology business case is important for successful commercialisation.
Key objectives of the Investor Engagement Events: