UK-based Britbots and Sapphire Capital Partners are teaming up to launch the British Robotics Start-Up Fund.
Over the past six years, the British Robotics funds have invested in 34 companies, backing entrepreneurs creating productivity-boosting technologies, particularly in the areas of robotics, artificial intelligence and automation. The fund will continue this technology focus and seek to capitalise on major global trends such as shortages of skilled labour, the transition away from fossil fuels, supply chain inefficiencies and the depletion of natural resources.
The majority of the British Robotics funds investments have been made under the tax-advantageous Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, which substantially mitigates the risks to investors of backing young, high potential businesses. The funds also have also sought to build broad sector-diverse portfolios of company holdings in order to further reduce the risk for investors.
The British Robotics Start-Up Fund is a successor to previous British Robotics SEIS funds including British Robotics Seed Fund (1 & 2) and the British Robotics Sidecar Fund. Individuals will be able to invest up to £200,000 in SEIS-qualifying companies each year, and companies will be able to accept up to £250,000 within their first three years under SEIS.
The fund allows investors to subscribe between £10,000 and £300,000 into the fund each year with at least 60% of the investment going to SEIS-qualifying companies and the remainder in opportunities that qualify for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). This means that each investor will be able to immediately offset at least 42% of the amount they invest in the Fund against their tax bill, as well as potentially also benefiting from subsequent tax benefits.
FinSMEs
03/11/2022