An insight into how investment companies search out, assess, select, and invest in the bioeconomy sector.
The Bioeconomy Cluster Builder is delighted to announce an online event which will provide a detailed insight into the way in which companies who specialise in investing in the bioeconomy sector go about their business.
There will be presentations from a number of companies who will provide a wide ranging perspective from the investor community.
The event will include presentations from the following industry experts:
Dr Sarah Hardy, Director and Head of New Investments, Archangel Investors Ltd
Sarah is the Director and Head of New Investments at Archangels, a prominent business angel syndicate which has been at the forefront of early stage investing in Scotland. It comprises more than 100 investor members and typically co-ordinates the investment of more than £15 million per year in exciting early stage Scottish companies with a focus on technology and life sciences. Sarah has extensive international experience of financing and managing early stage opportunities in the healthcare technology sector. Sarah also sits on the Board of Data Driven Innovation and the Social Growth Fund. Before joining the Archangels, Sarah worked in the Innovations Division of the Wellcome Trust, Advent Life Sciences venture team and Parke-Davis Neuroscience Research Centre.
Dr Tom Parsons, Commercial and Technical Manager, Bioenergy at BP
As commercial and technical manager for bp’s Bioenergy New Businesses team, Tom is responsible for originating and developing new business opportunities for bp in advanced biofuels production and supply.
Tom joined bp as a research chemist in 2008, working on the development and scale-up of technologies including bp’s Fischer-Tropsch process.
He has since held business development and strategy roles in technology licensing, bp’s Fuels businesses and in Downstream commercial development. He led bp’s Advanced Bio Products team at its inception before joining Air bp in 2017 where he led the development and implementation of low carbon strategy and established Air bp as one of the leading suppliers of sustainable aviation fuel globally. Tom moved into his current role in Bioenergy New Businesses in January 2021.
Tom holds a Master’s degree and D.Phil in Chemistry from the University of Oxford. Outside of work he enjoys coaching his son’s rugby team as well as playing the trumpet in a local jazz band.
Michelle Kinnaird, Head of Investment Management, Scottish Enterprise
Michelle Kinnaird is the Head of Investment Management in the Team responsible for Growth Investments at Scottish Enterprise. Growth Investments directly manages several funds in house including various early stage equity fund, the Energy Investment Fund (“EIF”) and the Scottish Loan Scheme (“SLS”); has invested in four externally managed funds and has also developed a various unique funding mechanism including– the Scottish-European Growth Co-Investment Programme (“SEGCP”) in partnership with the European Investment Fund and grant convertible loan note hybrids as part of the COVID response.
Michelle has worked across several areas of the business heading up the EIF, the Transaction and Portfolio Teams. She currently leads a team responsible for several key Growth Investments areas, the transaction team, interaction with the Scottish National Investment Bank, SE’s interests in it’s fund of funds businesses, and Growth Investments Finance and Reporting Team. She has an ongoing role in extending the diversity of international investors Scottish SME’s interact with. At present her responsibilities includes leading some key outputs from the Scottish tourism taskforce and COP 26 work.
Michelle joined SE in 2007 from Ernst & Young and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland.
Dr Marc Leduc, Investment Manager, BASF Venture Capital GmbH
Marc Leduc joined BASF Venture Capital as an Investment Manager in February 2017. He began his career at BASF in polymer research in 1999, subsequently holding various positions in product development and marketing. Recently, as Senior Manager in the incubation unit at BASF New Business GmbH, Marc developed new growth areas for the BASF Group. He was awarded a PhD in Polymer Chemistry by Cornell University and performed post-doctoral research at the ETH in Zurich. He holds an MBA from the University of Oxford.
Cameron Ross, COO, Green Angel Syndicate
Prior to joining Green Angel Syndicate, Cam co-founded, jointly ran and raised two rounds of angel funding for a contact centre payments business, with an exit to AIM-listed Eckoh. Cam is an Aeronautical Engineer by training, and has experience in creating, commercialising and patenting new technology. He has more than a dozen granted patents in the fields of telecommunications, payments and customer authentication. He has a practical ability to analyse and improve complex processes, from manufacturing to software systems.
As Green Angel Syndicate COO, Cam and his team manage deal flow, systems, due diligence and post-investment engagement.
Cam is also a Trustee and Board member of mySociety, a not-for-profit group pioneering the use of online technologies to empower citizens to take their first steps towards greater civic participation.
The event will also include a panel session which will provide an opportunity for attendees to pose questions to the participants.
A follow up event which will allow companies to showcase their technology to the investment community will take place on 28th October (1000 – 1200).
This event is for anyone who has an interest in the bioeconomy and wants to have a better understanding of how the investment community interacts with the sector.
Alternatively, If you’d like any further information please contact russell.clarke@ibioic.com or dana.heldt@ktn-uk.org
The Bioeconomy Cluster Builder (BCB) is a three-year collaboration between the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), KTN and Scottish Enterprise. The project aims to grow the Scottish bioeconomy by raising awareness of the applications and benefits of biotechnology and supporting the development of new value chains and markets for bio-based products. Using the extensive networks and knowledge of the three partner organisations, we connect the right people and resources - providing innovation support and signposting to funding opportunities. To find out more about the project and our planned activities, or to get involved, please visit our website: https://www.bioeconomybuilder.com/how-can-i-get-involved
The BCB is an ERDF funded project. Information you provide as part of the registration process for this event may be shared between the partner organisations. You can find full details of the BCB privacy policy HERE.