Investors

Overview

HBA exists because of its members, who support entrepreneurs through the combination of investing and mentoring.

HBA is always delighted to hear from business leaders, self-made entrepreneurs, self-certified high net worth persons or existing angel investors who would fulfill the role of investor. If you are interested in finding out more about HBA and becoming a member we would be delighted to hear from you.

Our business angel investors represent a cross section of business leaders from the communities of the University of Reading, including successful entrepreneurs and MDs/CEOs, partners, chairmen and NEDs of private and public companies.

Are you an entrepreneur?

Do you have a compelling business and need funding? If so, please get in touch either to submit your executive summary and apply for funding here or email Jurek Sikorski at jurek.sikorski@henley.ac.uk. Before you get in touch please read our section for entrepreneurs.

Why become a business angel investor?

First and foremost business angels are genuinely interested in helping start-up and early-stage companies to grow. Of course, they are also seeking a return on their investment both time and money. Investments can qualify for tax relief which is very generous under the SEIS and EIS schemes.

Business angel investors usually stay with a company over several years and through several fundraising rounds before exiting.

Becoming an HBA member offers several benefits, including:

Access to high quality and carefully selected investment opportunities from entrepreneurs with a link to the University of Reading and Henley Business School (including those in the Henley Start-Up Business Incubator)
Quarterly pitch presentation events and regular networking opportunities
Joining a supportive and friendly sophisticated investor network
Access to both current and alumni students from the University of Reading and Henley Business School through schemes such as the Reading Internship Scheme and Capstone Projects
Invitation to a full programme of events held at the Henley Business School throughout the year
An exclusive year’s free membership with UKBAA
Support throughout the investment process, including an exclusive discount to the UKBAA’s Angel Investor e-learning course
Detailed summaries of investments
Support through our established strong links with professional services providers, such as accountants, solicitors, and banks
Help to select an appropriate professional to assist investors with the funding process and business development issues
Access to our exceptional contacts within the research and higher education institutions that we can connect you with where specialist technical advice is sought

Why Henley Business Angels?

Along with the benefits above, by joining the Henley Business Angels, you have access to an investor network that is:

Praised by entrepreneurs that have pitched, as well as by members and guests who have made investments
Recognised for its professionalism being run by experienced business angels
Supported by a world-leading, triple-accredited business school
Reputable being constituted as a University of Reading subsidiary company and overseen by a supervisory board
Committed to supporting entrepreneurship as well as providing ethical investment opportunities
Aligned on purpose with all members self-certified as either HNWI or sophisticated investors
Rigorous in its selection of companies to present that follows a proven investment process
Accepted by peer networks evidenced by deal sharing and membership of UKBAA
Compliant with the rules and regulations governing angel investing
Welcoming and friendly making Henley Business Angels a great network to be part of and invest through

Regular Events include:

(Please note that until further notice regular events as described below are suspended because of the COVID-19 outbreak save that the HBA Company Presentations event in June and possibly September will be delivered online. Please check back with the website for the latest information.)

Regular ‘themed’
breakfast meetings

University of Reading and Henley Business School conferences, such as Engaging Business Presentations and Business Leaders Lectures

Regular events hosted by the University of Reading Entrepreneurship Society

‘Talks on Enterprise Development’, a series of events featuring CEOs of high growth businesses as guest speakers

Why invest?

Investing in start-up and early-stage businesses can be very attractive for the business angel in terms of realising a financial return on investment (though please note that there is no guarantee). Other attractions of investing include personal satisfaction of helping a business to grow and building one’s knowledge and experience.

In making a decision to invest, the business angel needs to consider what they want from an investment and how much time they can devote to the various activities involved with investing.

For more information, read the guide prepared by the UKBAA.

Click here to access our HBA Application Form and here to download the Membership Terms and Conditions. Please note that one of the conditions of membership is the payment of an annual fee of £300, which covers costs, including those surrounding the hosting of our company presentation events.

Ready to join?

To apply to join HBA as an investor fill out our investor application form linked below. The form is also available to access under the investor tab on the menu above.

If you have any questions concerning your application, email Jurek Sikorski at jurek.sikorski@henley.ac.uk or Alex Baker at a.j.baker@henley.ac.uk.

Your application will be reviewed in confidence and you will receive a reply to inform you of the outcome.

Apply to join

When asked about his experience as a member, Jim Malone said the following:

“Joining Henley Business Angels has given me a unique opportunity to meet some of the brightest entrepreneurs in the Thames Valley and hear the exciting and innovative ideas for which they are seeking funding. I have had the privilege of discussing these in detail and have been able to provide my own perspective and support to help them get to the next level of growth and funding. Over the past year of involvement, I have personally invested in three separate and very different start-up enterprises, each with a novel proposition and disruptive approach to their markets. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the group and helping further young enterprises realise their full potential.”

Nick Pendleton, a fellow HBA member, added:

“Over time I’ve realised that angel investing is a team sport. You need different perspectives and diverse experience to validate your due diligence, fellow investors on the cap table to keep up with what is going on and a friend to share a drink with to celebrate success or commiserate with when things don’t work out. I can’t think of a better place to find teammates and good businesses than Henley Business Angels.”

MEMBER TESTIMONIAL

“As a member of the Henley Business Angels I have had the opportunity to get involved with a number of fantastic entrepreneurs and their ventures. We see businesses with new technologies, products and services and as well as investment HBA provides them with mentoring, contacts in supporting organisations and potential customers. I have built good relationships with a number of fellow investors, supported ventures and invested in companies that have pitched at HBA events.”

Andrew Gaule