British robotics fund launched in UK

20th December 2016

Britbots

Anna Flockett

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It has been announced that the British Robotics Seed Fund has been launched by High Growth Robotics, as the first investment fund specialising as a UK-based robotics start-up. The focus of the Fund is to deliver returns to Investors by making targeted investments in promising UK-based seed-stage robotics companies wrapped within a fund format that is highly tax efficient (under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, 'SEIS').

Automation and robotisation are beginning to drive significant productivity improvements across the global economy, making it one of today’s most exciting investment themes. According to market intelligence firm Tractica, robotics is set to grow at rates in excess of 45% with the global market to approach a quarter of trillion dollars by 2021.

There are currently no specialist UK investment vehicles to provide financial backing and strategic support for early stage robotics companies with compelling business in concepts.

The Fund offers investors a rare opportunity to participate in a selection of the most innovative and disruptive businesses that are exploiting the new generation of robotic technologies.

The fund will invest in up to 12 robotics start-ups each year across a broad range of sectors including, construction, logistics, agriculture and domestic robots.

World-class robotics laboratories in the United Kingdom are home to some of the finest robot-engineering talent and the Fund looks, via partnerships with theses labs and incubators, to help convert this inherent potential into successful world-class companies.

The British Robotics Seed Fund is being managed by Sapphire Capital Partners LLP in partnership with High Growth Robotics which will help identify the investments and provide mentoring services to the robotics entrepreneurs and start-ups with which the fund works.

The fund is open to investors with a minimum of £10,000 to invest and who are looking to enhance their investment portfolio with high growth robotics businesses. SEIS-qualifying robotics companies are being encouraged to apply.

Boyd Carson, CEO of Sapphire Capital Partners LLP commented on the launch: “Robotics represents one of today’s most exciting investment themes and investors now have the opportunity to enhance their portfolio with a mixed basket of exciting early-stage robotics businesses whilst also befitting from the significant tax advantages of SEIS”.

High Growth Robotics is led by Dominic Keen, a British entrepreneur, who concluded: “I genuinely believe that some of the world’s finest robotics businesses are currently being established in the UK and the British Robotics Seed Fund is ideally positioned to ensure that these companies are able to maximise their future success”.

The fund closes on 31 March 2017.