Midlands Business Angel Network

What is Minerva?

Minerva is primarily a network of Business Angels. We do have Corporate Venturers and links with many Venture Capital and co-investment Funds and often invest alongside them, however, most clients come to us looking for angel finance. We are also part of the University of Warwick Science Park and offer a lot more than just access to finance.

What does Minerva do?

Businesses:- Minerva helps companies attract equity funding from it’s own network of Business Angels and will make appropriate introductions to relevant Venture Capital Funds as well as access other forms of finance from suitable sources including Banks.

Sometimes companies will also need a variety of support to help achieve their ambitions and Minerva as part of the University of Warwick Science Park are often able to access local, regional and national business support services and grants when available.

Minerva have an extensive database of private investors and also operate two Investor Syndicates who meet on the last Tuesday every month and view pre-selected opportunities for potential investment.

Whilst we are comfortable working with companies from most sectors and stage of maturity, we do tend to specialise in early stage technology ventures.

Investors : The Minerva process ensures investors get to see the widest possible range of opportunities both as individuals registered on the database and collectively through the syndicates. We work with the companies leading upto a presentation and will facilitate meetings afterwards with interested investors.

We try and inform investors throughout the year on relevant issues and when appropriate invite experts to speak on investment related matters at syndicate meetings. We also maintain close links with other Business Angel Networks and both the local and wider business community as much as possible.

Who is Minerva?

The Minerva Access to Finance programme, launched in 1994, is one of a portfolio of services provided by University of Warwick Science Park Limited that actively help early stage entrepreneurs and mature companies access funding,  advice and support to grow their business.

The Business Angel network is managed by:

Tim Powell, Director of the Minerva Business Angel Network
Email: tim.powell@uwsp.co.uk
Tel: 024 7632 3114

Tim is well known locally with a 25 year  career succesfully working for and with early stage businesses in a variety of roles as a Director, Investor and Non-Executive Director, helping them both establish and grow as well raising capital when required.

Tom Blount, Minerva Business Angel Network   Manager
Email: tom.blount@uwsp.co.uk
Tel: 024 7632 3028

Tom has managed funds and investment readiness programmes in the West Midlands for almost ten-years and has helped numerous businesses secure equity funding.

Carol Bull, Administrator
Email: carol.bull@uwsp.co.uk
Tel: 024 7632 3122

Carol, has worked with Minerva for 10 years and provides experienced support calming prospective investee nerves before a presentation and organising and liaising with investors throughout the year.

Minerva is always happy to hear from companies wanting to raise funding and individuals and/or companies who are considering becoming a business Angel or corporate venturer.  please get in touch!