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March
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advantages of syndicated investments MSIF funding package mixes recipe of success for Nurock  Photo shows L-R – Graham Jones (Nurock) Alan Birkett and Mike Bakewell (MSIF) Anthony Jones and Royan Anthony (Nurock) Lorna Green (Liverpool Ventures) A company which has developed an innovative hyrdraulic concrete mixing system is expanding with a funding package of more than £360k including support from Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF). Nurock Limited, based in Garston, has developed a process which controls the volume of each different ingredient used to make concrete. At the push of a button the amount of the various ingredients can be changed allowing different types of concrete to be produced. The patented, computer-controlled system is quicker and more energy efficient than any existing machinery and produces a high quality product. The company has raised a funding package totalling £368k which includes £200k from MSIF’s Liverpool Seed Fund, £50k from MSIF’s Small Firms Fund, an NWDA GRAND (Grant for Research and Development) grant and directors’ own investment. MSIF has appointed the highly experienced Royan Anthony, former managing director of Rolls-Royce’s Compressor Systems, as non executive director. Nurock has been assisted throughout the funding process by Lorna Green of Liverpool Ventures and she continues to work with the company. The business was set up by directors Graham Jones and his father, Anthony Jones in 2000. Managing director, Graham Jones said: “Traditionally, concrete mixers just carried the pre-mixed cement but our mixers allow a variety of concretes to be mixed on site. We have refined the process over the years and are now ready to begin manufacturing the machines. We have already sold a couple of mixers and now have orders for more." “The funding has enabled us to move to new premises which will house the manufacturing facility. This expansion means we are now in a position to market the mixers and broaden our customer base." “Royan’s appointment is a great boost and his experience will really help us drive the business forward.” Liverpool Seed Fund investment manager, Mike Bakewell said: “Nurock is an excellent example of how businesses can innovate to develop their existing processes and create a whole new market for themselves.” Small Firms Fund investment manager, Alan Birkett said: “Graham has been developing his idea for quite some time and his determination and drive are admirable. We believe the business will do very well and we are pleased to be supporting Nurock.” Lorna Green of Liverpool Ventures said: “We are confident that there is a good market for Nurock’s machines and we will continue to work closely with the company throughout the commercialisation process.” Nurock currently employs six staff and this is expected to increase to 15 over the next three years. Legal advisors involved in the transaction were Mark Foreman of PFK for Nurock and Lynn Rathbone of Weightmans for the Liverpool Seed Fund. Host Telecom creates new mass market advertising platform Company set to revolutionise advertising relocates to Merseyside with backing from the Liverpool Seed Fund  Photo shows L-R – Ian Hollingsworth (Host Telecom) Mike Bakewell (Liverpool Seed Fund) Janet Butler (Liverpool Ventures) Colin Barnes (Host Telecom) A company which provides a unique mobile application that is set to transform advertising has relocated from Rochdale to Liverpool with backing from Merseyside Special Investment Fund’s Liverpool Seed Fund. Host Telecom, now based at Trident House, has developed a video ring back tone for use on mobile phones and internet-based communication providers. The video images will replace the usual ring tone and enable brand and commercial advertisers to access a new, mass market advertising medium. The Liverpool Seed Fund has invested £100,000 to support the proof of concept phase of development – where the viability of the technology is tested and potential market demand is assessed. Liverpool Ventures has assisted Host Telecom throughout the investment process and continues to work closely with the company. Host Telecom was the brainchild of chairman, Martyn Butterworth. He set up the company in 2006 with co-directors Colin Barnes and Ian Hollingworth. Martyn Butterworth said: “In the UK there are over 60 billion mobile connections per year which represents 400 million hours of available advertising and social networking space a year. We have already received significant interest from potential advertisers." “We are also looking to partner with mobile network operators who will be able to gain new revenue sources from the advertiser. The user will also benefit by being able to access and generate extra content and also get calls and texts subsidised by the advertiser. “The support from the Liverpool Seed Fund and Liverpool Ventures has been crucial in getting Host Telecom started. It is quite hard to find investment for a business at this early stage and in addition to finance, their knowledge, advice and network has been very important.” Liverpool Seed Fund investment manager, Mike Bakewell said: “Mobile-based marketing offers huge opportunities and could be one of the biggest advertising channels yet seen. We believe this product to be groundbreaking and think the company has excellent market potential.” Janet Butler, Business Consultant with Liverpool Ventures said: “Host Telecom has already had excellent feedback from their demo which was shown to various advertising and media experts. The management team is strong and dynamic and we are pleased to be supporting them.” Legal advisors involved in the transaction were Aaron & Partners (Liverpool Seed Fund) and Corporate Blue (Host Telecom). Chromatide to design polymers for stem cell research with the University of Liverpool 
Picture shows: left to right Chromatide Founders: Saeed Gulzar and Don Wellings Chromatide is to work with the University of Liverpool on the development of new polymers for stem cell research. Stem cell research is considered vitally important in the research into potential cures of a range of debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. Chromatide is an IP-driven company backed by the Liverpool Seed Fund. The Company’s novel and proprietary encapsulation technologies will be used for stem cell culture and differentiation to facilitate stem cell research applications. The project has been enabled by the University of Liverpool Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE studentship). The three year project with the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool is co-funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This affiliation brings together Chromatide's considerable experience in novel polymer design and synthesis, with the considerable expertise of Professor Jerry Turnbull and Dr Patricia Murray in stem cell biology and cell signalling research. Professor Turnbull, from the University of Liverpool said:“ Our collaboration to develop novel polymers for use in stem cell cultures will enable us to quickly develop improved cell culture techniques.” Dr Don Wellings, Chromatide’s CSO, said:“We are delighted to be working with the University of Liverpool on this project. It illustrates how we are applying our proprietary technologies in a range of applications which are at the forefront of key life science research applications. The relationship is enabling us to combine our expertise in developing novel polymer technologies with the skills and knowledge that Professor Turnbull and Dr Murray have in this growing and exciting research area.” Chromatide has received investment from Merseyside Special Investment Fund’s Liverpool Seed Fund and RisingStars Growth Fund II and is supported by Malcolm Stewart of Liverpool Ventures a subsidiary of MSIF which provides advisory services post investment by the Liverpool Seed Fund. www.chromatide.com New RFID plastic pallet by Smartflow with SLR Technology software on show at CeBIT  Picture: Smartflow pallets carry up to 1,200 kg in high rack warehousing Liverpool Seed Fund backed S.L.R. Technology solutions demonsrated the innovative new Smartflow pallet track and trace system at CeBIT, Hanover, the world’s largest trade fair for digital solutions in March. The system has already installed at German packaging manufacturer Heuhemer Verpackung GmbH & Co. The demonstration showed the journey of the reusable plastic RFID Smartflow pallet from, manufacturer to distribution depot, to carriage of goods and back to distribution depot. It shows screen views of how various organisation and logistics chain functions, can control, track and trace pallet and goods, invoicing, revenue generation and more. Christoph Heuchemer MD of Heuchemer Verpackungen (Germany) said:“We are the first company in our industry to use this innovative and very economical combination of a novel multiway plastic-pallet and a stable tracking and tracing solution. We chose the Smartflow S.L.R. system because the relevant information on tracking and tracing links directly with our ERP system. "We have a well established logistics system and the pre-installed. S.L.R. Tracking and Tracing Software fits almost seamlessly into our established systems. "Interfaces between the delivery note and palette are visible, which allows the customer to monitor his supply chain performance online with one glance. It also reduces the cash flow on palettes as you only pay for what you have in stock or are currently using.” Stephan Willigens MD of S.L.R. Technology solutions said, “The Smartflow pallet is bundled with S.L.R.’s passive RFID track and trace software meaning that it is always traceable by both owner and user. It is light weight at below 10kg reducing transport costs. It offers the robustness of wood and carries up to 1,200 kg in a high rack environment and it can be used many times over so it is less demanding on the environment and more economical than wooden pallets. Janet Butler from Liverpool Ventures said:“ S.L.R. is a fast growing company because it meets key corporate demands for driving down production and transport costs and increasing competitiveness through use of innovation.” www.slr-solutions.eu SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION Liverpool Seed Fund is an MSIF Fund. MSIF funds are managed by Alliance Fund Managers which is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the course of investment business. Liverpool Ventures 5th Floor Cunard Building, Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1DS Tel. 0151 236 0500 0151 236 4040 www.liverpoolventures.com Liverpool Ventures is a Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales. Company Number 04894769 Liverpool Seed Fund 5th Floor Cunard Building, Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1DS Tel. 0151 236 4040 www.msif.co.uk Registered in England: Company Number 2981031  |
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links Investment News The advantages of syndicated investments MSIF funding package mixes recipe of success for Nurock Host Telecom creates new mass market advertising platform Chromatide links with Liverpool University on stem cell project New RFID plastic pallet by Smartflow on show at CeBIT Embraer evaluating J2 Aircraft Dynamics Malcolm Stewart on expert panel for Investment Readiness Merseyside Innovation Awards search for a winner National policy could help creative businesses Sport Relief from John Early stage companies expand their network The Liverpool Seed Fund invests in early stage businesses. Email to a colleague Embraer evaluating J2 Aircraft Dynamics Building on the company’s recent high profile international sales successes, the burgeoning UK based J2 Aircraft Dynamics, backed by Liverpool Seed Fund, has recently sold its J2 Universal Tool-Kit software user-licences to Embraer Brazil. The state-of-the-art J2 engineering analysis tool enables the assessment and visualisation of an aircraft in flight, allowing the rapid development of an aircraft’s flight dynamics, performance and handling characteristics. Janet Butler, Business Consultant from Liverpool Ventures who works closely with J2 said: “This demonstrates how large companies such as Embraer adopt new technology, if it meets the demanding needs of their business .  This prestigious J2 sale resulted from a chance encounter at an SAE meeting in Wichita, in August 2006 between a Product Development Engineer of Embraer and John Jeffery of J2 Aircraft Dynamics. As their conversation turned to the Aerospace industry’s design and developments process, Embraer’s engineer became intrigued by the impressive claims made by John Jeffery related to J2 Aircraft Dynamic’s Universal Tool-Kit Software. Consequently an invitation was extended to John, to visit the Embraer plant in São José dos Campos Brazil to put his claims to the test. Following John Jeffery’s in depth presentation and rigorous ‘hands-on’ trials, the consensus amongst the designers within Embraer’s impressive Advanced Aerodynamics Design Department was that the J2 software had the potential to meet the departments demanding needs. By focusing on specific, high growth potential market segments within the commercial, defence, and executive aviation fields, Embraer has become one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world. Embraer’s Advanced Design Senior Manager – Aerodynamics, Decio Pullin, stated that: “Our J2 Tool-Kit can help our Preliminary Design Group to develop and adapt successful aircraft platforms, reducing the time required to reach a design that will offer a better operating cost and ensure that our customers receive the highest levels of reliability, comfort, and safety. Our future intention is to purchase additional licences, depending on in depth evaluations, future software customisations and on-going commercial discussions.” Boasting a sector leading, short investment payback period, the J2 Universal Tool-Kit is able to eliminate design flaws and poor performance characteristics at a much earlier stage of an aircraft design process. As the ingenious J2 software allows more information to be discovered and evaluated sooner, the cost of design modifications is vastly reduced, whilst the resulting, truncated development process leads to a much earlier ‘Time-to Market’. J2 Aircraft Dynamics Malcolm Stewart on expert panel for Investment Readiness  Malcolm
Stewart MD of Liverpool Ventures addressed an audience of entrepreneurs,
investors and advisors on the subject of Investment Readiness at The Library
House UK Technology Innovation and Growth Forum in March. The discussion panel was also fielded by Tim Minsall from the University of Cambridge, Robert Desborough of London Seed Capital, Nigel Reynolds of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Eric Van der Kleij of UK Trade & Investment.  The search is on! The highly popular Merseyside Innovation Awards are opening their doors again to find this year’s champion! Each monthly winner will benefit from free local PR and the chance to compete in the final, to be held at the City’s Crowne Plaza hotel. Three shortlisted contestants will present at the grand final in front of a distinguished panel of judges from across the commercial spectrum. The lucky winner can win £10,000 cash and £4,000 worth of business support. Registration: http://www.merseyside innovationawards.co.uk The Merseyside Innovation Awards are sponsored by: Amatica, BBC Radio Merseyside, Brabners Chaffe Street, Business Link Greater Merseyside, Insider Magazine, JAB, L1 PR and Marketing, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Liverpool Ventures, NatWest, University of Liverpool, W.P. Thompson & Co, Vanguard Corporate Finance. National policy could help creative businesses  Peter
Leather of Liverpool Ventures urged policy makers to draw up a national
policy to maximise the value that can be gained from the creative industries
during an address to the 5th annual UK Business Incubation Conference
in Sheffield on 13 March. Drawing on his experience working for an institutional investor, running his own design business and working as a business advisor and incubation manager he highlighted the challenges faced by creative businesses, and the processes required for the development of their investment readiness. Sport Relief from John 
John Jeffery CEO of J2 Aircraft a Liverpool Seed Fund investee company has dragged himself away from his computer and taken up running. On 16 March with the sun on his back and an Irish Sea “breeze” in his face he completed 6 miles for Sport Relief in 45 minutes and 15 seconds. All the money raised is spent by Comic Relief to help vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both at home and across the world’s poorest countries. Sport Relief is a fund raising event which takes place every two years. It aims to harness the power and passion of sport to change lives for the better. Donations for Sport Relief can be made here http://www. mysportrelief.com/ johnjeffery . Early stage companies expand their network Entrepreneurs invested in by Liverpool Seed Fund were encouraged to make new contacts, share ideas and promote their business to a wider network including industry professionals through an ICT Network event in association with Liverpool Seed Fund, Liverpool Ventures and ICDC at the Tate Gallery, Albert Dock on 13 March.  Key speakers at the event were the highly regarded Stewart Townsend from Sun Micro systems who spoke about the Sun Micro systems Red Shift system for helping companies meet the demands of rapid expansion and Anish Kapoor CEO of Yuuguu. Yuuguu lets you work with your colleagues over the internet, as though you were all sitting together. Anish has vast experience of the software industry and has held senior positions in several other companies. |
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