Liverpool Seed Fund Investments

Colour calibration tool set to save online retailers thousands

A proof of concept investment of £85K from the Liverpool Seed Fund will enable AIMES to develop an online colour calibration tool that will allow consumers to view the true colour of goods before they make a purchasing decision. Liverpool Ventures supported the company throughout the investment process.

The patented colour calibration concept is the result of colour science research by Dr Sophie Wuerger at the University of Liverpool. It addresses the need for a low-cost, simple method of colour calibration where the originator of a website is able to ensure that those viewing the site are seeing the colour of products as the originator intended.

A new company, TruColour Ltd, has been set up by AIMES to carry out the technical development of a web-based application using the patented concept. It is aimed primarily at mass-market online retailers and e-commerce web-development companies.

AIMES Business Development Manager Brian McCaul says: “The science behind this technology is proven and we’re currently working to be able to provide it in a user friendly and cost-effective format.” Liverpool Seed Fund investment manager Mike Bakewell said: “We are delighted to have invested in Trucolour. This business is a great example of the quality of ideas and technologies that are coming out of the University of Liverpool.”

For online retailers the TruColour technology will mean the end to goods being returned because of their colour. “E-tailers have to deal with an enormous amount of returns that are due to the colour of the product not matching the customer’s expectation,” says McCaul. “The TruColour tool will ensure that customers are seeing the exact colour of the goods they are purchasing, which should mean massive savings on returns.”

While TruColour is currently in its development phase, AIMES has ambitious plans for its future. “We’re aiming for TruColour to be a household name by 2012, much in the same way that Adobe and Facebook are,” says McCaul.

Liverpool Seed Fund’s Injects £300k Into Wirral Technology Company


L-R Phil Ventre (VK Media) Darren Gowling (Liverpool seed Fund) Ian Woolsey (Editlite)

A Wirral company's cutting edge technology has caught the eye of computer giants Apple and is now being developed for use with Apple's iMovie.

EditLite Limited has developed software called ‘YourView’ which uses simple graphic icons to edit video footage. The software, which has a number of worldwide patents, enables the user to filter hundreds of hours of film into clips available for viewing within seconds.

The company has been funded by Merseyside Special Investment Fund’s Liverpool Seed Fund which has invested £300k into the business and has appointed Victor Kaminski, an experienced and successful ICT sector entrepreneur as Non Executive Director.

Currently the software can only be used in conjunction with a MAC but a PC-based version will be available soon.

EditLite’s Managing Director Ian Woolsey said: “Our product enables iMovie video editing to be done literally at the touch of a button. Apple’s involvement with YourView is a great endorsement and we are delighted to be working with them.

“The funding from the Liverpool Seed Fund means we can take the business to the next level and Victor’s appointment is a big asset given his vast experience in this sector. We are also working with VK Media who have done a fantastic job of developing key strategic relationships for EditLite.”

Darren Gowling, Investment Director of the Liverpool Seed Fund said: “We are pleased to be supporting EditLite. The product has already received considerable global interest and we believe it has huge potential.”

“Phil Ventre, Director at VK Media said: “This truly is a world beating product and is hitting the market at a time when video is just coming of age on the web.”

EditLite’s board of directors consists of Ian Woolsey (MD) Mark O’Connor, Victor Kaminski, Adam Foster and Chris Toone.

Advisors to EditLite were: Mark O’Connor of O’Connors (Legals) and John Else of The Steve Stuart Partnership (Corporate Finance). Advisors to the Liverpool Seed Fund were: John Schorah and Lynne Rathbone of Weightmas (Legals), Victor Kaminski, ICDC (Technical Due Diligence) and VK Media Ltd (Sales and Marketing).

Seed Funding Sees J2 Take Off


photo shows L-R John Jeffrey (J2) Janet Butler (Liverpool Ventures) Darren Gowling (MSIF)

A cutting edge piece of software is set to transform the aircraft manufacturing industry thanks to backing from Merseyside Special Investment Fund’s Liverpool Seed Fund.

J2 Aircraft Dynamics Limited, based in Maghull, has produced a unique engineering analysis tool, known as the “J2 Universal Toolkit”. The Toolkit simulates an aircraft’s in-flight behaviour allowing engineers to eliminate design flaws and poor performance characteristics early in the design process, saving thousands in costs and significantly reducing development time.

MSIF’s Seed Fund has invested £300k to fund the further development of the software. It is the second time J2 has been backed by the Seed Fund which initially invested £100k to complete the Proof of Concept stage, where the product is tested to see if it is commercially viable.

Customers already include the University of Virginia which is using the software to aid a NASA project, and Piper Aircraft Inc.

Several other companies within the aerospace industry have also expressed an interest including European Consortium SimSAC, which asked J2 to take the technical lead in developing further dynamic modelling solutions.

CEO John Jeffery who founded J2 in 2006 said: “I worked in the aviation industry for many years and identified a need for a product like this. The J2 Universal Toolkit can be used to develop any type of aircraft. It is extremely accurate and highly effective but quick and easy to use.”

“The funding from the Liverpool Seed Fund and the support from Liverpool Ventures has been vital to establishing J2 and means we can now take the business to the next level.”

Darren Gowling, Investment Director of MSIF’s £27m Seed Fund said: “J2 has already generated a lot of interest and we are pleased to be backing a company that has designed such innovative software. This is yet another fantastic example of the quality within the ICT sector on Merseyside.”

Janet Butler, Business Consultant with Liverpool Ventures: "We believe J2 has developed exciting technology with global commercial potential and we look forward to continuing to work closely with them through this next exciting phase.”

Turnover is expected to reach around £500k next year and it is estimated staff levels will reach 15 in 3 years.

Legal advisors involved in the transaction were Mark Rathbone at Brabners Chaffe Street for MSIF and Mark Forman at PFK for the management.

SLR plans UK sales
Logistics technology company SLR has announced the appointment of their UK sales Manager Douglas Scott who has experience in both UK and Europe. Douglas will manage a planned sales growth in UK following the success of installations of SLR technology in Germany and Switzerland. SLR Solutions links access and control systems providing enhanced efficiency and cost savings for distribution sites, airports and car parks.

SLR has also been strengthened by the appointment through Liverpool Ventures of Roger Heise as non executive chairman. Roger Heise is the founder of three companies including a technical support company and a TV post production company and will use his considerable influence in the UK, European and USA markets to propel rapid sales growth for SLR.

SLR Technology has many applications, Stephan Willigens Managing Director of SLR explained, “We are in talks with a pallet manufacturer where we can offer a pooling solution to their clients. Each time the pallet moves, it can generate revenue for the client. We arrange invoicing, track and trace, reporting documents and interface. The client will recoup their investment in less than 6 months and will benefit from improved efficiency and greater profits.”

“Almost any logistics operation would find that a small investment in the SLR technology would very quickly reduce costs and improve operations. Applications include; Faster throughput at the gate through access control, Increased security through applications with Cameras, better Warehouse management through improved use of available bays and greater use of spaces at exhibitions and car parks and last but not least integrated tracking and tracing.
The fact that the application is linked to existing site hardware whether it’s number plate recognition, RFID, access control or biometric means that capital expenditure and upheaval is minimal.”

www.slr-solutions.eu

Nano-technology firm takes prestige award for innovation

Pic from L to R: Maria Toolan, sponsor Marketing Manager Royal Bank of Scotland, Commercial Banking Liverpool, Prof. Steve Rannard CSO, Iota , Mark Ratcliffe, sponsor University of Liverpool

A COMPANY specialising in nano-technology has been named as the 2007 winner of the Merseyside Innovation Awards. Iota Nano Solutions with their development of anti malarial treatments was the 2007 winner.

The judges were particularly impressed with the firm’s relationship with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medecine for the development of anti-malarial treatments. Runners up provided strong competition and were named as: The Gravity Cue, Burley Doors and The Medical Device Innovation. Liverpool Ventures is a sponsor of the Merseyside Innovation Awards.