Five businesses, including a theft tracking GPS system and a company producing nutritional breakfast drinks, will be taking part in Dorset Business Angels’ first-ever virtual pitch platform.

The quarterly event has moved online because of the coronavirus crisis with the businesses seeking investment from the business angels.

Don McQueen, Chairman of Dorset Business Angels (DBA), pictured left, said: “Despite the current coronavirus pandemic and the extremely challenging times that we are experiencing, we have decided to carry on with our pitch event.

“We had initially considered cancelling the quarterly pitches but it became very evident that the businesses involved were very keen for it to continue.

“The five pitching businesses will upload three-minute video presentations to a DBA members’ hub online platform.

“An online Zoom seminar will subsequently follow to allow investors to connect with the pitching businesses, pose questions and register interest to go through the due diligence process with a business.

“The DBA investors and our partners feel that it is our duty in the current climate to reach out to businesses, help out with funding, provide inspiration, mentoring and much needed enthusiasm and commitment.”

The investor pitches are:

• An energy storage systems and electric vehicle charging business which aims to produce the first demonstrator and become one of the major five energy suppliers in the UK.
• An award-winning business which has developed a passive ventilation with heat recovery system. It has been installed by major UK building companies in more than 800 domestic and 200 commercial properties.
• A company offering a smart solution for protecting any electrical device that can be connected to a standard mains power source. GPS tracking is now commonplace for cars, lorries and large items of plant, but can incur high monthly rental charges. There is no comparable middle-market product for smaller items of plant costing from £500 upwards. Caravans, of which over 4,000 are stolen annually in the UK, can also be protected with the system. The company’s tracker device is built into the power supply cable and can therefore be used on any electrical equipment using a standard 110V/240 volt UK supply.
• A start-up that has produced Europe’s first prebiotioc sparkling soft drinks and is now seeking to gear up for a launch into the UK market with an ambition to establish the brand in a small number of well-known independent stores.
• A business producing nutritional breakfast drinks with an emphasis being on convenience rather than nutrition. The company’s products address this imbalance by blending wholegrain cereals to produce a delicious range of nutritional breakfast drinks.

Jamie Lane and Roger Wareham, Partners at event sponsors Saffery Champness chartered accountants, said: “Safferys are really pleased that this event is continuing and the innovative ways being found to ensure that entrepreneurs can still access funding and pursue potential growth during this challenging time.”

DBA was formed in 2013 with the aim to bring investors and entrepreneurs together to accelerate the growth of early stage businesses.

It provides quality, private equity investment opportunities to local high net worth and sophisticated investors.

Four times a year companies are invited to attend an event at which they pitch their business to the savvy angels in a Dragon’s Den type scenario.

Angel investment might come from a single investor or it could be two or three angels pooling funds together to support a company.

Any investments are in the form of an equity investment and not a debtor’s loan. Investments are made across all sectors.

DBA is sponsored by Saffery Champness Accountants, Ellis Jones Solicitors and Investec Wealth and Investment

To find out more about Dorset Business Angels visit www.dorsetbusinessangels.co.uk