Last Wednesday, at the Royal Lancaster in London, 450 leading decision makers from the UK’s vibrant SME investment ecosystem celebrated their stellar successes at the third annual Growth Investor Awards, organised by Intelligent Partnership.
Amid intense competition for the inaugural Best Angel Syndicate award, Startup Funding Club took the top prize, praised by the judges for investing in very promising businesses, and featuring a network of experienced and highly qualified sector experts who support and guide businesses on their growth trajectories.
The Best Angel Syndicate award is open to any recognised angel syndicate and seeks to acknowledge the vital role angel investing plays in the SME investment ecosystem. Entrants had to provide clear evidence of offering investment at crucial stages of investee company growth. More than anything else, the judges looked for measurable ‘impact beyond investment’ evidenced by how syndicates had provided invaluable support, experience, and strategic direction to investee companies.
Jenny Tooth, CEO of the UK Business Angels Association, presented the Best Angel Syndicate award to Startup Funding Club, which fought off a stellar group of syndicates that comprised Oxford Capital CoInvestor Circle, 24Haymarket, Endeavour Ventures and Green Angel Syndicate.
Joseph Zipfel, Investment Manager at Startup Funding Club said: ”We’re incredibly pleased to be named Syndicate of the Year for the second consecutive year following last year's success at the UKBAA Awards. Syndication is at the core of SFC's model as our vision has always been to leverage our active angel network with our own seed funds and co-investment partners such as the London Co-Investment Fund. We are very grateful to the great investors and entrepreneurs who have accompanied us since we started our journey five years ago.""
Tooth commented: “This important award is designed to recognise the vital role angel investing plays in the SME investment ecosystem. Without knowledgeable syndicates that are prepared to collaborate and share risk, many businesses would struggle to get the investment and support they need at key stages in their growth journey.”
Guy Tolhurst, Managing Director at Intelligent Partnership, expanded on the judges’ decision: “Startup Funding Club has an impressive deal flow, which is testament to companies wanting to work with its angels to help them build the necessary structure, governance and processes to succeed.”
Rory Bremner presided over the exclusive black tie awards, spanning 16 different categories. Chris Philp MP, entrepreneur and Parliamentary Private Secretary to HM Treasury Ministers, gave the first keynote speech of the evening. The ceremony featured a second keynote speech from Alan Cheatle, CEO and founder of TEN Group, on its stages of growth and how magic can happen when great investors meet promising entrepreneurs.
