London Technology Fund Competition 2009

Are you a potentially high growth seed, start-up or early stage technology company based in London and looking for investment? If so, the London Technology Fund Competition is for you.

Prizes include a share of up to £1m in investment funding and over £100,000 worth of training and advice and access to a speed-dating event to meet major technology corporates and their venture capital arms. Early applicants will also receive a free copy of the publication Sources of Finance and Advice for SMEs in London.

The deadline for submission of entries is 30th May 2009. Winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held on 4th November 2009.

Please note that the first two training workshops (for shortlisted applicants) will be held on 15th and 16th of July. Please keep these dates free. For a list of other dates, see rules.

Sponsored by Company Guides Venture Partners (managers of the London Technology Fund), Oracle Corporation UK Ltd, PricewaterhouseCoopers and
The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Supporters include: BAE Systems, BASF Venture Capital, BP, British Library Business & IP Centre, BT, Cambridge Consultants, Capgemini, Cisco, College Hill, Eli Lilly and Company, 4iP, groupH, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Intel Capital, Johnson Matthey, Kilburn & Strode LLP, Kodak, Lockheed Martin UK, Marriott Harrison, MBDA, Messagelab, Motorola Ventures, Pera, PharmaVentures, Procter & Gamble, Qi3, Rolls-Royce, Shirlaws, Smith & Nephew, SR One (GSK's Venture Fund), Symantec, Trinamo LLP and Unilever Ventures.

Photographs from the 2008 speed-dating event held in Moorgate Place at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Quotes about the 2008 Competition Programme

David McMeekin, chairman of the London Technology Fund, said, "The brief encounters are designed to help overcome the barriers innovative technology entrepreneurs face in trying to understand what really matters to major potential customers, suppliers and trade investors. The global corporates also have the chance to see some of the most exciting technology developments coming out of London. The event provided a forum for these parties to talk to each other and we are delighted at the high level of interest it generated".

Ian Smith, who was then Regional Senior Vice President, Oracle UK Region, "At Oracle we partner with exciting young technology companies, who understand our overriding goal to continually deliver additional value to help sustain our customers' competitiveness. The LTF programme has been encouraging, because it has shown there are a number of UK emerging businesses, who understand this point and back up their innovative ideas with well-conceived business proposals. It may seem common sense, but it is the companies with this commercial focus, who Oracle will want to partner with. The speed-dating event provided an excellent opportunity to meet a number of potential candidates". Ian retired from Oracle in November 2008.

Dr Andre Moreira, BASF Venture Capital, said, "What is going on in London is exciting and it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to participate in such an excellent event".

The London Technology Fund is funded by the London Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund. It is managed by Company Guides Venture Partners Ltd (CGVP), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. CGVP's registered office is 13 Christopher Street, London EC2A 2BS. Please note that any investment funding offered to applicants will be subject to the London Technology Fund's usual investment criteria, including the requirement to invest as part of a syndicate.