News

Downpatrick-based software company Bluesona has received a six-figure investment from Co-Fund II and the Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) to further develop the firm’s product offering.

One of the biggest challenges faced by early stage investors is to assemble a portfolio of investments that in aggregate return more than 2 times the original amount invested in the total portfolio. In the language of Venture Capital, the goal of a successful early stage investor is to achieve a Distributed to Paid-In (DPI) ratio greater than 2X. In other words, for every dollar you invest in your portfolio, you want to get two dollars back over time. And, if you want to be one of the top decile early stage investors, you want to shoot for a DPI of 3X or greater to be one of the top decile early stage investors, you want to shoot for a DPI of 3X or greater.

HBAN, the all-island organisation responsible for the promotion of business angel investment and a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland, today announces that its winning streak at the European Business Angels Network (EBAN) annual congress has continued. Phorest, the HBAN-backed salon software company, was named most successful business financed by early stage investors at this year’s event in Helsinki.

Are you an investor and in London on June 20th? If so, join us at the HBAN London Syndicate to see some of the best investment opportunities from the island of Ireland. Did you know the HBAN London Syndicate invested €700k into 5 companies within the first 9 months? This active group of investors welcomes new members at their next meeting on 20th of June in London.                  The HBAN London Syndicate is a group of likeminded individuals seeking qualified deal flow with a UK focus from the island of Ireland. The syndicate usually co-invests alongside a local Irish lead investor, with due diligence documents available.

After a year or two down the path of building a diversified portfolio of angel investments, many individual angels are faced with some uncertainty about their path forward. The questions on many experienced angels’ minds are “Will I make a good enough return on my angel investments to justify the risk? Should I continue to invest?”  

Deciphex an Irish based technology player, applying AI in pathology, has announced the conclusion of a €2.3m equity funding and convertible debt conversion event which will empower the company to accelerate its research and development in Artificial Intelligence and ramp up market entry in preclincial/toxicologic digital pathology.

HBAN will hold the first Food Investor Forum of 2019 on 21st May in Dublin . The half-day event will bring together current HBAN Food Syndicate Investors, other HBAN Investors interested in the food sector and New Investors interested in getting involved in food investing. It will also bring together other key stakeholders in the food industry including Kerry Group, Finistere (a later stage US and Irish Food and Agtech focused VC), and leaders of successful scaled Food companies to share their market insights and experience. A selection of 4 food sector entrepreneurs from across the broad food supply chain (from production, packaging and distribution) will pitch to investors to raise investment.

HBAN, a joint initiative of Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland, will host an Introductory Business Angel Investing seminar at the Wexford Chamber Offices, Hill Street, Wexford, Wednesday 8th May from 5.30pm. The seminar will feature a session with seasoned angel investor Brian McDonald and networking opportunities with members of South East Business Angel Network.

Signum Surgical, a company dedicated to developing minimally invasive technologies to treat colorectal diseases, today announced the company has secured €3.6 million ($4 million) through two grant funding awards. The grants include €2.3 million from the European Union Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, and €1.3 million from Ireland’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). Funds from these grants will support regulatory and clinical programs leading to the commercialization of the company’s BioHealxTM device, which is designed to treat anal fistula, a painful colorectal condition that affects one in 5,000 people worldwide.

HBAN Investment Consultant Niamh Sterling spoke with Silicon Republic this week on what Angel Investors are looking for in a start-up, what makes a great entrepreneur and the critical ingrediants to start up success.