Oxford Innovation Finance is the home of OION, one of the oldest and largest angel investment networks in the UK, and the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund. OION was established in 1994 as one of the UK’s first business angel networks and today links carefully selected investment opportunities from Oxford and across the country with investors through regular Showcase events. Most of the opportunities which present to the network qualify for either Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) or Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) tax relief. In January 2020, Oxford Angel Network (OAN), part of Oxford University’s commercialisation arm Oxford University Innovation (OUI), merged with OION to create one unified angel network for Oxford and beyond.
The Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund launched in 2021 and invested in nine companies, Fund 2 launched in 2022 and completed a further nine investments, with Fund 3 following in 2023 and completing nine investments by April 2024. The Fund now offers investors quarterly closes with each investor’s investment deployed over the subsequent 12-18 months. Companies interested in receiving investment from the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund should follow the standard OION application and Showcase pitching process.
As a part of the SQW Group, Oxford Innovation Finance is well connected to the early-stage/start-up ecosystem and, through its sister companies, is able to offer connections to a wide range of support, beyond that of just access to finance. Oxford Innovation Advice offer business expertise and advice for leaders of ambitious businesses through a range of business support & coaching programmes. And Oxford Innovation Space manage a nationwide network of 25+ Innovation Centres which host and support over 1000 start-ups and SMEs.
Oxford Innovation Finance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 564525).
If you're an investor interested in joining Oxford Innovation Finance's angel network, OION, please complete the online Investor Registration Form. Investors interested in investing indirectly via the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund are able to do so without registering for OION membership. Visit the Fund page for more information and to see if the Fund is open for investment at this time.
Companies seeking investment and interested in pitching at an OION Showcase should complete the Company Registration Form. This also applies to companies interested in receiving investment from the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund who should follow the standard OION application and Showcase pitching process.
