Funding associated with investigation or inquiry that may lead to the creation or use of Intellectual Property

Funding associated with the creation of new, breakthrough or disruptive science or technology

Funding that requires collaboration between industrial and academic partners

Funding or support to prove the market value, function or application of a product or service idea

Funding or support related to the design and manufacture of a prototype product or system

Funding or support related to the design processes associated with the product development cycle

Funding or support related to manufacture, supply chain, or design for manufacture , or reducing costs

Funding or support related to the design and development processes, related to product commercialisation

Funding or support associated with "selling" a product or service, or increasing revenues

Funding or support associated with the early stages of company formation and growth

Funding or support associated with skills, training or employee development

Funding or support to assist companies to globalise or internationalise their products or services

Finance South East Accelerator Fund

 

Must be able to demonstrate the potential for significant growth.

-Funding can only be provided for investment in the business. It cannot be used as working capital or to refinance existing debt.

-Companies operating in most business sectors are eligible for the Accelerator Fund but there are some exclusions. These exclusions include, but are not limited to:

-land & propery development
-accountants & legal services
-hotels
-nursing & residential care homes
-international motor transport
-agriculture
-forestry & timber production
-horticulture

Finance South East was formed in June 2002 and is supported by the South East England Development Agency SEEDA and the region's Business Link organisations. The FSE Accelerator Fund is a £10 million mezzanine loan fund which supports small and medium sized companies in the South East with the potential for significant growth (early stage or established companies).

The Accelerator Fund fills the gap between traditional debt and equity funding. It can be a stand alone funding source but is best used as complementary funding alongside other sources of finance. The Fund is effective in unlocking other forms of finance and in 80% of the deals that FSE have agreed with companies the Accelerator funds have formed part of a larger finance package.

This fund has supported companies from many different business sectors including satellite communications, a café chain, healthcare and sports companies, a software business and a cinema chain. Some of our clients are starting a new business and others are more established - for example we have helped a company employing 50 staff with a turnover of £8 million.

Finance South East can lend companies an initial amount from £25,000 to £100,000 at any stage as long as they can demonstrate the potential for significant growth. A second loan of up to £100,000 can be made after 9 months.

Interest is agreed on a case by case basis reflecting the level of risk (between 5% and 9% above base rate). Repayment is over 3 to 5 years (a capital repayment holiday can be considered). Security, if taken, is subject to risk assessment and in most cases will be subordinate to the security of any other lenders.
Fees:
• arrangement fee 2%
• annual monitoring fee 1%
• legal costs £500 fixed fee (where applicable).

Interested companies should request an application form by contacting Kevan Jones, kevan.jones@financesoutheast.com, (0)1276 608510.

Companies will need to have a business plan in place which incorporates detailed finanical forecasts.

http://www.financesoutheast.com/casestudies/