Stockport Business Angels continue to invest in the town’s entrepreneurs

Working with the Growth Company’s GC Angels, Hallidays have co-hosted a Stockport Business Angels event, giving six growing businesses the opportunity to pitch their ideas to an audience of experienced businesspeople looking to invest.

The size of investments made at the event have remained confidential, however typically 40-60% or pitches result in some investment. December’s event was the fifth to take place in Stockport.

Paul Whitney, Hallidays MD (pictured), explains the success of Stockport Business Angels:

We’re delighted that between 35-60% of the business owners pitching at our events received offers of investment. This is a remarkable achievement considering the average for such an event is around 15%! You can feel the excitement in the room as the investment opportunities are pitched and we look forward to many more successful partnerships being forged.”

Stockport Business Angels events take a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style format, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch products or services to an audience of independent investors. Potential investments can vary in size from £25,000 to £2 million, as well as gaining access to the expertise of successful businesspeople.

Previous companies to benefit from the scheme include Hazel Grove snack manufacturer, Real Handful Ltd.  The business was seeking investment to support the cashflow needed to fund growth in product range and headcount, as well as access expertise to guide the business in the right direction. The company received a £100,000 investment.  Director Joe Taylor said:

The Business Angels event format really encouraged pitchers and angels alike to engage with each other. We met investors that are passionate and interested in what we are doing and have fulfilled 80% of our funding requirement. We can now bring our plan to life, growing our business and team. It was a great opportunity!”