New scheme to help stellar space businesses attract investment
Space South Central and the SETsquared Partnership have won UK Space Agency funding to run a free initiative to help high-potential space and space-related SMEs attract investment.
Applications for the scheme, Cosmic Capital, are open now. The 20 to 25 companies selected will have access to a 12-month programme of investment-readiness training delivered by SETsquared Surrey and pitching opportunities, including:
Specialist / space-specific masterclasses on topics such as Raising Angel Finance and Funding Strategy.
Expert-led development of a short- to medium-term investment strategy.
One-to-one sessions to help companies prepare a compelling investment deck.
Pitch preparation and practice – both one-to-one and in small groups – with investor mentors previously invested in space.
Opportunities to apply to pitch at S100 Angel Investment Club events, including space-specific Angel investor groups and a large Investment Showcase event attended by 150+ active investors, corporates, angels and venture capitalists (VCs).
Networking events to foster company/investor/mentor collaborations.
Workshops and seminars on what investors are looking for in a pitch/investment deal
Alongside the investor-readiness activities delivered by SETsquared Surrey, companies can benefit from sector-specific support from Space South Central, and all will have access to the SETsquared Partnership’s Investment Programmes for launching a raise campaign, including:
RAISE toolkit: Self-learning masterclasses on preparing for a raise.
Access to SETsquared’s Investment Platform and more than 600 VC, Angel and corporate investors.
Investor Deep Dive: a one-to-one session with SETsquared’s Investment Manager to build a list of target space sector investors the company can reach out to.
Innovation Platform: Access to collaboration opportunities, training, resources, events, funding, and networking, including a page specifically for space companies and investors.
Investment Bulletin: sent out monthly to 1,500 investors.
The Space South Central and SETsquared Cosmic Capital scheme was one of four bids to be awarded a share of the UK Space Agency’s £1/2 million Accelerating Investment Opportunity fund.
The programme will be delivered by a consortium led by the University of Surrey on behalf of the SETsquared Partnership and Space South Central. Surrey is one of the six top UK universities behind SETsquared, an internationally-recognised business incubator and accelerator, and is also a founding partner of Space South Central, the UK’s largest space cluster, together with the universities of Portsmouth and Southampton.
Dr Louise Butt, Director of the Space South Central Enterprise Network, said:
“Cosmic Capital offers an unmissable opportunity for companies to get the inside track on what investors are looking for and what they need to do to get their business ‘investment-ready’.
“Applying for Cosmic Capital really is a no-brainer if you’re seeking investment: it’s completely free to apply and, if successful, to take part. It offers invaluable knowledge, contacts and skills to fast-forward your business goals.
“While spaces on the Cosmic Capital programme are limited, Space South Central and SETsquared work with businesses of all sizes and at all stages, so every company that applies can still access support in other ways.”
Director of the Surrey Innovation District, Caroline Fleming, said:
“Raising investment is a critical recipe for growth for high-tech innovative companies.
“This programme brings together our space research heritage, our cluster of space industry companies in Surrey, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and our 20 years of business growth experience to accelerate access to private equity investment and support further cluster growth.”
Craig Brown, Director of Investment at the UK Space Agency, said:
“The UK Space Agency is committed to nurturing early-stage space ventures and strengthening the UK's position in the global space sector.
“Cosmic Capital, funded through the UK Space Agency's new Accelerating Investment initiative, will help a range of new companies scale, grow and raise new private capital.
For more information on Cosmic Capital and how to apply, visit spacesouthcentral.com/cosmic-capital
