www.oion.co.uk

The Oxfordshire Investment Opportunity Network (OION) was launched in 1995 as one of the first UK's first business angel network and is now the UK's most successful technology business angel network. OION also has three sister networks: the Thames Valley Investment Network (www.tvin.co.uk), launched in 2003 and based in Reading; Oxford Early Investments (www.oxei.co.uk) which is focused on very early seed investments, launched in 2004, and the Silverstone Investment Network (www.silverstoneinvest.co.uk), launched in 2006 and focused on motor sport and other opportunities in the Northhamptonshire area.

Today, OION is Europe's most successful technology business angel network, linking investors to companies with high growth potential seeking business development funds from £50,000 to £2m. Since 2000, OION itself helped 87 companies raise £19.8m; in the 2005-06 financial year, OION brokered 13 deals, raising a total of £3.5m.

OION and its three sister networks have over 250 active investors, with members including individuals, venture capital firms, VCTs and corporate investors. OION itself holds monthly investment presentation meetings in Oxford University's Said Business School; five companies present their business plans at each of these events, which typically attract around 100 attendees.

With GEIF (www.geof.co.uk) and SWAIN (www.swain.org.uk, OION is a partner in IQ Capital, the UK's first Enterprise Capital Fund, announced in the 2006 Budget. IQ Capital is a £25m angel co-investment fund managed by NW Brown which expects to start investing in H2 2006.