The first investment fund specialising in UK-based robotics start-ups opened its doors late last year.
Called the British Robotics Seed Fund, it aims to deliver returns to investors by making targeted investments in promising UK-based seed-stage robotics companies wrapped within the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.
It will invest in up to 12 robotics start-ups each year across a broad range of sectors including, construction, logistics, agriculture and domestic robots.
The fund is the idea of High Growth Robotics Limited who manage it alongside Sapphire Capital Partners. The team identify the investments and provide mentoring services to the robotics entrepreneurs and start-ups with which the fund works.
Dominic Keen, CEO of High Growth Robotics
British entrepreneur Dominic Keen leads High Growth Robotics as CEO. An engineer by background, the software business he founded was floated on the London Stock Exchange.
The backdrop to the fund, says the company, is that automation and robotisation are beginning to drive significant productivity improvements across the global economy, making it one of today’s most exciting investment themes. They cite research from market intelligence firm Tractica which says that the robotics sector is set to grow at rates in excess of 45% with the global market to approach a quarter of trillion dollars by 2021.
The company also points to the fact that there are currently no, or very few specialist UK investment vehicles to provide financial backing and strategic support for early stage robotics companies with compelling business in concepts.
Sophisticated investors with a minimum of £10,000 to invest can apply to invest in the fund which closes on 31 March, 2017.
