Access to Finance - Supporting Business Growth

Loan and Equity funds

SMEs are the backbone of our economy providing approximately three quarters of all private sector jobs and turnover. Regardless of size or stage of development, businesses need funding to scale to the next level.

Aimed at ambitious SMEs whose growth is constrained by a lack of traditional finance, Invest NI provides a range of funding solutions under the banner of ‘Access to Finance’.

Totalling almost £130m, there are three funds spanning a deal size range of £10k to £2m and offering support to SMEs across both debt and equity markets.

The funds, which operate on a fully commercial basis, are managed by independent NI based FCA approved fund managers who retain responsibility for all investment decisions. The experienced and knowledgeable fund managers will also offer guidance and mentoring support to help SMEs develop strategies and ultimately unlock the full potential of their business.

Finance for the funds may be provided solely by Invest NI or in conjunction with the private sector.

Loan funding

NI Small Business Loan Fund

Fund Manager: Ulster Community Finance Ltd

An £8m loan fund for Northern Ireland based individuals, private companies and social enterprises in the SME and micro enterprise size range and in the start-up or growth phases of development. Loans are typically unsecured and range between £10k and £100k (maximum £15K for start-up businesses).

Find out more about the NI Small Business Loan Fund

Videos:

Donal Traynor, CEO of Ulster Community Finance Ltd. introduces the NI Small Business Loan Fund
John Jameson, MD of iota explains how his company benefited from the NI Small Business Loan Fund

Equity funding

techstart NI (ERDF)

Fund Manager: Techstart Ventures

A collection of funds providing support to NI based entrepreneurs, seed / early stage SMEs and university spin-outs. Support includes a £30m SME equity fund, investing between £50k - £750k in any one round and up to £2m over a series of funding rounds, and a £4.5m Proof of Concept Grant Fund.

Find out more on Techstart NI on the Techstart NI website.

This fund is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.

Videos

Jamie Andrews, Investment Director of Techstart Ventures LLP talks about Techstart NI and what they do
Chris Acheson, Founder of CADshare talks about how Access to Finance has helped their business
Dr Jason McKeown, Co-founder and CEO of Neurovalens talks about how Access to Finance has helped their business grow
Greg Maguire, CEO of Humain on how Access to Finance has helped his company grow

Co-Fund III

Fund Manager: Clarendon Fund Managers

A £100m equity fund providing early stage and growth capital to SMEs in Northern Ireland, in deal sizes typically between £150k to £2m. The fund invests alongside private investors and business angels, matching terms on a wholly commercial pari passu basis at a level of up to 50% on a deal by deal basis.

Find out more about Co-Fund III on the Clarendon Fund Mangers website.

Videos

Neil Simms of Clarendon Fund Managers talks about the support they can offer companies
Chris Johnston, Founder of Adoreboard explains how his company benefited from the Invest NI, Access to Finance Programme
CEO of Datactics, Stuart Harvey discusses how Co Fund NI support provided to the company has helped their business grow
Sinead Murphy, co-founder of Snuggle talks about how Access to Finance has helped her company grow