We are excited to announce that Birmingham Enterprise Community (BEC) has launched a fund raise that will support the growth of exciting early stage ventures looking for support within the Midlands region by providing direct equity investment as part of the FORWARD Accelerator programme!
FORWARD is a 6-month comprehensive package of support for early stage ventures to enable growth and support the transition towards scaleup. Startups on FORWARD should have demonstrated early traction, developed (or almost developed) an MVP and are working on an idea that is innovative and scaleable.
The fund, which is to be raised through private investment under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), will form part of a radical and comprehensive package of support received by the businesses as they join the FORWARD Accelerator Programme, launched in July 2019, which will also include access to a pool of international mentors, support from partners such as IBM, Google & Amazon, workspace (powered by Alpha Works), coaching, access to both local and global networks and support to gain follow on finance. Businesses will be invited to apply to FORWARD from 2nd January 2020 with the next programme commencing in April 2020.
Since our official launch in January 2019 we have rapidly developed into a significant source of support for startups within the Midlands region. The establishment of this fund signifies another radical step forward for Birmingham Enterprise Community and the businesses that it serves. It also sends out the signal that the Midlands is making serious moves in becoming a place where you can both start and grow your business.
Anyone wishing to know more about opportunities to invest into the fund please get in touch here.
If you are interested in joining the next cohort of FORWARD, you can find more information and how to apply here.
