Prospective investees can apply at any time by sending an Executive Summary to Belfast@e-synergy.com. Summaries should be no longer than two or three pages and include contact details.

We will be looking for a business model that can demonstrate high growth potential, where the investment can add real value. You need not necessarily have global ambitions, but you must have the potential to significantly impact your chosen sector and you and your team must demonstrate a clear understanding of a reachable market.

The Executive Summary should briefly describe your business, product or service, the market, competition and market strategy, any technology (include mention of IP like patents or trademarks, but not to worry if you don't have any), the revenue model, the management (only brief résumés please), current corporate structure (include mention of EIS status - if known) and provide a simple three or four line financial projection over a minimum of three years. Oh, and don't forget to mention exit comparables - if you have any. And of course include how much money is required and what for.

It will normally take a couple of weeks to respond to companies who have submitted an Executive Summary. If we are interested in your idea, an investment executive will normally carry out a telephone review. If this goes well, we may invite you to attend a Fund Introductory Seminar (FIS) to learn more about the Fund and E-Synergy and to spend some time one-on-one with a member of our team. The FIS process, carried out under a Non-Disclosure Agreement, typically culminates in us recommending a simple bullet point action plan. Subsequently, following further brief enquiries, we may identify prospective investees and may issue an Offer Letter outlining in brief how much we are prepared to invest, the valuation we intend to apply to a company and other simple terms and conditions. The Offer Letter must be signed by a duly authorised representative of the Company and returned to us before we can proceed to the next stage.

The process will be fully outlined and explained at each stage. Providing ‘added value’ is a hallmark of E-Synergy’s approach – for example, all prospective investees will be given access to due diligence materials. We will also find ways to work with you to optimise the company's prospects of raising grant funding from public sources.

All approaches to the Fund will be dealt with on a confidential basis.

In most cases, the required >30% private sector funding will be from business angels E-Synergy has many years experience of investing alongside business angels. Indeed, we have our own growing network of private investors known as AngelNet.

We often prefer straightforward 'cash-for-equity' deals, but sometimes we will look to offer convertible loans or geared debt. We frequently prefer to do an equity deal because it keeps the deal simple and it's often easier to raise follow-on funding as a result.

Many business angels will be willing to offer more than just capital in support of businesses in which they invest, potentially providing mentoring, contacts and general advice. We encourage this approach and ask companies to take this into account when considering potential private investors. The Fund will have an observer and board representation in the form of a Nominated Director (who in many cases will be one of the business angels).

If you are interested in investing alongside the Fund you can contact E-Synergy directly (please, in the first instance, contact Sarah Guy, Manager of AngelNet on 020 7583 3503 or s.guy@e-synergy.com) or you may wish to contact Halo: the Northern Ireland Business Angel Network - Alan Watts, Halo Director on 028 9073 7814 or Roisin Clancy, roisin.clancy@nisp.co.uk, 028 9073 7800.

Alternatively, you can approach us as part of the team associated with a prospective investee company.

Whatever your preferred route, you will be asked to provide evidence of identity and address for Money Laundering Prevention purposes.

If you would like us to keep you informed of investment opportunities as and when they arise, you must tell us that you are an Exempt Person as defined by the exemptions contained in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. “Exempt Persons” includes: an Investment Professional, a certified High Net Worth Individual, a certified Sophisticated Investor or self-certified Sophisticated Investor. Many investors have found that joining AngelNet is the easiest way to do this.

At no point would you as a business angel or private investor become E-Synergy’s client. You should seek your own financial advice. Unquoted early stage investments are high risk and are not readily realisable as there is no recognised market for shares and investors may not be able to obtain reliable information about value or risk exposure.

This website is not intended for US investors.

A YIE beneficiary is restricted in the forms of aid it can access for a period of three years after the granting of the young innovative enterprise aid. In terms of Invest NI financial support, your company is not eligible for selective financial assistance for a period of three years following the award of IGF support.  However, your company may access ‘Grant for R&D’ support over this three year period.

No.  As outlined above, the IGF has been approved by the EU Commission.  Aid given under an approved scheme is not cumulated with de minimis support.