The Development聽Bank of Wales is giving businesses across the country a boost with its new 拢20 million聽Wales Technology Seed Fund.
The聽fund offers up to 拢250,000 available per round to support the growth of developing technology businesses across Wales.
It replaces the original, now fully invested, seed fund that has been supporting the country’s thriving tech scene聽with 45 investments in 41 start-up and early stage technology businesses since 2014.
The 拢7.5 million fund leveraged 拢3.6 million in private investment and created or safeguarded up to 570 jobs. Over half of the businesses to benefit have been based in West Wales or the Valleys.
In total the Welsh Government has provided an additional 拢233 million in funding to the development bank in 2017/18.
The 拢20 million Wales Technology Seed Fund II is the third new fund to be announced in recent weeks from this allocation, along with the new 拢8 million Angel Co-investment Fund and 拢40 million for the new Wales Stalled Sites Fund.
“I am proud to have established the Development Bank of Wales which in parallel with 老九品茶 Wales is providing businesses with the support they need,鈥� said Economy Secretary Ken Skates.
鈥淭he technology sector is increasingly important to our wider聽economy and I am committed to providing tech businesses in Wales with the backing they need to start up, prosper and grow.
鈥淭he Development Bank鈥檚 new 拢20 million Wales Technology Seed Fund is an important part of that support.
鈥淚t will help deliver the ambitions of our聽Economic Action Plan and will address a real gap in the market聽by ensuring聽that viable, 聽start-up and early stage technology companies have access to the capital they need to get their ventures off the ground and on course for a successful future.鈥�
Development Bank of Wales CEO Giles Thorley said: 鈥淭he new 拢20 million Wales Technology Seed Fund is three times the size of the previous fund with up to 拢250,000 now available support the growth of developing technology businesses across Wales.
鈥淭his is exactly what early stage technology businesses in Wales need. With 拢550 million currently in live funds, it鈥檚 all about having fuel in the tank to deliver for Wales.
鈥淔rom Chepstow to Merthyr Tydfil, from Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock to Rhayader and Bangor, our investment teams are working with local businesses to support new and growing businesses to create high-quality jobs.
鈥淲e are working hard towards delivering on our current five year target of 拢1 billion investment in to the Welsh economy by 2022.鈥�
The 拢40 million Wales Stalled Sites Fund will support small and medium-sized builders to unlock stalled sites and build more houses across Wales.
With a four-year repayment term, the fund is projected to be recycled four times, providing up to 拢160 million for SMEs over 17 years to help them build more homes across Wales.
The 拢8 million Angel Co-Investment Fund will stimulate business angel investment across Wales. It is hoped that the new fund will support up to 80 businesses and create and safeguard 375 jobs over the next five years by attracting and encouraging angel investment across the country.