LTF Competition ? Training and Investment Opportunities

London Technology Fund (LTF), London’s specialist investor in new technology companies launched the London Technology Fund Competition 2009 in February. The Competition offers exciting London-based early stage technology companies the chance to share up to £1m of investment, participate in specialist workshops worth over £100,000 and meet major technology companies. It is sponsored by Company Guides Venture Partners (managers of LTF), Oracle Corporation UK Ltd, PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Royal Bank of Scotland. Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in November.

The Competition is open until 30th May and all shortlisted companies will be given the opportunity to join a programme of specialist workshops during the summer and make their case to LTF for a share of up to £1m of investment, which will be subject to LTF’s usual investment criteria. The workshops will help companies improve their business plans and hear from experts about market research and product design/development, sales and marketing, raising finance, legal documentation, IPR and presentation skills. There will also be the opportunity to meet multinational technology companies at a speed-dating event and present to a panel of judges who will select the finalists.

Finalists will receive further training and a chance to improve their proposal before presenting to the final judging panel who will select the most promising companies in design and engineering, ICT and life sciences. There is also the chance for a company from any sector to win the Environment Award.

David McMeekin, Chairman of the London Technology Fund, said: “The competition was set up last year to help technology entrepreneurs in London and we are delighted at the support it has won from the global technology sector. A highlight of the programme is the chance to meet major corporates at a ‘speed-dating’ event, which last year saw 140 ‘brief encounters’ – this year we hope to beat that number. We are very grateful to our sponsors and supporters and look forward to another successful programme this year.” For further details visit  www.londontechnologyfund.com/competition