Proactive specialist asset management
We provide venture, private equity or debt finance to regional businesses with growth ambition.
Early stage business, long-term investment
Venture investing is what Mercia is most well-known for. The acquisition of the venture capital trust fund management business of NVM solidifies Mercia’s dominant position as an important provider of venture capital in the regions. We have the firepower to invest into the vibrant early-stage sector with the added ability to further support ambitious SME growth with funding from the VCTs
We focus on growing ambitions
The UK’s regions are home to an abundance of early-stage and scaling companies that Mercia has long recognised and provided venture capital to. We have been closing the funding gap in the regions demonstrated by our track record of investment into over 200 inspiring venture businesses in the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland.
Highly experienced investment teams with a local presence
Investment levels for venture capital
We are a specialist asset manager and manage money on behalf of our own private investors, third-party clients and our own balance sheet.
Prepare to be invested in
Preparing your business for investment could be compared to having a good spring clean. If you are starting to think about other people investing their cash into your business, then now is a good time to get things in order. Having access to good management information and presentation material will be paramount as investors will want to know the detail behind how your business runs and the market in which you operate.
It’s all just a process
One of the most common questions the Investment Teams are asked is “how long does the process take?” And it really does vary, but the answer always lies in a range depending on the position of the company.
Company 1
Just 30 days
In the case of good management information, decent trading history/or product milestones achieved, clear market opportunity and support from good quality advisers, timelines can be short. If all these things fitted together then it could be as little as 30 days for debt finance, and a little more for equity transactions.
Company 2
Anything from three months upwards
In the case of limited management information, early signs of trading/working towards product milestones, clear market opportunity and time spent making refinements following feedback then timelines can be a little longer. This is more likely to be something which we would watch develop, so could be anything from a few months to up to three years.
A guide to venture capital for small businesses
Securing venture capital funding is not easy, especially if you don’t understand the process and what investors are looking for. There is huge competition for finance and first impressions do count.
This page provides a range of useful tips and tools to help you determine whether venture capital finance is right for your business and what investors expect to see so you can fully prepare yourselves.
