FAQs from Applying Companies

What should we consider before applying?

Here are some of the things to consider before applying:

• Are you willing to give up some amount of ownership and control of your company?
• Can you demonstrate that your company will produce a significant return for investors?
• Are you willing take advice from investors and accept board of director decisions you may not always agree with?
• Do you have an exit plan for your company that may mean you’re not involved in 3 to 5 years’ time?

How does our selection process work?

We invite 3-4 companies, 5 times per year to present to the Club members (typically 30-40 members) at each meeting.  As a Club, we don’t invest or provide any due diligence, we simply select companies which we feel will be of interest for our investing members.

Members who express an interest in a company then follow up as a group with the company directly before deciding individually if they will invest or not.  This may take a couple of months depending on the availability of data and the level of due diligence done by other parties.

How much do you invest?

If a member does decide to invest, we typically see a range of amounts from £5,000 to £50,000.

Do you need to know a club member to be introduced and or selected?

No, it is not essential, however priority is given to those who are known to our members or another Network.

Does my company have to be registered in the SE of England?

No.

What fees are charged?

Presentation Fees: We ask you to make a contribution of £100 towards the cost of the meeting, reduced to £50 if this is a virtual meeting.

Administration Fees: If your presentation results in investment from SAIC members, we will charge you 5% of the amount invested by those members (except for existing investors in your company) to assist in running costs of the club.

In cases where your company has been referred to us by an advisor or other network, or where we subsequently refer you onwards to another investment network, who also invest, then administration fees will be shared to ensure no additional costs are levied on the company. Please advise us of any organisation that you may have agreements with regarding funds raised from our meeting.

How we follow on investment?

Where good progress is being made by companies that SAIC members have already invested in and there is an opportunity to follow on, we often invite our fellow Club members to join a new round.

 If you would like to apply to SAIC, please click here to understand the process.