Connect is a Scottish organisation that provides a channel for researchers and technology entrepreneurs to identify and access skills, expertise and resources in Scotland.
Connect's first three conferences resulted in over £100m investment funding being delivered between participating companies and investors. Making pitches for investment at this year’s conference, co-sponsored by OUT-LAW.COM, were 27 companies involved in IT, biotechnology, electronics, communications, and internet applications. Funding stages varied from the start-up through to mature companies seeking pre-IPO funding.
Ian McDonald of Connect said: “Over the two days we had 35 venture capital funds attending, many from outside Scotland, in addition to business angels and major companies such as 3Com, Sun and Cadence. The feedback has been extremely positive and we’re very hopeful of matching the success of last year when 19 of the 24 companies attending raised money.”