Quester launches new uni spin-out fund

Isis College Fund II will continue in the footsteps of its predecessor by investing in companies that are based on Oxford University technology. The first Isis College Fund was established in 1999 and has to date invested in 13 companies, including Avidex, Oxford Immunotec and Powdermed.

Iain Wilcock, deputy managing director at Quester and manager of the firm’s university funds, said: “The past few years have seen a marked increase in the number of businesses spinning out from university-linked technology. Quester’s longstanding experience in this space means that we understand the specific challenges facing spin-out companies, enabling us to provide not only financial backing, but also the management, operational and commercial support required to help them make the transition from the lab to the commercial marketplace. Importantly, because Quester can also provide funding beyond the spin-out stage, through its institutional funds, it can continue to back companies through to the later stages of development, thereby maximising their chances of success.”

Isis College Fund II will join two more Quester university funds: the £7.9m Lachesis Fund, which focuses on early stage companies from five East Midlands universities, and the £9m Sulis Seedcord Fund, which invests in emerging technology companies from Bath, Bristol and Southampton Universities. By Tom Allchorne.