This companion article to the AccountingWEB Guide to Online Research highlights key websites for people using the Web to search out sources of corporate finance.
The British Venture Capital Association website is an obvious starting point. As well as providing a directory of member organisations, plus guides to private and institutional investors, the site has a useful equity finance match-making facility. Specify the amount and type of finance, indicate the location and type of business and the search programme will then produce a list of potential investors.
The government's BusinessLink site has a broader range of finance options and guides including information on loans and government grants support schemes. Support includes subsidised advice as well as national or regional grant schemes.
Venturedome provides news comment and analysis of the UK venture capital scene ' useful for checking out what deals are being done and which deals fail.
The are a number of organisations devoted to technology transfer ' taking the ideas that come from university research and translating them into commercial ventures. If your nascent business originates has its origins in research, visit the AURIL site. The Association for University Research and Industry Links was established to encourage dialogue between higher education and industry.
CORDIS, the European Commission's Research and Technical Development Information Service, provides a central sources of information on EU-funded research activities.
More general sources of grant money include:
www.grantsnet.co.uk
www.grantfinder.co.uk; and
www.j4b.co.uk.
Several other venture capital websites are listed in TaxZone's comprehensive TaxLinks page.