An internet network offers facilities to encourage investment in environmental technologies and services to help British entrepreneurs, inventors & companies find finace to help them solve various environmental challenges, such as climate change, water pollution and waste.

 ‘The Environmental Investment Network’ brings together private and corporate investors with organisations looking for funding to support green projects, such as the development of low carbon technologies, eco-friendly waste management systems and advanced water treatment methods.

Set up by leading environmental law firm Clarkslegal, & The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC), and sponsored by Lloyds TSB and intellectual property specialists Mathys & Squire, the Environmental Investment Network (EIN) aims to play a part in helping to meet the significant challenges and opportunities identified in the Stern Review.

By facilitating the raising of finance (equity and debt) and providing support, information and networking opportunities to investors seeking investment opportunities and to companies, social enterprises and academic institutions seeking investment.

The EIN enables organisations to submit proposals for funding, where they can be viewed by investor members on a secure website.

Simon Thorne, of Clarkslegal, explains: “The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change calls for immediate action to be taken to invest in low carbon technologies in order to reduce the effects of climate change.  It also emphasises that significant business opportunities will be created from the development of new markets in environmental technologies and that the investment that takes place in the next 10 - 20 years will have a profound effect on the climate. It is predicting that new low carbon energy markets could grow to be worth hundreds of billions of pounds each year, so now is the time to invest in the environment.

“Securing funding however is often a major hurdle for those wishing to develop environmental technologies.  Venture capital funds and institutional investors tend to focus on large companies preparing for listing on the Alternative Investment Market or projects in excess of five million pounds. Support for smaller and medium size businesses, social enterprises and educational institutions is urgently required.”

Adrian Wilkes, Chairman of The EIC, adds: “This is a vital new service for the UK’s environmental industry, which is dominated by SMEs who often have problems raising growth finance – it will help them seize the huge new business opportunities in the fast-growing worldwide environmental markets and so boost the UK’s international competitiveness.

“As Gordon Brown recently predicted the environmental industry would become ‘as big as the successful aerospace or pharmaceuticals sector’. But there is a real need amongst young environmental technology firms to have more interaction with the financial sector. This initiative will help improve the quality of deal flow. This is a unique service for the UK’s environmental industry, nothing else like this exists.”

For investors, the opportunity to invest in early-stage ventures is only one of the benefits received as a member. Not only will investor members be able to view high-quality funding proposals and engage in face-to-face meetings with those who have submitted proposals, but also have the opportunity to secure introductions to like-minded investors wishing to form syndicate groups. 

Those who submit proposals will also have the opportunity to present their proposals to investors at regularly held investment meetings and receive, prior to the investment meetings, presentation training, IP advice and support from the network sponsors. Additional benefits include access to the network’s knowledge bank and the opportunity to attend seminars and training events.

Stephen Pegge, head of communications, Lloyds TSB Business, said: “The demand for environmentally friendly products and services is set to increase dramatically and the financial potential for investors is significant based on the initial market estimate for low-carbon energy products of at least $500 billion dollars by 2050.

“We want to support our small and medium sized businesses in developing environmental projects through access to risk capital alongside commercial finance from us. In supporting the Environmental Investment Network, not only do we get a forum for bringing green projects and investors together but it also provides a support network to both parties.”

http://www.environmentalinvest.com/