Sponsors

Founded in 1875 by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet in the Swiss village of Le Brassus, Audemars Piguet is the oldest Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie never to have left the hands of the founding families. Today, its range encompasses complex mechanical watches, Haute Joaillerie creations as well as a line of jewellery. At each stage in its history, the Manufacture has daringly adopted avant-garde techniques in order to place them in the service of traditional craftsmanship. This approach has earned it an unparalleled number of world firsts in the field of Haute Horlogerie.

Weber Shandwick is a Communications Partner of the European Tech Tour, supporting both the European level organization and the various country tours.  Weber Shandwick, a unit of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), is one of the world's leading public relations agencies, with offices in major media, business and government capitals around the world. Weber Shandwick is a leader in marketing public relations, public affairs and corporate communications counseling, and also provides services in advocacy advertising, market research and visual communications.

Part of HBOS plc, Bank of Scotland Corporate has a reputation for excellence in the provision of corporate finance. The Bank's reputation for working closely with customers and introducers to provide innovative and added value solutions for their financing needs continues to grow. By acting as a hub for specialist funding, we can respond to complex customer needs with innovative and specially tailored solutions across a range of markets.

Bank of Scotland Corporate takes a dynamic and commercial approach, delivering products and services designed around business needs in a very direct, practical and down-to-earth manner. It has one of the most knowledgeable and experienced teams in the industry, and a reputation for finding solutions and getting deals done.

Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) is one of the largest and most successful venture capital firms in Europe, with one of the most experienced investment teams in Europe and over $500 million under management.

With offices in Glasgow and London, SEP focuses on investments in information technology, healthcare & life sciences and energy related technology businesses. The specialist sector teams invest in companies throughout the UK in financings of up to $50 million. SEP aims to support the best, and most talented entrepreneurs, helping them to build world class businesses. With many successful exits in the form of trade sales and IPOs across Europe, the US and Asia, the SEP team focuses on global opportunities from the outset and has a strong track record of investing in leading technology companies from start-up through to pre-IPO.

SEP's particular experience with early stage companies has given it a reputation in the industry for identifying companies with the highest potential at an early stage and working with them to realise that potential as they face the challenges of building a successful international business. In the last year, around 80% of SEP’s investments were in early stage companies. With the firm leading or co-leading more than 90% of the investment rounds it is involved in, SEP is ideally placed to make the deal happen and then subsequently support the company post-investment. Further information on SEP and portfolio companies can be found at www.sep.co.uk.

Scottish Development International is here to help your business to invest in Scotland and take advantage of all that this fantastic country has to offer organisations like your own. If your business is looking for inward investment and collaboration in a growing economy, with a strong focus on research and development, then invest in Scotland with the help of SDI.

ITI Techmedia is a Member-based organisation with an economic development remit for Scotland and is one of three Scotland-based Intermediary Technology Institutes which make up ITI Scotland. Together with its counterparts in Life Sciences and the Energy sector, it is investing up to £15 million per year to develop a range of pre-competitive technologies with global market potential.

Established in September 2003, the ITIs are publicly funded, but 100% commercially focused. ITI Techmedia is committed to positioning Scotland as an important world centre for the creation and marketing of new intellectual assets that will achieve commercial value and stimulate economic benefit for Scotland in the global market for digital media and communications technologies.

At Biggart Baillie, we take your business personally. Our clients come to us because they want a commercial law firm with first-class expertise in every area of business – and a dedication to customer service. It’s this approach that makes us one of the top ten law firms in Scotland, and number one in the rising 50 law firms in the UK. We work with clients throughout Scotland, the UK and internationally, from our offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Brown Rudnick, an international team of business-focused lawyers, understands that today’s high-tech businesses must think and act globally regarding their sales channels, supply chains, strategic alliances, and bottom-line performance. Partnering with our high-tech clients, we are at the heart of this entrepreneurial community, where -- across boundaries -- technology, innovation and sources to capital connect. With an established understanding of the European capital markets, we represent technology companies across their life cycle, providing strategic advice and perspective at all stages of development – establishing the company at the start-up phase, enhancing and managing growth, leveraging vital intellectual property assets, and executing an exit strategy. In this role, we bring together parties with a shared mission: to help emerging companies meet – and exceed -- their strategic goals. Our network keeps us at the leading-edge of business insight and includes other parties active in this business community – venture capital firms, investment banks, management consultants, accounting firms, executive compensation consultants, executive recruiting firms and business schools, as well as organizations such as the European Venture Capital Association. We’re fueled by this network and by the energy that it delivers. With a reputation as “deal makers” and a drive to create opportunities for our clients, we have an aggressive, results-oriented approach to structuring and closing transactions.

For over 9 years, we have been implementing our mission – to nurture the creation, development and growth of technology enterprise throughout Scotland. No other organisation in Scotland can claim to provide access to such a vast pool of resources and skills specifically focused on helping young, innovative technology companies to become “investor-ready”, to develop their ideas and to grow their businesses. Connect can, thanks to the involvement of key organisations and individuals within the business community and technology sector.

Maclay Murray & Spens is a full service, independent, commercial legal firm offering legal solutions and advice to clients throughout the UK and beyond. The firm has offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Brussels and our objective is to provide a consistently excellent quality of service across our entire service range and from every UK office.

Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

Pinsent Masons is a full service commercial law firm, distinguished by its depth of knowledge, experience and commitment to specialist market sectors. The firm is top 15 ranked in the UK and internationally ranks in the Global 100. The Firm has over 250 partners, a total legal team of around 900 and more than 1,500 staff in the UK and internationally. In addition to London, we have UK offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester. Internationally, Pinsent Masons has offices in Brussels, Dubai, Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as relationships with firms in Dubai, France, Germany, Spain, Holland, India, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and the USA.

Sigma Capital Group plc is an AIM listed UK investment management and corporate advisory group, which focuses on three activities: specialist fund management, commercialisation of University IP and property.

Sigma was founded in 1997 by Graham Barnet and Neil Crabb, and has offices in Edinburgh and London. Sigma manages third party funds as well as investing as principal alongside third party investors through its investment in its venture capital funds. Across all of its activities, Sigma has raised over £150 million in funds.

Noble & Company is the corporate finance advisory and broking arm of Noble Group. Noble & Company is a certified Nominated Adviser and Broker on AIM, a Sponsor and Broker on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, a Sponsor on OFEX, and has significant experience of advising on the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. Two of our directors are members of the Regional Advisory Board of the London Stock Exchange, and another one worked for the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers.

Noble Venture Finance is a dedicated investment management business specialising in alternative asset classes in the UK and Europe including private equity, venture finance and property and infrastructure. It has its own team of investment professionals and both advises on and manages investments for its institutional and retail clients. The philosophy of Noble is to add value by combining the investment skills of experienced fund managers with hands on management. Our role is to provide an enhanced return for investors while reducing the risks as far as possible. The team is actively developing new funds in growth markets.

Red Herring is a media company whose mission is to cover innovation, technology, financing and entrepreneurial activity. Its staff of award-winning journalists tell readers what's first, what matters and most importantly, why.