Delivering Success from Seed Capital Investment
September 2007
Delivering Success from Seed Capital Investment
Interview with Matthew Frohn
Delivering Success from Seed Capital Investment
In this exclusive interview, Fintan Walton talks to Matthew Frohn, Director of Oxford Technology Management about seed capital investment in technology companies. Matthew begins by explaining Oxford Technology Management’s investment strategy to date and the sorts of companies in which he is looking to invest. They discuss the different timelines to commercialisation that affect new companies in different industry sectors, with IT companies more likely to generate revenues in the short-term than life science companies, thus supporting a diversified investment portfolio. The requirements to be successful and to get to the next round of financing are also considered, with Matthew explaining that he looks for milestones that need to be achieved in order to de-risk the technology.
About Matthew Frohn
Dr Matthew Frohn graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology followed by a DPhil in Biochemistry from Oxford University. He worked on research collaborations with AstraZeneca, and had a short research post with a British Biotech subsidiary before joining Oxford Technology Management in 1999, as the manager of the Oxford Technology VCTs. He is particularly involved with Oxford Technology Management’s life science investments.
About Oxford Technology Management
Oxford Technology Management specialises in making and managing investments in start-up and early-stage technology-based businesses with high growth prospects. Its investment policy is to construct a portfolio of qualifying Venture Capital Trust investments that are unlisted, UK-based, technology businesses. In most cases these businesses are located within the vicinity of Oxford and the Thames Valley, allowing for a ‘hands-on’ management strategy. Oxford Technology Management is the Investment Manager to Oxford Technology 1, 2, 3 and 4 Venture Capital Trusts, and currently manages £26 M of funds.
