Livewire exists to help manage and maximise the return of private investors, making
investments of between £5,000 and £400,000, in high growth Liverpool Businesses.
Livewire takes advantage of a government initiative called the Enterprise Investment
Scheme
which provides significant tax incentives to individuals investing in qualifying
companies.
It creates a fund from the investment made by a number of individuals
and spreads this fund across a number of investee companies. This ensures that the risk
taken by the investor is spread across a portfolio of diverse, high growth companies.
Livewire raises funds of up to £500,000 made up of individual investments of between
£5,000 and £400,000.
After the fund is closed, investments are made into a diverse group of companies (between
4 and 8), all of which are eligible under the EIS scheme. The fund will exit its investments
and make a return to its investors at the end of a 5 year period.
Excitingly, Livewire does not only provide financial investment. It also provides a
framework of support services as well as access to business incubator space. Livewire works with partners who provide
technology, sales, marketing, financial and legal services to its investee companies. All of these services
can be provided as part of the livewire investment.