The Mobius Life Sciences Fund, an investment fund focused on providing seed finance for life science companies, was launched recently. The fund is designed to fill the gap in early-stage venture funding for a sector that is notoriously high risk and money intensive.

The private venture fund has been made possible by the continued success of BioCity Nottingham, one of Europe’s fastest-growing bioscience and life sciences incubators. Mobius Life Sciences funds are securely generated through the incubator’s internal operating activity. Mobius Life Sciences Fund has also won the support of Nottingham City Council in the provision of unsecured loan finance alongside the Mobius equity investment.

Six years developing BioCity Nottingham has enabled CEO Dr Glenn Crocker to build the infrastructure which has made the Mobius Life Sciences Fund possible. “We currently have nearly 70 bioscience and life sciences firms either based in or virtual tenants of BioCity. Many have grown rapidly but there are still companies with great potential that are struggling to see daylight and we want to fill the critical funding and support gap. By launching the Fund we will facilitate growth in companies whose primary base is in Nottingham and be able to validate them as they go for further investment. Our priority will always be to make sound investments - whether or not companies decide to locate in BioCity.”

The provision of debt financing through the Mobius Life Sciences Fund is a significant advantage of the facility because access to complementary loan funding can carry a successful life sciences company through difficult short-term trading periods. This has been made possible by the strong commitment of Nottingham City Council to the life sciences sector.

“For several years now, the City Council has worked closely with BioCity Nottingham and our two Universities,” says Deputy Leader of the City Council, Councillor Graham Chapman. “When the Mobius Life Sciences Fund was conceived the council was keen to offer practical help in the form of debt finance. In this way we are providing support for local firms to help them develop their business and, most important of all, create local jobs.”

For further information visit www.mobiuslifesciences.com