New-start companies often struggle to find capital, especially if their fledging business is based around new and disruptive technology. They lack assets and a track record for the banks and often they don't yet have the market traction and slightly larger size the venture capital funds prefer.

halo is designed to fill this funding gap for Northern Irish companies by connecting high net-worth individuals with these companies in a structured manner. Angel investors, often in groups or syndicates can invest and also provide invaluable skills and experience.

Based in the Northern Ireland Science Park, halo works closely with NISP Connect. Between them they try to assist new ventures to develop their business model, find the right people and skills they need and ultimately to source the capital to make it a reality.

halo is funded by Invest Northern Ireland and Intertrade Ireland. We are also members of the British Business Angel Association and European Business Angel Network.

halo runs meetings approximately every other month which are attended by a large group, often more than 50, of halo business angels. Around 5 companies, who have been carefully filtered and prepared pitch to this audience in a format designed to allow maximum interaction on the night. Angels are also able to review pitches by video from a secure website to further increase the chances of interest. halo also tries to match angels or groups of angels to specific companies between meetings.

If you are a company considering applying to halo, please review the information on the halo Entrepreneurs page .

If you are interested in becoming a halo business angel, please see the Business Angels page.

Alan Watts is the Director of halo and can be contacted on alan.watts@nisp.co.uk, 028 9073 7814

You may also contact Richard Ferguson, halo Manager on  richard.ferguson@nisp.co.uk, 028 9073 7922.