bizCapital is ATP Innovations pre-seed and seed investment pool which seeks to make investments in early stage technologies in the life sciences, ICT and electronics sectors. bizCapital Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of ATP Innovations Pty Ltd. bizCapital forms part of the ATP Innovations suite of commercialisation programs, aimed at early stage ventures and emerging technology based businesses. bizCapital complements ATP Innovations bizStart, bizConnect and bizNetClub programs.

bizCapital will invest in qualifying business opportunities using debt and equity instruments. Investments made by bizCapital are not passive and complement ATP Innovations' suite of business assistance programs. As part of the qualification process for investment, bizCapital expects that investee companies will embrace aspects of the ATP Innovations' business building programs and that they are open to the commercialisation services, advice and assistance that ATP Innovations provides its clients.

The bizCapital Seed Investment Pool invests in emerging technology companies that are based on intellectual property arising from research in public institutions or the private sector.

• Facilitate the successful commercialisation of intellectual property from eligible organisations or companies.
• To support the formation of new companies with high growth potential.
• To grow bizCapital through reinvestment of realised proceeds and additional funds under management.

Who may apply to bizCapital?

bizCapital provides early stage capital to facilitate the commercialisation of emerging technology companies. Companies emerging from – or proposed by – public research institutions, such as universities, CSIRO, Cooperative Research Centres and Medical Research Institutes are eligible to apply to bizCapital. Priority will be given to emerging or proposed ventures from ATP Innovation's shareholder universities (ANU, UNSW, USyd, UTS).

In addition, new companies and businesses emerging from the private sector are eligible for bizCapital funding, and also clients of ATP Innovations' bizStart, bizConnect and bizNetClub business programs. Forms of investment bizCapital will make cash investments in return for equity. It will also structure investments (or part of an investment) as loans, secured against assets, and repayable at a future date with an interest premium.

Minimum and maximum investment

bizCapital will typically invest AUS$50k - $100k. In most cases bizCapital will look to leverage its investment through the use of a co-investment strategy, follow-on strategies, and/or through government grants e.g. BIF, COMET, R&D START etc.

What will bizCapital invest in?

bizCapital will invest in emerging companies with world class technology in the life sciences, ICT and electronics sectors. bizCapital will work in conjunction with ATP Innovations and other stakeholders at the very early stages of new venture creation and will invest earlier than most private equity investors.

bizCapital requires a concise business plan and clear set of milestones focusing on the following:

• Technology protection
• Market entry activities
• Proof of concept studies
• Field trials
• Commercial prototype development and deployment
• Initial sales
• Manufacturing activities
• Organisational development and structuring

University or Institutional Proposals

Any researcher who wishes to apply for investment by bizCapital should contact the commercialisation company or office of their respective institution. These organisations will have been briefed by bizCapital on the operations and conditions for bizCapital investment. In this way, all institutional confidentiality and rights are preserved within the relevant institution according to each institutions policies and practices. bizCapital works closely with each relevant university or institutional business office to ensure that proposals meet the bizCapital eligibility criteria and terms are consistent with the Universities commercialisation mandate. After this initial contact the applicant may be asked to fill out a proposal form. This form is and guidance on the information required is also downloadable from this page.

Proposals from the Private Sector

Individuals or companies seeking investment from bizCapital are asked to contact the relevant bizCapital executive and initiate a preliminary discussion on their proposal. Provided the advisors consider the proposal worthy of further consideration, they will then ask for a proposal form or equivalent business plan summary to be submitted.

Evaluation of the Investment Proposal

bizCapital requires information in three key areas before it can make an investment decision:

• The accessible market, and the unique fit of the technology to market need
• The extent to which the technology is robust, proprietary, protected and sustainable
• Issues around business sustainability, including the level of commitment of all the stakeholders, the unmet need for capital, and details of issues, risks and milestones

For further information please download the application guidelines for completing this form.

Contact details:

Hamish Hawthorn
CEO, ATP Innovations
Executive Director, bizCapital

P: +61 2 9209 4444
F: +61 2 9319 3874