Community Development Venture Capital Alliance

Bridges Community Ventures Ltd
1 Craven Hill, London, W2 3EN, United Kingdom
Telephone: 44 (20) 7262-5566 Fax: 44 (20) 7262-6389
Website: www.bridgesventures.com
Email: info@bridgesventures.com

Key Personnel:
Sir Ronald Cohen, Non-Executive Chairman
Philip Newborough, Managing Director
Michele Giddens, Director
Tim Lawrence, Director
Carolyn Maddox, Director

Established: 2002

Total Committed Capital: £40 million

Amount Invested: £1,925,000

Geographic Focus: Wards around England that are in the most deprived 25 percentile on the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Background
Bridges Community Ventures (BCV) makes equity investments in businesses with high growth potential in the most under-invested parts of England (though it may, as appropriate, supplement its equity investments with near-equity investments). BCV is dedicated to managing funds that are both for-profit and mission-driven, aiming to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, wealth, and role models of business success in under-invested communities. BCV identifies businesses with growth potential that are located in, or that directly benefit, under-invested communities and supports them with business advice, networks of contacts, and appropriate financing. Aiming to demonstrate that financial returns can be made by backing entrepreneurs in these communities, BCV hopes its successes will result in the attraction of increased private sector finance into under-invested communities.

Social Mission
The Fund aims to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, wealth and role models of business success in under-invested communities.

Investment Information
The Fund has closed and has now made its first four investments. Bridges Community Ventures invests in Wards around England that are in the most deprived 25 percentile on the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The Fund invests in all industries and typically makes investments of between £100,000 and £2 million. The Fund seeks growth companies at the early and expansion stages, as well as management buy-outs and buy-ins. Bridges Community Ventures hopes to attract co-investors by demonstrating success in its investments.