www.antenova.com

Antenova was founded by AVCP and Pilgrim Beart in 1999 to develop and commercialise a revolutionary smart antenna technology which multiplies the capacity and performance of mobile networks and wireless communications. The technology significantly increases antenna performance by providing a completely solid state solution for controlling the direction of transmissions. Antenna size, power consumption and risks to health are also reduced. The founders negotiated the acquisition of the company’s IP from two universities, raised initial funding and recruited the original management team in 2000. Antenova was based at Downing Park Innovation Centre until April 2001 when it received its first VC funding from a consortium led by Cambridge Gateway Fund. Since then the company has developed a range of leading edge antennas and won some high profile contracts. Antenova is led by Greg McCray and is now located at Farfield House. The company recently announced the acquisition of the gigaAnt short range wireless antenna business from Perlos Corporation.

www.astronclinica.com

Astron Clinica has developed a new generation of non-invasive medical devices exploiting Spectrophotometric Intracutaneous Analysis (SIA) technology. SIA uses light to measure and display the macroscopic structure of skin over small areas. It provides a highly cost effective alternative to surgical biopsies for the early diagnosis and monitoring of skin diseases, including melanoma and other skin cancers. The first devices, SIAscopes 1 and 2, are being used by medical consultants and researchers in the UK, Denmark, Germany, Italy and Australia. SIA was invented by Dr Symon Cotton, Technical Director, and has been commercialised by the team at Astron Clinica, led by Annie Brookings. AVCP invested in Astron Clinica in 1999 following which Matthew Gaved was appointed Chairman of the company. Since then, the company has raised three rounds of VC funding.

www.datanomic.com

Datanomic specialises in developing software solutions for the auditing, cleansing and management of enterprise databases. The company markets a high performance solution which provides auditing and repair functions to rapidly pinpoint and resolve data quality problems within databases and data exchange processes. Datanomic is a spinout from Cambridge based Quillion Group. The transaction was arranged and funded by AVCP in May 2001. Dr Richard Marsh became CEO of Datanomic, having previously managed the development of the software at Quillion. Tina Rogers is Chairman. Datanomic's blue chip customer base spans the financial services, energy, telecommunications and utility sectors. In 2003 Datanomic raised its first round of venture capital from DN Capital. 3i invested the following year. Datanomic was based at Downing Park Innovation Centre until October 2003.

www.friendlytechnologies.eu

Friendly Technologies is a UK based wireless technology start-up developing a radically new approach to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), specifically designed to protect consumers’ privacy and security whilst improving tag affordability. The FT technology, which was invented by CEO Humberto Moran, addresses many of the current challenges that have been encountered by retailers and consumer goods manufacturers as they seek to reduce costs and streamline operations through rolling out RFID across supply chains. The company estimates its initial addressable market at around $800 million in closed-loop systems but this figure will rise steeply when planned developments make it attractive to incorporate the technology into industry-wide applications. AVCP invested in in May 2008 and Chris Poulton is a director.

www.idtechex.com

IDTechEx is the world’s leading independent expert on the development and application of low cost RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies. IDTechEx specialises in market and technical intelligence. It hosts conferences and meetings on RFID, Smart Packaging and Printed Electronics around the world, provides consultancy on development and implementation, and publishes specialist reports, web journals and forecasts on RFID and related technologies. IDTechEx was founded in 1999 by AVCP with Chairman Dr Peter Harrop. It is now led by Raghu Das and based at Downing Park Innovation Centre. The company’s flagship conference, Smart Labels, is held annually in Europe, the US and Southeast Asia.

www.polatis.com

Polatis aims to become the world’s leading all-optical switch supplier. The company’s business is based on the application of micro-actuator and sensor system technologies to photonic sub-systems. Polatis was founded by Andrew Dames in early 2000 and launched its first product, a 64 port spatial switch, at the Optic Fiber Conference in California in April 2001. The key operating parameter of the switch significantly exceeds current customer requirements and the performance of competing solutions. AVCP invested in Polatis in September 2000 and the company received its first round of Venture Capital funding later that year from Alta Berkeley and 3i. Esprit Capital Partners is now also an investor. Business has grown rapidly and today Polatis has a strong position in optical switches. The company recently announced the acquisition of US based Continuum Photonics.

www.seatchoice.com

SeatChoice is the UK's first comprehensive price and availability comparison service for consumers and companies looking for live entertainment tickets. It is not an online ticket agent like Ticketmaster or Viagogo but searches their inventories together with the rest of the primary and secondary markets for seats, and presents that data in an easy to read format. The model works well because tickets are allocated among different agents who sell them at different prices and there is no transparency and no central pool available to interrogate. The customer's problem is tracking down the best value tickets he wants, and SeatChoice is the first service to offer this through computer links giving fast access to the stock of all the major agents. SeatChoice was formerly known as Dynamic Listing, a business set up by Robert and Frances Iles which AVCP backed in February 2001. Chris Poulton is a director.

www.smartcitizen.net

 

SmartCitizen specialises in building and managing citizen smart card schemes for local government. Its mission is to support local authorities in moving to electronic service delivery, using smart cards to improve accessibility, take out cost and enhance the citizen experience. Since its formation in 2004, as a spin-out of Smart Card Solutions, SmartCitizen has rapidly established itself as a dominant supplier of card technology and services to the local government sector, recently winning a contract from Bracknell Forest Borough Council to take on the programme management and technical support of the UK's National Smart Card Project. Chris Poulton is Chairman and co-founder and led SmartCitizen's MBO in May 2007.

www.tagtec.com

Tagtec, based in Cambridge, was founded by Howard Whitesmith in September 1998, to exploit an innovative patent which significantly extends the range over which assets equipped with passive RFID tags can be continuously monitored. Tagtec’s intellectual property has been developed under contract by TTP. Early applications of Tagtec’s technology include vehicle security, the monitoring of high value consumer electronics products in a retail environment, control of multi-storey car parking spaces, and supermarket delicatessen EPOS solutions. AVCP invested in Tagtec in March 2002 and Chris Poulton is a director.

www.cieltd.com

CI-Net specialises in providing secure, resilient Wide Area Networks and internet services to UK businesses. The company does this by intelligent use of innovative technology and has an enviable reputation for managed services and customer support. CI-Net works closely with its customers to deliver networks that are appropriate, effective and excellent value for money. The company was founded by CEO Matthew Hare. AVCP invested in CI-Net in 2000 to support the development of ticketingsolutions, a comprehensive online ticket sales and marketing service enabling ticket vendors to drive sales through their web sites and run effective online marketing campaigns. Later that year the company received its first VC funding.

 

 

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