An investment company which says it will champion the next generation of entrepreneurs and wealth creators has launched in Birmingham. Tani Dulay, who is chief executive of property investor and developer Woodbourne Group, has unveiled a new early capital and pre-seed accelerator fund worth £1 million which he hopes will support talented entrepreneurs.
The new initiative, called Woodbourne Ventures, has already backed four companies in fields such as clean-tech, sustainable loungewear and fintech.
Woodbourne Group is also behind £360 million plans for a major new development called Curzon Wharf. First announced last year, the masterplan would see land next to Dartmouth Circus Island on the A38 transformed to house student flats, co-living units, offices and life science and retail space.
Sign up to our FREE daily email here and follow our dedicated West Midlands business news LinkedIn page here
Mr Dulay said: "It is enormously exciting to announce the launch of Woodbourne Ventures, a fund founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. This early-capital and pre-seed accelerator fund will enable remarkable entrepreneurs to build breakthrough businesses right here in Birmingham.
"We will champion the next generation of entrepreneurs and wealth-creators who are striving to build exciting breakthrough businesses. We take our inspiration from the ideas, dreams and goals of talented individuals looking to take their vision to the next level.
"By being there at the very beginning, we will give founders the best platform to grow through the first stage of business development and then raise the necessary later-stage capital."
Mr Dulay said he felt Birmingham was a city known for its true entrepreneurial spirit which had been evident since before it became renowned as the city of a thousand trades.
"We have a very successful track record in business and it is this inside knowledge of the start-up and growth process that informs everything we do," he added.
"We will give our all to help these new businesses succeed and, with that in mind, we prefer to be the lead investor."
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street added: "Woodbourne Group has already demonstrated a rock solid commitment to Birmingham with their £360 million plans to create the landmark net-zero, carbon-ready Curzon Wharf development. I am pleased to hear they are now doubling down on their commitment to Birmingham with the unveiling of Woodbourne Ventures, a wonderful initiative in support of local entrepreneurs which I wholeheartedly welcome.
Birmingham and the wider West Midlands are blessed with a dynamic entrepreneurial heritage with a formidable track record of pioneers and innovators generating the ideas, products and services of the future. I look forward to seeing today's ambitious entrepreneurs and technology start-ups find success with the support of Tani and his team."
READ NEXT:
