Business Investors Group (BiG)

What Business Investors Group (BiG) does

Business Investors Group (BiG) is a UK-based private angel investment group founded in September 1997 in Chester by a collective of entrepreneurs who had previously sold their own businesses. The group provides equity finance and business support expertise to SMEs in the North East of England and Cumbria, deploying tickets ranging from £25,000 to £1 million and more, often syndicated with regional co-investors such as Barwell plc, EDNE, Northern Enterprise Ltd, North Star, and Generate Ventures LLP. As of the most recent disclosure, BiG members have invested in excess of £35.5 million across more than 100 companies since inception.

BiG's core offering is the combination of equity capital with hands-on operational expertise from members who have themselves built and exited businesses. Portfolio companies span diverse sectors including distributed systems and cloud computing (Arjuna Technologies), audio products (Current Thinking), translation services (Eclipse Translations), affiliate marketing (Perfiliate, sold to AOL as Buy.at in 2008 for BiG's most successful exit), sales management software (Profile Analysis), interactive video services (Quick TV), and artisan food and beverage (Olivia's Artisan Foods). Members typically take non-executive director positions in investees, contributing strategic guidance, entry and exit strategy development, and access to a high-profile regional networking programme.

The business model operates as a private membership organisation rather than a regulated fund vehicle. Deal flow is sourced primarily through the networking programme and referrals from partner bodies such as the Northeast Business & Innovation Centre (BIC) at Sunderland. Applicants use online or PDF application forms split by stage (under two years old versus established), followed by direct presentations and due diligence. Returns are realised at exit rather than through management fees or carried interest at the group level. The organisation is led by Chairman Colin Coates and operates with a 1–10 person staff footprint, consistent with its lean membership-club structure.

Name

Business Investors Group (BiG)

Legal name

Business Investment Group

Website

https://big-angels.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Business Investors Group (BiG) is a UK-based angel investment collective, founded in 1997, that deploys £25,000–£1 million+ of equity capital alongside operational expertise into SMEs in the North East of England and Cumbria, having invested over £35.5 million across more than 100 portfolio companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investment Services

NAICS

All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)

Keywords

• Angel investment network
• Equity finance
• SME funding
• Business support
• Regional investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equity Investment Returns: BiG generates returns through equity investments in portfolio companies. Members participate in a variety of investments, pool their knowledge, and spread risk across multiple ventures. The group has invested in excess of £35.5 million since 1997.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Business Investors Group (BiG) is a regional angel investment group that provides equity finance ranging from £25,000 to £1 million and more, along with hands-on business support expertise, to established owner-managers and potential managers in the North East of England and Cumbria who can demonstrate growth potential. Members also assist portfolio companies with developing entry or exit strategies and provide professional skills pre- and post-investment.

Product overview

Business Investors Group (BiG) is not a technology product company; it is an angel investment organization that provides equity finance (ranging from £25,000 to £1 million) and business support expertise to established owner-managers and entrepreneurs demonstrating growth potential in the North East of England and Cumbria. The organization does not offer distinct branded products or services in the technology product sense. BiG's portfolio includes investments in various companies across sectors including technology (Arjuna Technologies - distributed systems/Cloud Computing, Profile Analysis/i-snapshot - sales management software), affiliate marketing (Perfiliate/Buy.at), translation services (Eclipse Translations), audio equipment (Current Thinking), video services (Quick TV), and food/retail (Olivia's Artisan Foods).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equity Funding for Established Businesses (Over Two Years Old) Equity investment funding provided by BiG members to established businesses more than two years old that have a proven track record and are seeking growth or expansion capital. Applications are accepted online or via downloadable PDF form.
• Equity Funding for Start-Up Businesses (Under Two Years Old) Equity investment funding aimed at start-up businesses less than two years old seeking seed and early-stage equity capital. Applications are accepted online or via downloadable PDF form.
• Business Support Expertise and Mentorship Hands-on business support and mentorship provided by BiG members, who are themselves successful former entrepreneurs, to portfolio companies both pre- and post-investment, including assistance with entry and exit strategy development.
• Syndicated Funding Packages BiG syndicates with other financial partners to provide balanced, comprehensive funding packages for SMEs, complementing its own equity investment with partner capital.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 companies assisted over 28 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Generate Ventures LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConducted operational review and prepared business plan for Olivia's Artisan Bakery & Café. Worked with the company to obtain six-figure funding from grant applications, equity funders, and loan providers. BiG members provided over 40% of the finance package.
• Northeast Business & Innovation Centre (BIC)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferred Current Thinking Ltd to BiG in June 2002 when the company was seeking funding to expand sales and staff.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF): Fund-of-funds programme providing equity to SMEs across Northern England, including North East England. Highly comparable in geographic focus and target SME segment, though operates at larger scale with institutional capital.
• Mercia Fund Management: UK regional investment manager focused on SMEs across the Midlands and Northern England. Operates a network of regionally managed funds providing equity to growth-stage companies, directly comparable to BiG's regional focus and ticket sizes.
• Maven Capital Partners: UK-based regional investor with offices across the country including Northern England. Provides equity capital to SMEs in similar ticket sizes and operates a parallel regional fund-of-funds model with co-investment capacity comparable to BiG's syndication approach.
• Angel CoFund: UK-wide angel co-investment fund that partners with angel groups and syndicates to support portfolio companies. Directly comparable angel-focused investment model with similar Equity + Expertise orientation, though operating nationally rather than regionally.
• Northstar Ventures: North East England-focused investment firm that has actively co-invested with BiG (including the Quick TV deal). Operates multiple regional funds in the same geography, providing direct overlap in target market and deal sourcing.
• Archangels: Scotland's longest-running angel investment group, founded in 1992. Directly comparable member-led angel model investing in early-stage UK SMEs, with similar Equity + Expertise value proposition and a focus on regional deal flow.

Others

• Generation Ventures (Generate): North East England-focused operational consultancy and investment partner that has actively co-invested with BiG (e.g., Olivia's Artisan Foods). Functions as both a deal-sourcing and execution partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• British Business Bank: UK government-backed economic development bank providing finance to smaller businesses across the country. Operates overlapping programmes in BiG's target geographies but at vastly larger scale and with different mandate (development-focused rather than return-focused angel investing).
• Endless LLP: UK-based private equity firm focused on regional and under-served UK SMEs. Operates at larger scale and targets more mature companies than BiG, but serves overlapping SME segments in Northern English markets.

Regional players

• FW Capital: Wales-focused investment firm providing equity and loan capital to Welsh SMEs. Operates a similar regionally-focused model with comparable ticket sizes and Equity + Expertise approach, but in a different UK geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Business Investors Group (BiG)