Informa Launches Venture Capital Fund

Business intelligence, research and events group Informa Plc has launched a corporate venture capital fund, which will make early-stage investments in the 'knowledge and information economy'.

Informa operates in four areas: academic publishing, global exhibitions, knowledge and networking, and business intelligence. The last of these offers specialist data-driven intelligence and insight to companies in the agribusiness, finance, industry and infrastructure, pharmaceutical, telecoms, media and technology, and transportation sectors. The group also includes Informa Engage, which provides insights on niche B2B audiences through a global database of more than 30 million business decision-makers.

The new Informa Ventures business will provide capital through seed and Series A rounds of funding, along with access to markets, mentorship and expertise to founding teams. Its focus will be on start-ups operating in Informa's markets, particularly those firms that use data and technology to change the way products are delivered, as well as customer behavior and expectations. Decisions on which companies to fund will be governed by the potential of the product, the strength of the team, and a 'clearly articulated vision' of what success looks like to the founders.

Managing Partner Richard Stanton (pictured), who also serves as Informa's Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, comments: 'We love it when a founding team is passionate about what they do, has ambitious goals and makes us think differently about our businesses. Our investment focus is on start-ups that operate in the global market for information services, and who foresee and can seize on commercial opportunities that arise from the adoption of new technologies and changes in human behavior and business practices'.

Web site: www.informaventures.com .