Business angels are feeling strained & can't cope with new business demands Research commissioned by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has suggested that business angels are under increasing strain to fund deals below the £200,000 gap left by venture capitalists – who have migrating to larger deals.

Angel & early stage investment celebrated in glittering awards Over 175 guests gathered together in the contemporary surroundings of the Lowry Hotel, Manchester to celebrate the achievements of the angel and early stage investment industry at the British Business Angels Association 6th Annual Awards Gala Dinner.

New online service connecting investors and business launched A new online service has launched, into the fairly crowded space, to connect investors with businesses looking for funding.

Luke Johnson: New CGT rate could hit startups hard Luke Johnson, chairman of private equity firm Risk Capital Partners, which recently took a sizeable investment in leading business Angel company Beer & Partners, said that the new rate could hit angel investing at a time when it is becoming the only viable source of risk capital for start-ups.

Gatszu.com secures significant investment from Capital Business Media The Innovative online recruitment marketplace, gatszu.com, has agreed a deal with Capital Business Media, owners of Business Matters magazine and bmmagazine.co.uk, that sees the London-based media group take a seven percent equity stake in the fast-growing Manchester-based Internet technology business, in return for a “significant investment.”

Gymbox receives £1.3M from Octopus Octopus Ventures has announced an investment of £1.3m into Gymbox, a highly distinctive London based health club business. The deal with Gymbox represents the tenth deal Octopus has completed this year, heralding a clear resurgence in venture funding.

London Business Angels join industry syndicate investing in AudioBoo Four London Business Angels investors actively participated in the most recent £580k round of funding for London based AudioBoo with the lead angel from the syndicate joining the Board as Chairman. Coined as the Twitter-for-audio, LBA investors now join Channel 4’s media 4iP and Imagination Technologies (supported by both Apple and Intel) in backing this early stage business.

Yell acquisition rates TrustedPlaces.com Online customer reviews site TrustedPlaces.com has been acquired by the international directories business Yell Group Plc for an undisclosed sum just four years after it was founded.

Angels fall in love with speedfunding Place some of the UK’s most influential businessmen and women in a room with a group ambitious and driven entrepreneurs and what do you get? Answer, the UK’s first Speedfunding™ event, which recently took place in London.