WOTAN
Wider Oxford Technology Angel Network

In January 2024, new rules were announced governing who in the UK was allowed to make business angel type of investments. The proposed rules generally made it more difficult for people to qualify. For example, one way to qualify to be allowed to make angel investments was to self-declare as a ‘High-Net-Worth’ investor. But the definition of this was made more difficult. One needed to have an income of £100,000 pa or surplus resources (not including house and pension) of at least £250,000.

 

But investors were also to be allowed to make investments in unquoted companies if they had been members of a business angel network for six months. For the last 30 years (or even 45 years if one includes Venture Capital Report, which started in 1978), Oxford Technology has operated a business angel network in that we have enabled the founders of businesses seeking capital either to start or to expand, to present their investment cases to individual investors. 

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With the criteria required to be considered a high-net-worth individual announced to become more onerous at that time, we have decided to formalise our network into WOTAN—the Wider Oxford Technology Angel Network.

 

There will be no fee or annual subscription. Six months after joining WOTAN, you will have been a member of a business angel network for six months and will be permitted to make angel investments as a Sophisticated Investor.