Private equity and investment firm Maven Capital Partners has strengthened its presence in the region to support its delivery of the £200m South West Investment Fund (SWIF).
Launched last July by the British Business Bank, WIF aims to boost the supply of finance to small and medium-sized businesses across the South West.
Maven manages SWIF’s £38m equity finance fund, which is seeking investments from £25,000 up to £5m in the north of the region.
Maven has recruited Rafi Khan, pictured with Maven partner Melanie Goward, as an investment manager to help support the team in its delivery of the fund.
Rafi joins from 'big four' accountancy group Deloitte, where he worked as an associate director in its corporate finance advisory.
With a degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of Bath, Maven said he brought a wealth of experience and understanding to help more growth-focused businesses access funding through Maven and SWIF.
The team aims to speak to small and medium-sized firms in various sectors, particularly in areas where traditional funding may typically not be an option.
It has already hosted a number of ‘meet the investor’ events to help make the fund accessible to businesses as it looks to fill gaps in available finance options in the region and empower businesses to unlock their potential.
To enable the team to grow further, Maven, which opened a base in Bristol in 2016, has relocated it to a larger office in the city.
Rafi Khan said: “I am thrilled to be a part of Maven during this exciting phase, as we embark on the early stages of the management of the SWIF Maven Equity Finance Fund.
“I look forward to continuing to foster relationships with entrepreneurs in the South West, and collaborating with the Maven team to support flourishing regional businesses.”
Maven partner Melanie Goward added: “It’s great to welcome Rafi to our growing South West team and to announce our new office in Bristol.
“Rafi’s experience will aid us in delivering the South West Investment Fund and help reach growing businesses across the region to access finance to support their goals.”
Alongside Maven’s involvement, SWIF is also managed by SWIG Finance, FW Capital and the FSE Group. SWIG Finance manages smaller loans – from £25,000 to £100,000 – for the whole South West, with FW Capital managing the debt (£100,000 to £2m) fund for the north of the region. The FSE Group managed both debt and equity for the south of the region.
