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History - Technology
1993 - 1999
- In 1993, ASL's first technology client was Memory Corporation, developing technology involving partially defective memory chips. ASL was appointed by Memory Corporation and worked closely with two principals, complementing their technical and marketing expertise. Following presentations in Europe and the US to venture capitalists, ASL secured first round funding from a Danish/US venture capitalist.
- ASL was then appointed to work with Inner Workings, a developer of children's edutainment titles, and successfully raised funding from a trade investor following which Derek Douglas was appointed as Director. Having grown the team significantly, in 1995 ASL advised Inner Workings with a successful placing and listing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Inner Workings was one of the first companies to raise money on the AIM.
- ASL raised its quickest ever first round funding of £285,000 for Digital Animations in 1995. With Derek Douglas as chairman, ASL worked closely with the founding Directors to build the management team and grow the business to over 60 people. In July 1996, Digital Animations achieved a placing and listing on the AIM. Running concurrently, ASL advised AND International Publishers, a compression technology specialist of eleven years standing, with its placing and listing on the AIM. Thus ASL gained experience and understanding of the software publishing industry.
- In 1995, ASL advised Epic Interactive Media Group Limited (now Epic Group plc), an established educational and games software company, with its venture capital fundraising.
- Following the joint listing of AND International Publishers on the New Market of Amsterdam Exchanges (NMAX), ASL was introduced to NedGraphics by its venture capitalist, a computer graphics specialist which had been in business for twenty years. ASL advised NedGraphics with appointing its advisors and determining the valuation of its placing and listing on NMAX.
- Following this, ASL advised a number of technology companies including Printable Field Emitters, a field emission displays technology company and Peopledoc (MDi), a software scanning company, of which Derek Douglas was appointed a Director.
- In 1998, ASL became closely involved with Kymata. Derek Douglas was one of three founders and was appointed Chairman. ASL successfully used their knowledge and expertise to obtain first round funding of £1 million. Over the course of 3 years, Kymata grew from the nucleus of founder members to over 500 employees.
2000 onwards
- ASL advised AND International Publishers in the trade sale to Bell Group of its subsidiary AND Identification, a developer of biometric smart card systems.
- In late 2000, ASL made the strategic decision to focus on both early and later stage microengineering, hardware, physics and nanotechnology based technology clients with strong protectable intellectual property and later stage software companies.
- In his role as Chairman of Digital Animations, Derek Douglas was involved in the negotiation of the sale of Ananova, the first real-time online newsreader avatar, to the Press Association who subsequently sold it to Orange.
- In late 2000, ASL commenced working with Acuid Corporation, a company with considerable intellectual property in the field of high speed data communication. At the request of the investing venture capitalist, Derek Douglas was appointed Chairman and one of his first tasks was to recruit an experienced CEO.
- ASL now concentrates on working with a small number of deals where it has a more hands on relationship with its clients
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