Potential investors Hermann Hauser, left, and Andy Richards at the Babraham Research Campus.

Sixteen biotech companies had the chance to pitch to potential investors as their innovative technologies were showcased at Babraham Research Campus.

The companies – including three based at the campus – were seeking investment of between £250,000 and £17 million from 40 biotech-focused investor groups.

The Biotechnology Investment Forum (BIF) 2011 – which was also supported by Cambridge Enterprise and One Nucleus – attracted more than 100 delegates.

“This is our most ambitious BIF to date, with the largest number of companies, investors and delegates since the forum was established,” said Derek Jones, chief executive of Babraham Bioscience Technologies.

“The campus plays a key role bringing together entrepreneurs and investors through events like this and we hope the forum will have catalysed conversations leading to the financing of early-stage bioventures.

“The spin-off for us is hopefully they will establish themselves at the Babraham Research Campus, where we have ongoing developments to provide more facilities for companies.”

Babraham newcomer Cell Guidance Systems was among the firms pitching at the event.

“The forum provides an excellent opportunity to pitch to investors and meet with other start-ups,” said Dr Michael Jones, chief executive of the stem cell company.

“The overall quality of presentations was high and we met investors actively seeking to deploy capital. We have started several promising discussions.”

The other Babraham firms involved were Phico Therapeutics and Senexis, which was seeking £17 million to fund clinical development of its treatments and diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease.