Richard's philosophy was described by Internet Week: "When Farleigh invests in a firm, he checks the technology, the competition, customer endorsements and management teams, because 'there's more technology around than there is good management'".
The following list shows companies backed by Richard in their early stages and through their subsequent growth. An extremely exceptional proportion of these have achieved a stock market listing or been acquired.
Highlights include Home House, which after an extensive renovation to a Georgian mansion became one of London’s most fashionable private members’ clubs with him as the major backer and Chairman, Net-a-Porter, a now famous Haute Couture e-commerce site recently sold for $500m, Wolfson Microelectronics, a leading UK tech company providing parts for the iPod and X Box, where Richard underwrote some early fundraisings, Green Chemicals, with exciting new hair and fabric products, Innovative Physics with world leading radiation detection products, and Proximagen, a leading UK bio-tech specialising in neuro-science.
Company |
Sector |
Link |
Market Listings |
||
AB Airlines |
Airline |
Ceased trading after IPO |
African Minerals |
Mining |
|
Amino Communications |
Set top boxes |
|
Ant PLC |
Set top box software |
|
Arc International |
Semiconductor |
Acquired after listing |
Argonaut Games |
Software - games |
Ceased trading after IPO |
Celoxica |
Semiconductor |
Ceased trading after IPO |
Clearspeed Technology |
Semiconductor |
Acquired after listing |
Coe Group |
Video Surveillance |
Acquired after listing |
Evolution Group |
Finance |
|
Future Integrated Tel |
Hardware |
No website |
Green Chemicals |
Leeds University Spin-out |
|
IP2IPO |
University Spin-outs |
|
NMT |
Medical |
|
Oxonica PLC |
Nanotechnology |
Taken private after listing |
Proximagen Neuroscience |
Neurodegenerative diseases |
|
Service Power |
Software |
|
Synairgen |
Respiratory diseases |
|
Syntopix |
Skin conditions |
|
Wolfson Microelectronics |
Semiconductor |
|
Acquired |
||
Home House |
Private members' club |
|
Index IT |
Business advisory |
Sold to Evolution Group |
MegaAge |
Online sports retailer |
|
Net-A-Porter |
Retail |
|
Nordiko |
Hard disk drives |
Sold to Shimadzu Corp. |
Primavera |
Business advisory |
Merged to Green Chemicals |
Scotts Restaurant |
London restaurant |
|
Unwired |
Wireless telecommunications |
|
Operating |
||
Adeptra |
Software |
|
Afa Systems |
Software |
No website |
Antenova |
Antennas for mobile devices |
|
BTF Pty Limited |
Biotechnology |
|
Capsant Neurotechnologies |
Neurodegenrative diseases |
|
Ceravision |
Lamp technology |
|
Chez Amour |
Upmarket dating service |
|
Cmed |
Drug research |
|
EMB |
Electro-mechanical devices |
|
Glycoform |
Oxford university spin-out |
|
H2O Markets |
Retail broker |
|
Inhibox |
Drug discovery |
|
Innovative Physics |
Radiation detection |
|
Mathengine |
Software |
No website |
Nanotecture Ltd |
Nanotechnology |
|
Palmchip |
Semiconductor |
|
Pharminox |
Cancer treatment |
|
Reggae Reggae Sauce |
Food |
|
Vocalis |
Software |
No website |
ZFA Acquisitions |
Acquired Clearspeed |
No website |
Ceased trading |
||
Accelerator |
Incubator |
Ceased trading |
Active Imaging |
Software |
Ceased trading |
Addativa Ltd |
Algae production |
Ceased trading |
Bak-Jak |
Back support for mechanics |
Ceased trading |
Bodylite |
Flat pack mannequins |
Ceased trading |
Brightcom |
Semiconductor |
Ceased trading |
Coole solutions |
Innovative bra invention |
Ceased trading |
Digmedia |
Software |
Ceased trading |
Electric Film |
Leisure |
Ceased trading |
Epic |
Retail |
Ceased trading |
First Light Solutions |
Man-overboard system |
Ceased trading |
Igloo Thermo-Logistics |
Frozen food couriers |
Ceased trading |
Live picture |
Leisure |
Ceased trading |
Power X |
Semiconductor |
Ceased trading |
Radiation Watch Ltd |
Radiation detection |
Ceased trading |
Sovco |
Mining |
Ceased trading |
Spectral Fusion Technologies Ltd |
Food scanning |
Ceased trading |
Transform-It! |
Innovative dining table |
Ceased trading |
Unimed |
Software |
Ceased trading |
Zyentia Ltd |
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's |
Ceased trading |