Newport boutique business advisory firm Impact Innovation has set up a not-for-profit foundation to support businesses looking to raise fresh capital.

Impact Investment Foundation has launched a free and simple search engine which matches SMEs with an impressive selection of finance market leaders within minutes.

The business finance comparison engine is a designated referral platform endorsed by HM Treasury and the British Business Bank.

Funder Finder uses simple information to link business users with a wide range of finance market leaders, with funds available from £500 up to £50m.

Asking just 17 questions about the business’ needs, the engine searches more than 150 different funders and products, ensuring the recommendations made are both suitable and appropriate. The choice of who to contact is left to the SME through an automated journey or with help from a dedicated telephone-based service team.

SMEs can get simple and free access to a wide range of funding choices, from export, invoice and trade finance, to cash flow loans and commercial mortgages.

The Impact Investment Foundation also runs a range of complementary services designed to help SMEs become 'investor ready'.

David Notley, managing director and founder of Impact Innovation, which is based at Langstone Business Park, said:

“Access to suitable funding is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses looking to grow. Through my work with hundreds of businesses in this situation, I was inspired to create a free, simple platform that will help companies identify potential sources of funding that is right for their business, wherever they are in the growth cycle.

“We worked with our partner Funder Finder to develop a user-friendly and transparent platform for Welsh businesses that is entirely fair and unbiased, as funders cannot buy their way to the top of the rankings. Users pay no more by using the engine than going to a funder directly, but it brings all the important information into one search engine for the very first time.”