Level E Limited

"From very early on they have helped us with grant funding for both scientific and market research, which has had a very positive impact in shaping our business through some pretty difficult years"

Level E Limited is a financial services company based in Edinburgh. Founded by Dr Sonia Schulenberg in 2006, Level E combines cutting edge data analysis with financial expertise to produce a service that provides invaluable assistance to investment managers.

Level E's unique trading technology - MAYA - increases the intelligence of financial decision making and risk management.

Scottish Enterprise has been closely involved with Level E's growth and provided a grant to support the early stages of product research and development.

Once the company reached the trading stage Scottish Enterprise was on hand to help with diversification and the creation of Level E Capital Ltd, which uses the MAYA software to control investments.

Scottish Enterprise's John Carmichael said:

"There was an opportunity to broaden the offering, so the company decided to create its own commercial vehicle, Level E Capital Ltd – effectively becoming its own customer."

Level E's Sonia Schulenberg said:

"We’re not a traditional fund management company, what we do is shortterm, very systematic and highly quantitative, so our different approach to investment management made it initially quite hard to penetrate the market.

"Scottish Enterprise support has helped us take our goals and turn them into a reality. We have obtained private investment and this year we’re looking to break even. There are several other strategic partnerships and alliances still in the pipeline which should help us grow the company.

"Grant funding has helped me retain control of the business, which, I believe, has given our very loyal team of PhDs and management the reassurance that we are here to stay.

"I don’t think the company would be where it is now without Scottish Enterprise; I am very grateful for their support. From very early on they have helped us with grant funding for both scientific and market research, which has had a very positive impact in shaping our business through some pretty difficult years."