Make sure the technology aligns with the goals of the Reservoir you are applying to, such as climate change mitigation or advanced industrial water treatment. It must be possible to define measurable trial success criteria with objective KPIs. Ensure a specific request is made of the technology user if the trial is a success. For example, a commitment to a purchase. This agreement should be part of the trial and purchase contract between you and the potential customer. The trial and purchase agreement must include the right for Isle to receive results and for you to publicise the Trial in collaboration with your customer.

We don’t help identify potential customers as part of the Trial Reservoir. You will need to be in conversation with at least one potential customer before you join the program. However, you will not initially need firm commitment from the customer(s). Isle can help with key account identification and market entry as a separate service offering.

Isle doesn’t actively assist with your fundraising activities through the Trial Reservoir, but we can help with fundraising as a separate service offering.

The maximum loan amount available is usually GBP100,000 or USD150,000. The exact amount depends on the duration you will hold the funds for and the outcome of our due diligence.

Our brief due diligence process covers technology, the vendor, and the end-user to inform a risk assessment.

The Reservoirs are part-funded by Isle’s profits and run on a non-profit basis, so there is a cost recovery fee. This is usually in the range of $1000 – $1500 USD per month of the trial set-up and delivery period. The cost varies depending on how much support the trial needs. There is also interest on any loan you take, but the interest rate is only applied after the agreed repayment date. This is a date you and Isle will agree together. It is set for after the trial evaluation and reporting period at the end of the practical work for the trial.

The rate is set at a specific amount and typically tied to inflation (typically inflation is +5%, approximately).

Yes, the loan can be repaid through instalments. We can come to a mutual agreement as to how you want your payment plan to be structured.

Yes. Although the Reservoirs aim to reduce the number of trial vendors need to make a sale, it is possible to use multiple Reservoir loans. Typically this occurs as one loan after another rather than two loans at the same time. Usually, it is to enable the technology vendor to extend into a new geography or new market sector.