Ruby Foundation

The Ruby Foundation – A Jewel of an Opportunity

For centuries, rubies have signified passion, protection and wealth. Ancient Burmese warriors adorned their armour with the rare gem to provide protection in battle. Some went as far as inserting the gemstones into their flesh, believing it created invincibility.

Today, a ruby is an internationally acknowledged symbol of love, dedication and commitment.

Ruby was also the name of Tony Banks’ much-loved mother, the woman Tony credits with forging much of his business drive and ultimately his corporate success. The woman, who in significantly challenging times and against the realities of financial hardship, raised a boy who would become one of Dundee’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Our Commitment

The Ruby Foundation is Ruby Capital’s charitable sister and the manifestation of a personal commitment from Tony to help, mentor, support and invest in emerging entrepreneurs who need that boost to flourish in a deeply challenging economic and business climate.

Tony is all too aware of the economic challenges facing many budding entrepreneurs and he has made The Ruby Foundation’s ambition to support, nurture, mentor and enable young businesses.

In today’s economic and business climate, gaining support, financial and otherwise, is becoming an increasingly difficult challenge. Some of the best ideas fail because they come up against the prescriptive and bureaucratic processes involved in the mainstream investment market.

The Ruby Foundation will take a pre-disposed positive interest in emerging businesses, especially Scottish enterprises, where we identify obvious passion, ability and potential. We will look particularly favourably at businesses where we feel we can add significant value in terms of leadership and experience by working with those who are already driven with passion for their ideas.

The Ruby organisation – Capital and Foundation – has built up significant expertise in different sized businesses at various stages of development and across a range of sectors. That expertise will be channelled into helping emerging entrepreneurs to fulfil their dreams.

The charitable aims of the Ruby Foundation are to:

• support individuals and organisations with a view to relieving poverty and hardship
• support institutions and charities who are advancing education
• provide financial and other support for entrepreneurs disadvantaged by age, ill-health, disability or financial hardship
• support organisations in the advancement of citizenship or community development

Tony Banks captured the essence of the Ruby Foundation in his own words: “In business and in life we never stop learning and in a tough economic and business climate, I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and many years of experience to support, nurture and grow each of the businesses we invest in.”