Co-FundNI

Co-Fund NI is a significant co-investment fund operating out of Belfast, Northern Ireland, specifically designed to bolster the region's high-growth potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Managed by Clarendon Fund Managers, this initiative plays a crucial role in the local investment landscape by investing alongside private business angels and angel syndicates. The fund's primary objective is to leverage private capital, providing essential funding to innovative companies that might otherwise struggle to secure sufficient investment for their growth ambitions. It represents a key component of the Northern Ireland Co-Investment Fund, demonstrating a strategic public-private partnership approach to economic development.

Co-Fund NI's investment strategy is centered on co-funding, meaning it participates in equity rounds alongside private investors rather than leading them independently. This model ensures that private market validation is a prerequisite for its involvement, fostering a collaborative environment between public and private capital sources. The fund targets companies across various sectors, provided they exhibit strong growth potential and are based within Northern Ireland. This geographical focus underscores its commitment to nurturing the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and driving regional economic prosperity.

The fund has a total capital allocation of £12.5 million, which translates to approximately $15.8 million, dedicated to supporting promising ventures. For individual companies, Co-Fund NI is capable of deploying between £50,000 and £1,000,000, or roughly $63,500 to $1,270,000, in any single funding round. A key aspect of its investment terms is its capacity to contribute up to 50% of the total equity required by a company in a given round, ensuring that private investors maintain a substantial stake. This fund is supported by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund, highlighting its foundation in public sector initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth and innovation.