
North East Innovation Fund
Description
The North East Innovation Fund is a dedicated venture capital fund operating within the broader framework of The North East Fund, a significant regional investment initiative. Managed by Northstar Ventures, this fund specifically targets innovative businesses with substantial growth potential located across the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area in the United Kingdom. Its primary mission is to foster economic development and job creation by providing crucial early-stage and growth capital to promising enterprises.
The fund's investment strategy is focused on identifying and supporting companies that demonstrate strong innovation and scalability. It actively seeks out opportunities across a range of high-growth sectors, including digital technology, health and life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. The North East Innovation Fund looks for strong management teams and disruptive business models that can drive significant impact within their respective industries and contribute to the region's innovation ecosystem.
Financially, the North East Innovation Fund is a substantial £10 million fund, forming a key component of the larger £120 million North East Fund. It typically provides first-cheque investments ranging from £50,000 to £500,000. Converted to US dollars, this translates to approximately $63,500 to $635,000, based on recent exchange rates. This flexible investment range allows the fund to support a diverse portfolio of companies, from nascent startups requiring initial seed capital to more established businesses seeking growth funding. The fund is notably supported by the European Regional Development Fund, underscoring its role in regional economic regeneration.
Investor Profile
North East Innovation Fund has backed more than 25 startups, with 9 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 12 rounds, about 48% of its total and boasts 0 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series Unknown, Seed, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Biotechnology, Health Care, Medical.
- Led 4 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $63.5K – $635K.
Stage Focus
- Series Unknown (44%)
- Seed (36%)
- Pre Seed (16%)
- Grant (4%)
Country Focus
- United Kingdom (100%)
Industry Focus
- Biotechnology
- Health Care
- Medical
- Medical Device
- Pharmaceutical
- Nanotechnology
- Therapeutics
- Cyber Security
- Life Science
- Product Research
Frequently Asked Questions
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