This is the first iteration of a 3 part series of articles delving into the various equity investors in Manchester who provide funding for businesses across the region. Here you can learn about these organisations and the types of businesses each of them typically invests in.
Angelgroups
Angelgroups is a commercial investment platform supported by an extensive network of UK angel investors or early-stage equity investors. The network makes up angel investor groups and a key feature is its ability to leverage investment through the identification of a lead investor and subsequent syndication. Typically, Angelgroup investors take an active role in supporting investments. Businesses significantly benefit from the array of skills, contacts and knowledge that an investor provides; something they refer to as ‘smart money’.
- Stage of business: Pre-seed and seed. Additionally, pre-revenue businesses with a clearly articulated market execution strategy and Minimal Viable Product (MVP) are considered.
- Typical Sectors: All sectors. Except the won’t consider applications relating to alcohol, gambling, weapons, cannabis or anything with a negative environmental impact.
- How much angel investors invest: Between £100k and £500k. Can work with co-investment partners for larger fundraises.
- How they can support your business:
- Access intensive 'pitch-readiness' guidance on a 1 to 1 basis.
- Provide the opportunity of pitching directly to a curated audience of angel investors at a physical event.
- Access to the investment portal, investment propositions are promoted via the Angelgroups secure investment portal to a network of 800+ active angel investors.
How to meet angel investors via Angelgroups: Register your businesses on their site and answer the Angelgroups questionnaire.
Fund IQ
Fund IQ aims to reduce friction and bias in early-stage investment. Whilst not strictly an investment platform, the online 'Fund IQ Report' signals the potential to successfully secure business funding in the marketplace. Combining human insight and clever tech, the Fund IQ Assessment and consequent report is an in-depth analysis of investability.
Early-stage fundraising is time-consuming and sometimes inefficient. Fund IQ offer a quick turnaround in the equity investment market, with decisions typically taking one week from assessment and supporting founders build confidence and momentum in a fundraise.
- Stage of business: All start-ups at any stage
- Typical Sectors: All
- Typical investment amount: 1 start-up per month could receive £150k-£200k.
- How they can support your business:
- Offer a rating and assessment providing insight into how angels and Venture Capitalists are likely to react to your investor proposition without any subjective bias.
- Aligned with the assessment report is an investor matching tool, helping founders connect with investors and further their fundraising journey.
First step to access support: You can get assessed where the application takes roughly 30 minutes. First, create your FundIQ account, apply online & pay the £250 assessment fee. After 7 days, you'll get full report with bespoke, actionable feedback and your investability score.
CrowdCube
CrowdCube is an online equity crowdfunding platform for businesses. They are a leading marketplace for Europe's high growth businesses and was inspired by an unshakeable belief in entrepreneurs that dream big, push at the edges, and want to make a difference. They were motivated by a post-recession world, where it was harder than ever for ambitious entrepreneurs to raise money to bring their innovative ideas to life and turn their vision into reality.
- Stage of business: Any
- Typical Sectors: All
- Typical investment amount: Any
- How they can support your business:
- Campaign Preparation. They will work with you to build a compelling and compliant promotion.
- They will invite your community and their crowd to register to your pitch before it is publicly available. They will launch your pitch and collect your funds, send out share certificates and deal with the legal work related to closing your round.
- Support with post-funding business needs and gives access to their Funded Community—a group of co-owned, mission-centric businesses.
First step to access support: Apply to raise by telling them about your business and your fundraising strategy. They can help you decide whether crowdfunding is the right option for your business.
Deepbridge Capital
From seed stage, through commercialisation and growth funding, Deepbridge aims to work with investee companies throughout their funding journey. For investors, Deepbridge have a team of sector experts who source review and manage investment opportunities, across the technology, life sciences and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, they help investors with their tax planning requirements.
- Typical Sectors: Disruptive technologies, life sciences and renewable energy.
- Typical investment amount: Would consider all amounts.
- How they can support your business:
- For businesses that receive investment, they will gain access to support throughout the journey.
- With a highly experienced team in the above sectors, Deepbridge look to understand how and why their investee companies operate, so that they can have a better understanding of how to support, mentor and manage those businesses.
First step to access support: Read through their investment criteria to ensure you are eligible. If so, download a copy of their Due Diligence form found on their website, fill it in and email across to Deepbridge Capital.
DSW Ventures
DSW Ventures is a national firm of seed and early-stage venture capital investment specialists, focusing on regional UK growth businesses. They invest in technology and tech-led scale-up businesses with talented founders, a defensible position and evidence of product-market fit.
DSW Ventures invests early-stage venture capital into innovative UK businesses led by talented founders. Primarily they tend to invest in revenue-generating start-ups, those showing commercial traction, or in the case of deep technology, IP-rich with initial validation of the tech.
- Stage of business: Seed and pre-Series A stage
- Typical Sectors: All sectors with a focus on software, science, deeptech/university
spin-outs and consumer technology businesses.
- Typical investment amount: £100k - £1m (can also participate in much larger rounds)
- How they can support your business:
- They will help build management teams, provide corporate finance advice and be able to attend and advise weekly board meetings.
- Teams also benefit from the network and wide experience within DSW Ventures as well as their Investment Committee and individual angels.
First step to access support: By visiting their site, you can immediately email your pitch deck to them. If this is successful, companies meet and present to the Investment Committee.
Fearless Adventures
Fearless Adventures is a GM based venture builder founded by 3 successful 'exited' entrepreneurs providing early-stage capital and supporting resources to accelerate business growth. Fearless Adventures provide founder-led direct-to-consumer and tech-enabled businesses with embedded venture capital. Their aim is to drive business growth through their internal and external support networks.
- Stage of business: Pre-seed and seed stage
- Typical Sectors: All sectors
- Typical investment amount: Usually £100k-£500k.
- How they can support your business:
- Founders aligning with the Fearless core values can benefit from expertise in marketing, financial reporting, strategic insight, and access to the Fearless investment network.
First step to access support: If you are a founder looking to grow your team or need help to take your business to the next level, you can fill in the form on their site which includes some questions about the current state of your business and challenges faced.
Would you like a warm introduction to one of these Investors?
Our team of finance specialists can offer further advice on how to approach investors, explain what is investment readiness and provide introductions to the investors mentioned above.
