Campus Capital assembles North West’s first ever student venture capitalist team

A group of University of Manchester students are set to become the first ever team of student venture capitalists in the North West.

The 17-strong team will work with Campus Capital, a venture capital firm that works in partnership with universities, as its scouts for the region’s high-growth tech companies seeking investment.

With nine women, various nationalities and specialist subjects ranging from mathematics, economics and engineering to textiles and sustainability represented, Campus Capital believes it is the most diverse North West VC team to date.

The students, who were picked from more than 60 applicants, have completed a training programme that saw them learn about investment and hear from entrepreneurs who have experienced the process.

Campus Capital’s approach is based on US models such as the Wolverine Venture Fund and Dorm Room Fund.

The company will invest between £50k and £200k in high-growth businesses in the city regions of its university partners.

The Universities of Manchester and Sheffield are its first partners, but Campus Capital plans to roll the model out across the UK.

Entrepreneur Michael Howe, who co-founded Campus Capital with Samantha Deakin Hill, commented: “Our students represent the new face of venture capital. Their diversity means that the group has a wide range of knowledge and perspectives, while the involvement of the university allows them to draw on deeper insights from academics.

“All of our team members are passionate about venture capital though for different reasons – while some are looking to become investors, others see their future in technology or entrepreneurship and may have to raise investment themselves at some stage.”

He continued: “This is a great opportunity for them to learn at first hand about the world of venture capital.

“By raising awareness of how the funding process works, we aim to create a new generation of investors and entrepreneurs and support the technology businesses of the future.”