Investor Hub relaunches to boost diverse investment opportunities for Northern businesses

After growing to support a membership of 200 Angel Investors in the last five years, the Newcastle Angel Hub was relaunched last night (Thursday 8 February) as the ‘Northern Investor Hub’.

Broadening its scope to attract a more diverse investor portfolio and to help more North based businesses secure investment, the relaunch was announced by Estelle Blanks, CEO of the Innovation SuperNetwork at a meeting with already active private investors and angels at Café 21, Newcastle.

She said: “Strengthening the Access to Finance ecosystem for the wider region remains a core objective for the SuperNetwork and is an area we’ve already made substantial headway in.

“As an Innovate UK investor partner, we have helped businesses across the wider North leverage equity investment against £8m worth of Innovate UK grants. Meanwhile our work in programmes across the North of Tyne, Gateshead and Tees Valley is ensuring businesses are investor ready and able to secure the funding they need.

“The Northern Investor Hub is a critical tool in this delivery. Not only do we work with established investors and funds, the Hub is also supporting new investors who are looking to take their first steps in sharing their expertise and investing in businesses at all stages of growth.”

Operated by the Innovation SuperNetwork, the Northern Investor Hub will future-proof the investment landscape for the North by ensuring there is a critical mass of investors and funds operating within two hours of the North’s most urban areas.  

Upon launch, the Hub is already supporting a potential 2000 businesses across the North East and Tees Valley, with Innovation SuperNetwork delivered programmes all using the Hub to connect investor ready enterprises with investors and funds.

Carrie Ambler, Chief Scientific Officer at Durham University spinout, LightOx Ltd, added: “The impact of an established investor community for regional businesses cannot be underestimated. 

“What I have learned from being on both sides of the investment process, is that it is essential for diverse investors to be encouraged to co-invest, and that the environment for collaboration between investors, funds and the businesses who seek investment is stimulated. 

“Initiatives like the Northern Investor Hub, alongside the availability of direct support for businesses, will only increase the value and volume of deals seen in regional economies.”