NorthInvest’s Founding Principles
A recent article in The Times, featuring NorthInvest founder Adam Beaumont, sparked a desire for us tocreate a piece on what NorthInvest really stands for. The Q&A session with Adam reflectsa glimpseinto our founding principles and represents the keyelements that we look for in both investors and entrepreneurs.
Access to funding
NorthInvest was founded by aqlCEO and tech investor Adam Beaumont back in 2015, with a view toplug the early-stage access to finance gap in the northern ecosystem.
Is there a gap, you might ask? A recurring phrase thatgets thrown around is that it’s easier to raise £2m than £200k, whichmight seem ridiculous to tech-outsiders, but in the north, it arguably holds some weight.
With a clear need for change,NorthInvesthas been intelligently established toperform as a key collaborator, assembler, and contributor to the Northern Powerhouse,acting as a catalyst between public and private sector stakeholders, ultimately making it easier for the region’s start-ups to access crucial early funding, free business advice and support.
Plugging the gap
So, what are we doing to make a difference? The Board,with industryexperience in education and innovation, corporate finance, regional and national press, technology, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship,are uniquelypositioned to provide maximum cross-sector outreach, expertise, and strong connections to early-stage ventures.
On a slightly larger scale, we’re working hard tobring together thetech ecosystem in Leeds and across the north, hosting industry-specific strategic conferences and roundtables, as well as acting as a keycollaborator between angel investors, funds, startups andtechnology initiatives.
Going the extra mile
As Adam highlights in The Times Q&A, writing a cheque isn’t thelast step to investment. At NorthInvest, we work hard to connect ventures with ‘smart money’. This is an investor(s) who is able to provide market knowledge, access to networks and potentially some new clients, alongside accelerating your business with a cash injection.
“I put money in only when I know I can affect the outcome, whether that’s through mentorship, route to market or providinginsight into the products.”
The now
Moving forward, NorthInvest will continue to improve the profile and growth of the tech sector in the Leeds Region, Yorkshire and the North, specifically within the Fintech, HealthTech, Cyber, Digital Media and Tech for Good sectors. We will work to create an inclusive, accessible network of angel investors and alternate routes of finance, whilst doing our part to support northern social issues, by investing our surplus finances into helping charities and developing Tech for Good.
To hear updatesabout what we’re up to across the north, please follow us on Twitter@NorthInvestUK
