On-campus VC firm Campus Capital partners with Lancaster University
by Startacus Admin
Lancaster University has signed a partnership with venture capital firm, Campus Capital, to bring investment to the region and further strengthen Lancashire’s startup ecosystem.
Campus Capital is an external-facing, UK based on-campus VC (Venture Capital) firm and builds early stage, growth focused investment funds for some of the country’s leading universities.
Campus Capital will aim to invest between £50k-200k in early-stage, high-growth potential companies, both on and off campus. All companies within the Lancashire region will be eligible to pitch, not just those run by students, graduates and staff.
These funds are uniquely part-run by active students with the guidance and supervision of the Campus Capital board. Its unique structure enables it to be part of the fabric of each university and to nurture entrepreneurial talent before making any investment. University partnerships include The University of Sheffield, University of Manchester and now Lancaster University.
Michael Howe, founding partner of Campus Capital says the firm has always had an external focus, receiving the majority of pitches from companies that have no link to 
their partner universities.
He said: “There are a lot of investable companies already out there in the region so this isn’t about helping to create new startups. Our focus is on making sure these existing startups who are already doing great things get the investment they need to scale. Our connection with world-renowned universities such as Lancaster makes us particularly well-placed to support companies within the science and technology sectors.”
The on-campus element of Campus Capital is an experiential learning programme that involves teams of Student Venture Capitalists part-running some of the early aspects of the fund pipeline. Once trained, these Student VCs make many of the early investment decisions and gain valuable experience in assessing and analysing a company’s investment-readiness. They receive ongoing mentoring from Campus Capital’s partners and its wider support network of seasoned investors.
Jon Powell, Head of Enterprise and Innovation Services said:
“We are delighted to join forces with Campus Capital and build on our fantastic links with regional businesses by bringing much needed investment into the Lancashire economy. Lancaster University has a pivotal role to play in supporting innovation. We want to develop employable graduates and the graduate employers of tomorrow as well as supporting businesses through consultancy, joint research and co-location. Now we can support direct investment into those businesses with growth potential.”
This new partnership should shine even more of a spotlight on the entrepreneurial activity taking place in Lancashire, and increase opportunities for those companies to collaborate with the university, and stay and grow in the region.
Campus Capital will open to Lancashire-based startups in the New Year, although companies who are considering fundraising within the next six months are encouraged to get in touch sooner.
Sherpr - The no hassle, premium door to door service for shipping your sports equipment...
Feral Horses is a marketplace startup that acts as an art stock exchange to buy and trade shares of contemporary artworks directly from artists and art galleries.
If you are starting out and considering trading as a sole trader, here's some of the current sole trader and self assessment information you'll need to know.
The Adecco Group have announced a definitive agreement to acquire General Assembly, pioneers in education and career transformation, who provide accelerated learning programs in high-demand 21st-century digital skills.
.jpeg)
GovStart, a six month growth programme run by PUBLIC, to help tech startups transform the public sector is back and looking for its latest cohort.
The first Global Digital Week, happening 23rd-29th April, will take place in more than 7 different countries promoting tech and digital skills in all walks of life.
Do businesses really need clocking in systems? Here's 5 benefits using a time tracking system for employees can bring to a business.
Florence - a marketplace platform for nurses to find shifts in hospitals and nursing homes and for nursing homes to source self-employed nurses.
The secure app for NHS clinicians to easily and instantly communicate with each other, share patient information, and prioritise tasks.
"Be smarter than your newsfeed" thanks to this innovative journalism startup...
Published on: 18th October 2017
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- upSTART, the startup pitch competition at Digital DNA returns for 2018 9th Apr 2018 upSTART, the startup pitch competition that brings together a whole host of top UK, Irish and European tech startups, Investors, and Judges is BACK for 2018 at Digital DNA.
- CreativeTech 100 – are you part of it? 15th Mar 2018 CreativeTech 100 – are you part of it? Tech London Advocates are looking for any startups doing great things in terms of CreativeTech.
- The Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition 2018 15th Mar 2018 The Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition, seeks to nurture creativity & hone entrepreneurial skills amongst Irish-based early-stage tech entrepreneurs.
- Intu Accelerate 2018 hunts for next big thing in retail 13th Mar 2018 intu Accelerate 2018 is once open for applications from startups looking to create the perfect shopping experience.
