Manchester-based GC Angels has been chosen by Innovate UK to lead the new Venture Forward accelerator programme across the North of England, aimed at tackling barriers to investment for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
The £6.5m national initiative will support up to 160 founders from diverse backgrounds, including women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from low-income or geographically underrepresented regions.
GC Angels – the early-stage investment arm of The Growth Company – will deliver the programme in the North, alongside partners Mountside Ventures and Foundervine (London), Firstport (Scotland), and Stronger Stories (South of England).
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The eight-week accelerator will run twice over the next year and offer a mix of workshops, one-to-one mentoring and investor-led sessions, all designed to help founders become investment-ready. Crucially, up to three standout founders from each Northern cohort will receive direct equity investment offers between £50,000 and £150,000 from GC Angels.
Marc Shirman, head of investment at GC Angels, said: “We’re proud to be working with Innovate UK and our partners to help break down the barriers many founders still face when it comes to raising investment. Venture Forward is about much more than funding – we’re giving talented founders the skills, confidence, and connections they need to build sustainable, successful businesses.”
“GC Angels has always been about empowering visionary founders across the North of England, so this programme felt like a natural continuation of the work we’ve already been doing. There’s plenty to be excited about, and I can’t wait to welcome our first cohort of entrepreneurs.”
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The first programme kicks off in Manchester from October to December 2025, with applications opening in early July. A second cohort will follow in spring 2026.
Venture Forward also includes the launch of an Underrepresented Investor Charter – aimed at getting 100+ investors to sign up to measurable inclusion commitments – and a suite of fundraising tools that will be made available to all.
More information and application details can be found at gcangels.uk/venture-forward.
