The Growth Company and Bruntwood SciTech will host a second Early-Stage Northern Showcase in Leeds on June 2, following the launch event in Manchester earlier this year.
The event, delivered with GC Angels, will bring together early-stage Northern startups and UK investors as the region looks to attract a greater share of venture capital.
More than 150 investors, founders and ecosystem partners attended the inaugural showcase at Sister’s Renold Innovation Hub in Manchester, with over 75 early-stage businesses and 50 investors taking part, including firms from London, the South East and Aberdeen.
READ MORE: Where Greater Manchester’s tech growth is happening — and what’s driving it
The Leeds event, which is being held at Nexus, is expected to follow a similar format, including investor panels, networking and “reverse pitches”, where investors pitch directly to founders.
Hannah Churchman, Head of Innovation (Manchester) at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “We were absolutely delighted with the founder traction and investor turnout at our last showcase in Manchester, and we can’t wait to build on that momentum. By bringing the event to Leeds with the backing of key partners like Nexus and NatWest, we’re shining a spotlight on the strength of Northern innovation.
“The North is a high-growth investment landscape with world-leading clusters, and we’re scaling an economy already worth over £400 billion in GVA. Rather than looking at cities in isolation, the showcase provides investors with one place to explore the very best opportunities the wider North has to offer.”
Marc Shirman, GC Head of Equity Investment at GC Angels, said: “The continued success of our Venture Forward programmes is evidence that the ambition exists to build high-growth businesses across the North. Our inaugural Investor Showcase in Manchester was successful in bringing leading VC investors from across the UK together in the North while showcasing the wealth of innovative early-stage businesses we have to offer.
“Our second cohort was Yorkshire based so we will build on the feedback from our Manchester Showcase at Nexus ensuring that VCs see the exciting opportunities in the North in a collective and inclusive environment breaking down barriers that can exist in accessing capital that has often remained down South.
“The first Venture Forward cohort has already secured £2.5m of VC investment, and I’m sure this next cohort will compete to demonstrate their high growth potential and attract additional investment to the North of England.”
The showcase builds on GC Angels’ Venture Forward programme, delivered on behalf of Innovate UK, which supports underrepresented founders to raise their first venture capital funding.
From its first cohort of 30 founders, nine secured investment within three months of completing the programme, raising a combined £2.8m. A second cohort of 22 founders has since completed the programme, with further rounds planned later this year.
Businesses involved span sectors including climate tech, health tech, fintech and advanced manufacturing, with many actively raising pre-seed and seed rounds between £250,000 and £3m.
The Leeds event is also backed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, reflecting wider efforts to strengthen regional investment networks.
Nearly 70% of UK venture capital funding still goes to London and the South East, according to Startup Coalition data cited at the Manchester event, with initiatives like the showcase aiming to improve access to capital for founders based in the North.
The second showcase comes less than six months after the first, as organisers look to build momentum and keep Northern opportunities in front of investors.
Prolific North is supporting the event and will be covering it live on the day. More about GC Angels here.
