Early-stage investor backs Greater Manchester businesses with £15.4 million innovation finance

GC Angels, an early-stage investor backed by Greater Manchester’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has announced total investments in Greater Manchester start-ups of £3.4 milion and unlocked an additional £12 million in private capital since 2018.

The investor is now looking to bolster its equity investment arm to further increase the availability of funding for early-stage businesses. GC Angels will also provide greater access to wraparound services, including unique training, recruitment, and access to finance after being launched in 2018 to provide first round capital and help attract other angel and seed investors to Greater Manchester start-ups.

To date, the early-stage investor has funded 37 start-ups across Greater Manchester, and achieved its first exit earlier this year with the sale of Guardian Angel to Octopus Ventures.

Marc Shirman, Head of Equity Investments at GC Angels said:

“From its inception, GC Angels has worked to reduce the inequality and disparity faced by founders in the North. Now eight years in, the Group has ambitions to build on the success of the portfolio and broaden the investment strategy to provide further support to early stage companies in the North.

“As economic uncertainty remains for many businesses, the support of early-stage businesses is crucial in helping to bolster UK innovation. We’re poised to continue our work in the market, and I look forward to building out our portfolio, supporting ambitious entrepreneurs in scaling up their businesses.”