About NorthInvest

NorthInvest is a not-for-profit organisation that helps diverse tech and digital start-ups across the North of England raise angel investment and access crucial expert support to help them fulfil their potential. From day one we help entrepreneurs develop their proposition to ensure our angel investors have access to the highest-quality opportunities that the North has to offer.

Our team evaluate every proposition that meets our eligibility criteria. We then help start-ups refine their message and investor approach, providing free advice and connecting them with qualified advisers through our corporate partners should they need specialist support around legal, HR, tax, and more. We then present investor-ready propositions to our angel network and funding communities.

For more information on our sector priorities and initiatives, please click here

Whilst we use tech platforms as an enabler, we are a people business.  A social bunch, we host a programme of events for investors and entrepreneurs throughout the year where we make useful introductions to like-minded people you’ll enjoy meeting and share sector insights.

How we do it

Investment readiness coaching

We offer free investor readiness coaching to entrepreneurs, a structured mentoring scheme and support NED placements.

Curate investment opportunities

We introduce entrepreneurs and investors at monthly virtual pitch events, and facilitate the deal process at no cost to start-ups.

Community
building

We connect investors, industry experts and entrepreneurs through virtual events. 

750

Entrepreneurs supported

220

Angel Investors

89

Deals Closed

260

Events

Our Impact

We’re more than a community of proud Northerners with a passion for tech innovation. Aligned with the strategic growth ambition of the Northern Powerhouse, NorthInvest exists to fuel the future of the North of England by facilitating investment in start-ups developing new technologies. From the LCD screen to Graphene, this technological innovation is a key part of the North’s heritage and critical to its future as a key player in the information revolution. Find out more about our priorities and initiatives here.

In 2020, the Yorkshire & Humber region accounted for  only 1% of the UK investment share, and 1% in the North East and 4% in the North West. Our mission is to change this. With an economy now worth over £320 billion – bigger than Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Austria, investment increasing 619% between 2012 and 2017 alone, and with Manchester home to more tech unicorns than Amsterdam, there has been no better time to back the North.

Interested in hearing more?  Download our annual report!

Investing in Women Code

NorthInvest is a proud signatory of the Investing in Women Code, an initiative implemented by HM Treasury to make the United Kingdom one of the most attractive countries in the world to start and grow a business by advancing female entrepreneurship.

Meet the Team

Helen Oldham, Founding Board Director

Helen Oldham is a Founding Board Director of NorthInvest and plays an active role in day-to-day operations of the organisation, as well as leading Fund Her North. Helen works with multiple charities as a Non-Executive Director, as well as running her own coaching business, Grow & Thrive. Helen is former Chief Publishing Officer for Johnston Press, publishers of news brands including The Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post.

Charlene Abena-Jones

Investment and Programme Executive

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    Charlene is an Investment and Programme Executive at NorthInvest, having recently joined the tem

Sara Parker

Director of Entrepreneur Coaching

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    Sara is Director of Investor Relations & Entrepreneur Coaching at NorthInvest. Sara's role involves evaluating business propositions and assisting start-ups in shaping their business to become investor ready. With a keen interest in Tech for Good and extensive experience in the third sector, Sara also leads on sustainable initiatives for NorthInvest, such as our new initiative, Sustainable North.

Jordan Dargue

Investment Director

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    Jordan Dargue is an Investment Director at NorthInvest and leads on our Innovate UK fund in partnership with the Newcastle
    Angel Hub and North East Business Innovation Centre. Jordan is also Finance Manager for the Innovation SuperNetwork, and Founding Director of Dargue Associates, a talent management and
    business growth business operating across the UK. 

    Using her innovation and enterprise expertise, Jordan has a proven ability to drive start-up and business growth supporting businesses with growth strategies, building an external profile and marketing and sales plan, working efficiently, building management and leadership capacity and identifying future product opportunities.

Elli Bilous

Investment Manager

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    On secondment from KPMG, where he is Assistant Manager, Callum assists
    with shaping our cohort offering and advises on the deal process.

Rosie Tanner

Events & Marketing &

Partnerships Manager

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    James Prickett is the Partnerships, Events and Marketing Lead at NorthInvest, having joined the team in February 2021.

Our Board

Professor Adam Beaumont, Founder

Professor Adam Beaumont is Founder of NorthInvest and CEO of aql, a Leeds-based communications company. Adam is an angel investor in his own right and involved in multiple high-level initiatives to support economic growth in the region, including the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (REAP).

Eve Roodhouse

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    Eve Roodhouse is Chief Officer of Economic Development at Leeds City Council, covering Economic Policy, Business support, Visit Leeds, Conference Leeds, International Relations and Inward Investment. Eve leads collaborative efforts with partners and stakeholders to deliver Leeds City Council’s Inclusive Growth Strategy to support economic growth.

Tom Bridges

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    Tom Bridges is Office Lead at Arup, leading on city-focused advisory activity, and formerly Chief Officer Economy and Regeneration for Leeds City Council. Tom is experienced in economic development, urban planning and strategy. He is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a pupil of MIT REAP.

Antony Odell

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    Antony Odell is a successful entrepreneur having built, sold and 'turned-around' start-up and blue chip companies alike. Antony is currently working with a number of Medtech, Pharma and Agrochemicals startups in both executive and non-executive capacities.

Sanjeev Gordhan

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    Sanjeev Gordhan currently works as a General Partner at Type One Ventures, a US-based venture firm investing in space and deep technology. He has consulted on many start-ups with his expertise in operational and commercial development, on top of 6 years of experience investing in early-stage businesses in a personal and professional capacity.

Jordan Dargue

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    Jordan Dargue is an Investment Director at NorthInvest and leads on our Innovate UK fund in partnership with the Newcastle
    Angel Hub and North East Business Innovation Centre.  Jordan was appointed to the board in September 2021.

    Using her innovation and enterprise expertise, Jordan has a proven ability to drive start-up and business growth supporting businesses with growth strategies, building an external profile and marketing and sales plan, working efficiently, building management and leadership capacity and identifying future product opportunities.

Helen Oldham

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    Helen Oldham is a Founding Board Director of NorthInvest and plays an active role in day-to-day operations of the organisation, as well as leading Fund Her North. Helen works with multiple charities as a Non-Executive Director, as well as running her own coaching business, Grow & Thrive. Helen is former Chief Publishing Officer for Johnston Press, publishers of news brands including The Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post.

Our Partners

Visit our Partner page to find out more about how we work with our partners and how we can help you connect with the digital ecosystem across the North.