Could we double early stage investment in Derby's startups by 2025?

Funding is such a major part of the startup ecosystem, and access to pre-seed capital is extremely challenging... particularly at the moment. Roughly 80% of all venture capital investment in the UK flows into the "golden triangle"- London, Cambridge, and Oxford. So what can we do for high growth potential startups out in the regions?

In Sheffield, as part of the TEAM SY project, we partnered with NorthInvest to build out an angel investor network, and provide 1:1 investment readiness mentoring and support to early stage, investable businesses. This was a great collaboration with my friend and long-time colleague Giles Moore, who continues to do great work in the investment space through Par Equity.

In the first two years of running the South Yorkshire Angel Hub, early stage venture capital in the region increased by 149% where it had been declining.

We created noise, shone a spotlight on great companies, and saw established funds such as Mercia Asset Management PLC place dedicated staff in South Yorkshire for the first time, and we saw startups who had been through our programmes pitching and raising the investment they needed.

Now that I am based in Derby and getting to know the funding landscape here (helped mightily by conversations with key people such as Lewis Stringer ?? and Russell Copley ??), I recognise the characteristics of an emerging tech startup community, grown out of a former industrial city. One with a high level of technical talent, and creativity, but where certain elements of the ecosystem require some nurturing and affection.

At the University of Derby, we are "leading the way in impact through industry", leaning into our civic responsibilities and considering the role we have to play in developing enterprising attributes among our campus community, and supporting the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly those most innovative startups.

But it does quite often come back around to funding. What does it matter how entrepreneurial our students, grads, the wider ecosystem are if we are simply accelerating them into a funding void, or they feel they have to go elsewhere to get the capital they need to grow their startup?

I'm proud to say that we're doing something about it. With our new Business School on the horizon, and a refreshed direction for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at University of Derby, we're taking our commitment to the region's business community seriously. As the new building emerges from the foundations, we have ambitious plans and projects in the pipeline.

We are collaborating with Greenborough Management Limited to develop an Angel Network across Derby City - a project that will provide investment readiness support to early stage startups, education and information to potential investors, and create opportunities for both sides to meet.

Funding isn't the only piece of the puzzle and there is work to be done elsewhere on campus and in the wider community.

The harsh reality is the best startups who have the ability to move will go where the best conditions are for their success. For some, that will mean moving to where there is the most available investment capital. But I'd love to be back here in two years writing about how Derby's early stage venture capital investment has grown by 149% since the start of this programme.

Let's do what we can to make Derby a city where ambitious entrepreneurs can and do stay to scale their business.

The Derby Angel Network will start in Derby City soon, so if you're a startup in the area and you're actively raising investment, or thinking you'll launch a fundraise in the next 6-12 months, reach out. If you know a startup we should be talking to, tag them in the comments. If you've ever thought about investing in startups, but don't know where to start, we want to hear from you too!