Lancaster University launches innovative venture capital programme

Lancaster University has teamed up with Campus Capital to provide funding for start-ups in an innovative programme that allows students to make decisions.

The new scheme offers between £50,000 and £200,000 to early stage, high growth potential companies in the Lancashire region.

The on-campus element is an experiential learning programme that involves teams of student venture capitalists part-running some of the early aspects of the fund pipeline.

Once trained, student VCs make many of the early investment decisions and gain valuable experience in assessing and analysing a company’s investment-readiness. They receive ongoing mentoring from Campus Capital’s partners and its wider support network of seasoned investors.

Michael Howe, founding partner of Campus Capital, said: “There are a lot of investable companies already out there in the region so this isn’t about helping to create new startups.

"Our focus is on making sure these existing startups who are already doing great things get the investment they need to scale.”

Jon Powell, head of enterprise and innovation services at Lancaster University, said: "We have a pivotal role to play in supporting innovation.

"We want to develop employable graduates and the graduate employers of tomorrow as well as supporting businesses through consultancy, joint research and co-location. Now we can support direct investment into those businesses with growth potential.”

Campus Capital will open to Lancashire-based startups in the New Year, although companies who are considering fundraising within the next six months are encouraged to get in touch sooner.