The technology investment fund manager NorthEast Capital has announced a partnership with The Materials Processing Institute to support the growth of the region’s technology underpinned businesses.
The partnership with The Materials Processing Institute will enable companies to access a range of facilities required to grow a business from access to world leading research & development facilities to hands-on commercialisation experience and equity funding.
NorthEast Capital’s planned £30m equity fund will invest in companies emerging from the region’s universities & technical institutes as well as investing in existing science & engineering companies seeking to address unmet market needs.
What does this mean?
The collaboration will allow the Institute to introduce NorthEast Capital as a potential source of funding to those SMEs with which it has an existing relationship.
The financial and non-financial expertise will help facilitate the development of a North East technology investment ecosystem & underpin the region’s reputation as a world-class location for technology & skills.
News of the partnership follows the Institute’s recent announcement that it is expanding the amount of flexible workspace at its Middlesbrough campus for both startups & established businesses where tenants can also access its research & innovation capabilities.
Businesses in the region can also access additional support services from its SME Technology Centre which is supported with funding from the European Regional Development Fund via the Tees Valley Business Compass Start Up 2 programme.
Jacob Young (Conservative MP for Redcar) said: “I’m delighted that the Materials Processing Institute has partnered with NorthEast Capital. This represents support for technology businesses in our region & will be a catalyst for the growth that’s just waiting to be unleashed. The Institute is a world-leader in steel development & research, which is exactly why Rishi Sunak gave the Institute his backing with £22m critical funding in last year’s budget. Millions of pounds of investment have been secured for the Teesworks site, and with the announcement of a Freeport in Teesside, there has never been a more exciting time for innovation & investment in our region.”
Simon Robeson (Chief Executive NorthEast Capital) said: “We endorse the Institute’s mission to create a cluster of high-tech manufacturing businesses & are delighted to contribute our commercialisation & investment expertise to the Institute & to companies in Teesside and the North East. The Institute can provide our investee companies with incubation services including technical support, access to test facilities, industrial know-how & pilot manufacturing facilities. NorthEast Capital’s purpose is to generate financial returns for investors alongside a positive, sustainable impact on the Region’s innovation & entrepreneurship capacity and skills.”
Chris McDonald (Chief Executive of the Materials Processing Institute) said: “We are a global leader in research and innovation that is committed to enabling the UK to meet the challenges of a fast-changing industrial landscape. The Institute already provides support to start-up and scaleup businesses in the Tees Valley and we welcome this opportunity to make our expertise available to benefit other emerging enterprises to put them on the path to commercial success.”
Who are NorthEast Capital?
NorthEast Capital is a venture capital fund manager & part of MTI Partnership LLP; an independent equity fund manager founded in 1983. MTI has a track-record of creating & growing successful world-leading technology companies. Unlike traditional equity funds, the £30+ million fund will be structured to give fund managers & investing partners the option to recycle their profits back into the fund. This will help to ensure the sustainability of the Fund’s impact mission for the North East. It will give the fund the ‘legs’ it needs to support its investee companies across their development stages. NorthEast Capital’s equity investment expertise & experience enables delivery of an intense programme of commercial support, alongside pure financial commitment.
Visit http://northeastcapital.uk.com & watch our interview with Simon Robeson to find out more: