Minerva, which has helped more than 80 firms secure in excess of £63m of investment, is teaming up with Activate, LJMU and Sci-Tech Daresbury. Tony McDonough reports

Angel investor network Minerva is launching a new drive to inject finance into Liverpool city region’s start-up and scale-up businesses.

Minerva, which has helped more than 80 firms secure in excess of £63m of investment, is teaming up with Activate, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and world-leading science campus, Sci-Tech Daresbury.

The partnership will aim to increase the number of investment funds available to businesses and to help with talent acquisition. Official figures show that £2.1bn is pumped into firms every year through the Government’s Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.

However, while 67% of the money backs firms registered in the South East, only a small proportion has supported businesses in the North West. Minerva Liverpool wants to increase the amount of money available in the region substantially by attracting successful entrepreneurs and investors to its network and making them more aware of the wealth of investment opportunities.

Activate, a Liverpool city region knowledge transfer programme that supports digital entrepreneurs, LJMU and Sci-Tech Daresbury have a track record of identifying innovative products and services that have commercial potential and providing access to support, and expertise.

Alex Toft, head of Minerva, which is part of the University of Warwick Science Park, said: “Minerva is leading the way in connecting universities, business angels and entrepreneurs to grow an access to finance ecosystem for the benefit of our region’s SMEs.

“We are delighted to be partnering with both of these innovative and successful organisations to bring together entrepreneurs seeking support with investors looking for hands-on investment opportunities.”

John Downes, group managing director of Langtree and chair of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture company, added: “Collaboration is the bedrock of Sci-Tech Daresbury and while investment is about funding, it’s also about igniting growth to create jobs and economic uplift and helping brilliant businesses reach their potential, prosper and move to the next level.

“Bringing entrepreneurs together happens on a daily basis at Sci-Tech Daresbury, Activate and Liverpool John Moores University’s involvement is an exciting development that will help Minerva’s work have greater reach and impact with our community of start-up and growing businesses.”

Entrepreneurs interested in finding out more about the investment opportunities it can introduce them to can contact Minerva by email support@Minerva.uk.net