GC Angels

October Achievements & Exciting Plans Ahead!📣 We’re thrilled to share the launch of our new Monthly Blog—your go-to source for updates on our investment activity, regional events, and the innovative businesses we’re proud to support. Highlights🎯 👉Investment Spotlight: Gaia Learning, transforming education for neurodivergent children. 👉Follow-on support for Simplifai Systems Limited, advancing AI-driven automation. 👉Engaging at key events like British Business Bank Finance Week & CreaTech. Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/ebcHCQY5 💬Have a topic you’d like us to cover next month? Let us know in the comments! #GCAngels #StartupInvestment #Innovation #GreaterManchester #Entrepreneurship GM Business Growth Hub

What an incredible day at the Early-Stage Investment Summit in Manchester! 🚀 A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a thought-provoking and impactful event. Great to see Mark Hughes take to the stage to discuss and share valuable insights on adapting funding strategies to support early-stage businesses in today’s evolving economic landscape. It was fantastic to connect with so many innovators, investors, and business leaders who are shaping the future of entrepreneurship and investment. 💡 Missed the event? Stay tuned for more insights and updates as we continue to drive meaningful change in the investment ecosystem! #EarlyStageInvestment The Growth Company UK Business Angels Association #Innovation #ManchesterSummit #InvestmentLeadership #PanelDiscussion Bruntwood Northern Gritstone The Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Thank you to Rupert Wingate-Saul for inviting me to his latest founders round table today. Heard some great advice on how to approach investors successfully from Thomas Farquhar and Lucy Buckley, PhD...as well as one of our esteemed IC members at GC Angels - James Bedford 🙌🏽 Great to see Delyth Lloyd Edwards from British Business Bank North of England there too (looking resplendent in green at the top of shot!) There are some fundamental differences in strategy when approaching angels as opposed to early-stage VC. If I had to sum it up in 2 words it would be: Data Room 😄

It was a pleasure for me on behalf of GC Angels to be invited to attend the latest cohort day for GM ASCEND at KPMG in Manchester today. 🙌🏽 I've experienced many incubator/accelerator days but I don't think I have ever seen such in-depth training as I saw today - with the cohort being instructed on how to build a financial model from ground up! It's not an easy area to teach or to learn...but it's something that can give founders key technical skills to reduce their reliance on a fractional CFO to address the financial strategy burden...as well as allowing them to understand some of the key metrics that can have massive impacts on their business. Big thanks to my colleagues at GM Business Growth Hub - Kellie Noon for inviting me to attend - along with both Ian S Dixon and Heather Waters for introductions to the brilliant set of founders...and for explaining the more complicated aspects of building a model to me...😄🤦 And of course a huge thank you to Jill Hilton Patrick Molyneux and Lauren Hartley from KPMG UK. I'm in no doubt that GM ASCEND will positively impact the ability of the cohort founders to raise significant capital. 🔥

📢 We’re thrilled to be part of the Early Stage Investment Summit 2024 in Manchester! Join us as our Chief Executive, Mark Hughes MBE takes the stage to discuss Strategic Shifts in Investment Post-Budget. With a changing funding landscape, this panel will explore what’s next for early-stage investments and how we can best support innovative businesses across the North. This summit is a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of funding and investment strategies. Don’t miss out on valuable insights and the opportunity to connect with industry leaders! 🌟 👉 Learn more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/ePY6E9dQ #EarlyStageInvestment The Growth Company UK Business Angels Association #PanelDiscussion #Manchester #InvestmentSummit Ranvir Singh MBA, LLM, MA(Oxon) Marc Shirman

Looking forward to joining you at the RAISE workshop to connect with ambitious founders and share our insights into early-stage investment. 🚀 At GC Angels, we’re dedicated to supporting innovative and scalable businesses, helping founders bring their visions to life. Can't wait to meet everyone on November 20th and explore how we can fuel your growth journey! Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your business to the next level. See you there! Book your spot👇

We’re thrilled to announce that Gaia Learning has secured a £550K investment from Nesta Ventures and GC Angels to expand their incredible work supporting neurodivergent children and young people! 🙌 With this funding, Gaia Learning will enhance its tailored education programs and widen access to resources, giving more neurodivergent students the tools they need to thrive. 📚✨ Discover how this funding will make a difference ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dXhrXZ8r #Education #NeuroDivergent #Resource #Investment #EarlyStage #BusinessGrowth #InvestwithImpact #InvestwithPurpose Ranvir Singh MBA, LLM, MA(Oxon) Marc Shirman

The thrilling speakers segment of #CreaTech has just finished, leaving us all buzzing with inspiration and fresh insights. Thank you to all our speakers for sharing their invaluable knowledge: - Phil Swan, Director for Digital, Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Carl Jones, Chief Strategy Officer, Cloud Imperium Games - Alison Ross MBE, Chief People & Operations Officer, AutoTrader & Chair, Manchester Digital - Alex Gregson, MPSE, Head of Audio, 344 Audio - Beckie Taylor, Founder, Tech Returners / WIT North / Voices in Tech - Richard Fee, Head of Drama and Executive Producer, Quay Street Productions - Ranvir Singh MBA, LLM, MA(Oxon), Investment Manager, GC Angels - Robert S., Creative Specialist Senior Advisor, GM Business Growth Hub - Marie-Claire Daly, Head of Culture and Creative Policy, Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Professor Andy Miah 🎓, Principal Investigator, MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub, The University of Salford - Becki Coen, Digital, Creative and Technology (DCT) Programme Manager, GM Business Growth Hub But wait, the excitement continues! It's time for everyone to network, connect, and explore potential collaborations. Let's maximise this opportunity to forge new connections and spark innovative ideas! You can use the following hashtags to go with the event: #TechInnovation #NetworkingEvent #CreativeTechnology #InnovationInspiration #UKSPF

The thrilling speakers segment of #CreaTech has just finished, leaving us all buzzing with inspiration and fresh insights. Thank you to all our speakers for sharing their invaluable knowledge: - Phil Swan, Director for Digital, Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Carl Jones, Chief Strategy Officer, Cloud Imperium Games - Alison Ross MBE, Chief People & Operations Officer, AutoTrader & Chair, Manchester Digital - Alex Gregson, MPSE, Head of Audio, 344 Audio - Beckie Taylor, Founder, Tech Returners / WIT North / Voices in Tech - Richard Fee, Head of Drama and Executive Producer, Quay Street Productions - Ranvir Singh MBA, LLM, MA(Oxon), Investment Manager, GC Angels - Robert S., Creative Specialist Senior Advisor, GM Business Growth Hub - Marie-Claire Daly, Head of Culture and Creative Policy, Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Professor Andy Miah 🎓, Principal Investigator, MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub, The University of Salford - Becki Coen, Digital, Creative and Technology (DCT) Programme Manager, GM Business Growth Hub But wait, the excitement continues! It's time for everyone to network, connect, and explore potential collaborations. Let's maximise this opportunity to forge new connections and spark innovative ideas! You can use the following hashtags to go with the event: #TechInnovation #NetworkingEvent #CreativeTechnology #InnovationInspiration #UKSPF

I was struck down with Covid last week...for the 4th time as well (thanks vaccine...😂) As soon as I felt well enough to leave the house I travelled over to Preston to support the new Investment Academy funded by Lancashire LEP and run by the brilliant Warren Lunt and Mark Gibbons We spent a great morning discussing a variety of early-stage business issues...both real-world and hypothetical. I find it's far more rewarding to just talk about individual businesses...and in a small group you often find the other founders can offer as much guidance as I can...if not more! Thank you to Warren Lunt and to all the founders who gave up their valuable time to attend! ♥️ GC Angels Catherine Dobson Jamie Traynor Jamie Turner 🦙 Celia Gaze, MBA 🦙 Chi Chow Gavinlee Ellison