Northstar

Northstar is an experienced investor in companies developing innovative products and technologies in areas that reflect the core strengths of the North East: health sciences, energy and process technologies, as well as other technology businesses including digital media, IT and communications. 

The North East Proof of Concept Fund supports the very early stages of business creation within the technology sector. Northstar will work with the region’s universities, Centres of Excellence, individual entrepreneurs, technology start-ups and SMEs to develop new businesses or to fund specific, innovative projects which have the potential to create significant new commercial opportunities for existing businesses or universities.

The Fund’s investments will generally be between £20k and £100k, but it has the ability to complete follow-on investments above this level. The Fund is targeted at eligible technology businesses located, or with substantial operations, in the North East of England. We also seek to invest in businesses that are willing to relocate to the region.

To qualify for North East Proof of Concept investment the opportunity should possess the following characteristics:

• credible management team. In many cases, the team may have limited business or management experience, but this will not be regarded as an obstacle to investment, if the team plans to develop or access management expertise and mentoring
• a focus on under-served, growing and potentially substantial markets, and a scalable business model
• products with international potential. The potential size, geography and competitive environment in target markets are key factors. Whilst it is recognised that an application may be to assess these factors, an initial analysis must be communicated in the application to enable us to evaluate the idea
• proprietary technology with strong IPR and a defensible technological advantage over the competition. Technology that has the potential to have a disruptive impact, either in new or existing markets, will be given greater consideration over a technology that is an incremental improvement to the state of the art, and 
• market-driven rather than technology-led development. 

The North East Proof of Concept Fund is backed by the European Investment Bank, One North East and European Regional Development Fund.

Please see our Investment Process if you are interested in seeking investment finance.