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Invest Northern Ireland

Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast

Description

Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) serves as the principal economic development agency for Northern Ireland, operating with a core mission to stimulate economic growth, attract foreign direct investment, and foster the development of local businesses. As a non-departmental public body, Invest NI plays a pivotal role in shaping the region's economic landscape by providing a comprehensive suite of support mechanisms, including financial assistance, advisory services, and strategic guidance. Their overarching goal is to enhance Northern Ireland's competitiveness on a global scale, drive innovation, and create sustainable employment opportunities across various sectors.

A significant component of Invest NI's financial support involves equity investments, often facilitated through dedicated funds designed to co-invest alongside private sector venture capital. A prime example is the Northern Ireland Co-Fund NI, managed by Clarendon Fund Managers, which is specifically designed to bridge funding gaps for high-growth potential companies. Through this mechanism, Invest NI aims to de-risk investments for private capital and ensure promising local businesses have access to the necessary funding for scaling. The typical first cheque size for equity investments through Co-Fund NI ranges from approximately $127,000 (£100,000) to $2,540,000 (£2,000,000), depending on the specific round and co-investment structure.

Invest NI's strategic investments span a diverse array of sectors, including advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, and creative industries, reflecting the region's key strengths and growth areas. Their support has been instrumental in the growth of numerous indigenous companies and in attracting significant international businesses to establish operations in Northern Ireland. For instance, in the 2022-23 financial year, Invest NI supported businesses in promoting a substantial £1.1 billion of planned investment into the region, demonstrating their significant impact on economic activity. Furthermore, the Co-Fund NI, a key vehicle for their equity investments, has completed over 100 investments since its inception, underscoring Invest NI's consistent commitment to nurturing the local startup and scale-up ecosystem and fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial environment.

Investor Profile

Invest Northern Ireland has backed more than 34 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 13 rounds, about 38% of its total and boasts 7 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series Unknown, Grant, Seed rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, United States, Ireland.
  • Strong thematic focus on Health Care, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical.
  • Typical check size: $127K – $2.5M.

Stage Focus

  • Series Unknown (35%)
  • Grant (26%)
  • Seed (15%)
  • Pre Seed (9%)
  • Convertible Note (6%)
  • Series B (3%)
  • Post Ipo Equity (3%)
  • Series A (3%)

Country Focus

  • United Kingdom (82%)
  • United States (9%)
  • Ireland (6%)
  • Germany (3%)

Industry Focus

  • Health Care
  • Biotechnology
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Medical
  • Software
  • Information Technology
  • Consulting
  • Manufacturing
  • Life Science
  • Web Hosting
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Invest Northern Ireland frequently co-invest with?

Clarendon Fund Managers
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 4
Techstart Ventures
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 3
UC
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 2
Crescent Capital
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 3
Trinity Ventures
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 2
Enterprise Ireland
Europe, Dublin, Ireland, Dublin
Co-Investments: 2
QUBIS
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 4
Amadeus Capital Partners
Europe, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 3
IU
Europe, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom, Newtownabbey
Co-Investments: 3
C
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does Invest Northern Ireland often collaborate with?

PN
Europe, Dublin, Ireland, Dublin
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Invest Northern Ireland?

FundMyPitch

London, England, United Kingdom

Fundmypitch is an angel investment platform that connects entrepreneurs seeking investment with a global network of angel investors.

Angel InvestmentFinanceFunding PlatformLendingProfessional Networking
Pre SeedFeb 21, 2025
Neurovalens

Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

Neurovalens delivers innovative solutions in the field of neuroscience, bioscience and neurophysiology

BiotechnologyHealth CareLife Science
Series UnknownApr 8, 2024
Amount Raised: $2,658,076
Plugable

Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

Plugable is bulding an Airbnb like marketplace for private EV chargers to help EV drivers without access to a home EV charger.

Charging InfrastructureElectric VehicleIT Infrastructure
GrantFeb 29, 2024
Amount Raised: $18,940
CV6 Therapeutics

Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

CV6 Therapeutics is a drug development company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies.

BiotechnologyHealth CarePharmaceutical
GrantNov 2, 2022
Amount Raised: $3,415,207
CV6 Therapeutics

Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

CV6 Therapeutics is a drug development company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies.

BiotechnologyHealth CarePharmaceutical
Series UnknownNov 2, 2022
Amount Raised: $5,692,012
TruCorp

Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

TruCorp has designed, engineered and produced a wide variety of training manikins for airway management.

Medical
GrantOct 13, 2022
Signum Surgical

Galway, Galway, Ireland

Signum Surgical is a company who develops implant to encourage healing in a colorectal condition.

Health CareMedicalMedical Device
Series UnknownSep 20, 2022
Amount Raised: $2,891,663
Neurovalens

Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

Neurovalens delivers innovative solutions in the field of neuroscience, bioscience and neurophysiology

BiotechnologyHealth CareLife Science
GrantDec 2, 2021
Amount Raised: $299,243
Ogletree Deakins

Greenville, South Carolina, United States

Ogletree Deakins is a labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment.

Consulting
GrantSep 7, 2021
Amount Raised: $429,914
Konvi

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Konvi app is the European crowdfunding platform enabling partial ownership into high-yielding, luxury assets.

Asset ManagementCrowdfundingFinancial ServicesMobile AppsWeb Apps
Convertible NoteMar 1, 2021