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Northstar Ventures

Europe, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Description

Northstar Ventures is a prominent early-stage venture capital firm based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Established with a clear mission, the firm focuses on supporting founders who are dedicated to solving societal challenges through innovative business models. They primarily target companies within the North East of England, leveraging regional funds to foster economic growth and social impact. Their investment philosophy aligns with mission-driven entrepreneurs, aiming to provide not just capital but also strategic guidance to help these nascent businesses scale.

The firm manages several key funds, including the North East Venture Fund (NEVF) and the North East Social Investment Fund (NESIF). The NEVF, backed by the European Regional Development Fund, is designed to support high-growth potential businesses across various sectors, offering investments typically ranging from £50,000 up to £1 million. This fund aims to stimulate innovation and job creation within the region. Complementing this, the NESIF specifically targets social enterprises, providing capital to organizations that prioritize social or environmental returns alongside financial sustainability, with similar investment sizes. This dual approach underscores Northstar's commitment to both commercial viability and positive societal outcomes.

Since its inception in 2004, Northstar Ventures has demonstrated a significant commitment to the North East's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The firm has invested over £100 million into more than 350 businesses, showcasing a robust track record of supporting early-stage companies. Their long-standing presence and extensive portfolio highlight their expertise in identifying and nurturing promising ventures that address critical societal needs. By providing crucial early-stage capital and ongoing support, Northstar Ventures plays a vital role in developing a vibrant and impactful startup landscape in the region.

Investor Profile

Northstar Ventures has backed more than 538 startups, with 12 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 70 rounds, about 13% of its total and boasts 26 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Series Unknown, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, United States, Ireland.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, SaaS, Enterprise Software.
  • Led 7 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $62.5K – $1.3M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (79%)
  • Series Unknown (12%)
  • Series A (4%)
  • Pre Seed (2%)
  • Series B (1%)
  • Convertible Note (1%)

Country Focus

  • United Kingdom (88%)
  • United States (6%)
  • Ireland (1%)
  • Singapore (1%)
  • India (1%)
  • Australia (1%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Saas
  • Enterprise Software
  • Information Technology
  • Mobile
  • Internet
  • E-commerce
  • Health Care
  • Apps
  • Social Media
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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 Northstar Ventures frequently co-invest with?

DSW Ventures
Europe, Manchester, United Kingdom, Manchester
Co-Investments: 5
Ignite Accelerator
Europe, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Co-Investments: 6
Potential VC
Europe, Surrey, United Kingdom, Guildford
Co-Investments: 10
Beringea
North America, Michigan, United States, Farmington Hills
Co-Investments: 4
Prime Ventures
Europe, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands, Amsterdam
Co-Investments: 9
IP Group
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 64
Octopus Ventures
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 5
Tiger Corporate Finance
Europe, North Tyneside, United Kingdom, North Shields
Co-Investments: 7
North East Innovation Fund
Europe, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Co-Investments: 10
HC
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 56

Which angels does Northstar Ventures often collaborate with?

JT
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1
AR
Europe, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Shared Deals: 1
BF
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1
DM
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 2
EG
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1
BW
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1
SP
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3
CD
Europe, Suffolk, United Kingdom, Great Welnetham
Shared Deals: 1
PW
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1
LM
Europe, Manchester, United Kingdom, Manchester
Shared Deals: 2

What are some of recent deals done by Northstar Ventures?

AI Hay

Ho Chi Minh City, NA - Vietnam, Vietnam

AI Hay develops an AI-driven answer engine that allows users to access information through a question-and-answer format.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)ChatbotGenerative AIMachine LearningNatural Language ProcessingSearch Engine
Series AJul 1, 2025
Amount Raised: $10,000,000
Magnitude Biosciences

Durham, Durham, United Kingdom

Magnitude Biosciences is a biotechnology firm combine experience in ageing research, the nematode C. elegans and automation.

BiotechnologyFitnessHealth CarePharmaceutical
SeedMay 27, 2025
Amount Raised: $950,590
Nanovery

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Nanovery is developing nanorobots to diagnose the world’s deadliest diseases.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Health DiagnosticsMedical DeviceNanotechnology
Series UnknownApr 10, 2025
Amount Raised: $1,421,367
MySalesCoach

London, England, United Kingdom

MySalesCoach offers Despite overwhelming evidence that sales coaching has the greatest impact on rep development.

Information Technology
SeedMar 18, 2025
Amount Raised: $1,427,144
VRAI

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

VRAI is a Virtual Reality Company

ContentGamingSoftwareVirtual Reality
Series AFeb 27, 2025
Amount Raised: $4,365,496
Lithium Salvage

Teesside County Borough, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom

Lithium Salvage is a startup that employs an environmentally acceptable method to salvage rare minerals from lithium-ion waste.

Wholesale
SeedFeb 3, 2025
Amount Raised: $2,114,033
onHand

London, England, United Kingdom

onHand is an on-demand volunteering app, that makes employee volunteering as easy as ordering a takeaway.

SocialWellness
Series UnknownDec 23, 2024
Amount Raised: $943,159
Wordnerds

Gateshead, Gateshead, United Kingdom

Wordnerds teach computers to understand language, make decisions, and find actionable insights.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)InternetLanguage LearningMachine Learning
Series UnknownDec 11, 2024
Amount Raised: $2,042,241
Newcells Biotech

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Newcells Biotech are experts in the production of induced pluripotent stem cells.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalMedical DevicePharmaceuticalTherapeutics
Series UnknownDec 5, 2024
Amount Raised: $1,531,239
Positive Support For You

Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom

Positive Support For You is a social enterprise empowering adults with learning disabilities, promoting independence and social inclusion.

CharityNon ProfitSocial Assistance
Series UnknownNov 14, 2024
Amount Raised: $189,967