Early-stage investor Haatch Ventures has launched a North of England offshoot based at Manchester’s Enterprise City.
Haatch aims to support entrepreneurs from pre-seed to exit, via investments from their SEIS, EIS and Follow On funds.
It becomes the latest venture capital partner of Exchange, the tech scaleup support programme based at Enterprise City, and will be based alongside it at Department Bonded Warehouse.
Founded by a board of entrepreneurs that have built and sold their own businesses, the Haatch team has experience in growing and scaling companies. With a base in Lincolnshire, it is now seeking to expand across the North, starting with Manchester.
“Joining Exchange as a partner and choosing Department Bonded Warehouse was a no-brainer for us when looking to expand Haatch,” said Charlie Weavers-Wright, investment associate.
“There is a hive of startups here and across the North and that really excites us. Manchester is at the heart of the tech startup buzz, so we have opened a permanent base here to try and tap into it further.
“We are largely an agnostic digital tech fund, we’re open to interesting businesses and propositions, and have previous experience in B2B, SaaS and marketplaces. So far, we have invested in a mixture of Northern-based tech firms, including Exchange alumni Financielle.
“We’re keen to explore different aspects of the tech community in the North as we expand and grow.
“Our focus is always on the founders. We know that the startup journey comes with challenges, but what is most important to us is a clear passion and drive from the founders at an early stage. I am already having some exciting conversations with the members of Exchange, and I am eager to expand my network across the region.”
Haatch has also invested in Northern businesses Betmate, Denturly, Harbour.fi and AeroCloud.
Exchange has supported more than 450 people from over 100 businesses – creating over 120 jobs – since July 2020. The scheme’s tech startups have raised more than £10m in funding on their growth journeys.
Alice Pickersgill, community outreach lead at Exchange, said: “Partnering with Haatch strengthens our support programme further, alongside the mentoring and learning opportunities available at Exchange. Funding is among the top things early-stage businesses are looking for and being able to offer entrepreneurs opportunities to speak to people that can fund their growth is an important part of what we do.
“As we prepare to welcome a new cohort of ambitious startups, we have built a strong network of partners that can provide valuable insights, guidance, and real genuine opportunities for growth to our group. I look forward to seeing the impact Haatch will have on our exciting startups and others across the North, as it expands.”
To support its expansion in the North, British Business Investments, from the British Business Bank, has made a commitment of up to £10m to Haatch through the Regional Angels Programme.