Northern Gritstone has partnered with Parkwalk Advisors to launch the Northern Universities Venture Fund, a new EIS fund focused on early-stage, IP-rich science and deeptech spin-outs. The fund draws from the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, with targeted sectors including quantum computing, AI, engineering biology, semiconductors, healthtech, and clean technology.
Parkwalk, which manages over £500 million in assets, will oversee the fund, while Northern Gritstone provides access to spin-out opportunities through its long-term agreements with the four partner universities. This model positions the fund as a differentiated channel within the university-linked EIS landscape.
The initiative follows Northern Gritstone’s recent £50 million capital raise, bringing its total committed funds to £362 million. The new venture aims to broaden investor access to high-potential innovations emerging from the North of England’s research base, with a particular focus on high-net-worth individuals seeking exposure to early-stage deeptech.
