Website: GC Angels
Contact email: gcangels@growthco.uk
About GC Angels
GC Angels brings together angel investors, co-investment capital and an advisory service to support innovative, high-growth businesses. With over 400 associate investors, early stage VC’s and in-house funds GC Angels has the ability to invest capital managed on behalf of third parties such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
We invest in early-stage tech, digital and creative companies that are seeking to start up or scale up within Greater Manchester and the wider North.
Managed by an authorised and regulated FCA fund manager and driven by experienced equity specialists, GC Angels supports associate angels alongside early-stage investment partners for investment rounds of up to £2m.
We invest with a long-term view and have supported companies with investment from pre-seed through to multiple follow on rounds.
To date GC Angels have raised over £25.5m into 30+ companies with 30 % of businesses raising follow on capital.
As part of the Growth Company we can leverage services from the wider group including GC Business Growth Hub. Together we have supported a number of companies in the immersive technology space with equity investment, investment readiness, market access and training.
Smart Capital. Smarter Investments. Partners for the long term.
Our interest in immersive technologies
GC Angels work with a wide range of companies and sectors, immersive technology is key sector in to the high-growth early stage market. GC Angels have made several investments in the immersive technology market the most recent company uses VR to enhance education with ‘near-life’ immersive training. This business received support from GC Business Growth Hub with business planning as well as investment readiness and then GC Angels went on to invest with a round close of over £250k alongside other capital partners.
Immersive technology has many important applications and continually evolves; we have seen this demonstrated across a number of recent businesses we’ve supported including:
- A 3D visual learning tool for Dentists using Augmented Reality
- A VR product which allows patients to take a virtual tour around the hospitals that they have been referred to before they are admitted
- A VR product which allows clients to view prestigious Yachts/Vessels without going on board and the ability to design their own interiors.
In the first four months of 2019, GC Angels completed six investments and are currently working with over 10 additional companies to help them obtain investment.
Along with our colleagues at GC Business Growth Hub, we receive over 100 enquiries a month from companies looking for access to finance; more and more of which are in immersive tech.
The value we can add to your company beyond capital
GC Angels are uniquely placed to provide additional business support and experience as well as capital investment as part of the wider Growth Company. As part of the established Growth Company offer GC Angels can leverage complementary services for your business from businesses planning and forecasting to training, market access and access to both debt and equity finance.
The wider group support over 30,000 businesses annually in areas such as product innovation, business regulation, leadership, exporting, skills and talent as well as having access to specific sector specialists, with our Creative, Digital and Tech team being well versed in supporting companies in the Immersive Technology space.
With a wealth of experience within the market, GC Angels support businesses to become pitch ready, make introductions to our associate investors as well as knowledge sharing both with our team of investment directors and associate investors.
Through leveraging the additional grant funding available from this accelerator, and the wider Innovate UK grants, businesses will be able to grow and evolve new technologies whilst retaining more equity than would have previously have been possible, standing them in a better position for future investment rounds.
A recent report from Beauhurst showed that those businesses whom had receive Innovate UK grant funding had a much greater chance of receiving equity investment, at a higher average valuation than those without.