2025 Investor Conference: A Showcase of Groundbreaking Innovation from The Northern Triangle

The 2025 Investor Conference, held on 11th–12th February at the Hyatt Regency Manchester, brought together leading investors, academics at the top of their game, and spinout founders to explore some of the most exciting new ventures emerging from the University of Manchester, the University of Leeds and The University of Sheffield.

collage of images of people at an event, engaged

We welcomed a plethora of Life Science and Science & Engineering spinout pitches from The Universities of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield

The conference opened with Catherine Headley, CEO of the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, welcoming attendees and setting the stage for two days of presentations, discussions, and networking.

Duncan Ivison, President & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, introduced the second day of the conference with a visionary keynote on the global impact of university spinouts, reinforcing the role of research-led innovation in shaping industries worldwide.

Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Manchester gives a speech behind a podium, smiling, at the 2025 Investor Conference

Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Manchester, introduces Day 2 at the 2025 Investor Conference

The event also featured insightful plenary sessions, including:

  • Catherine O’Neill, Professor of Translational Dermatology, and Associate Dean for Business Engagement and Translation, sharing her experience of spinning out Curapel and SkinBioTherapeutics from the University of Manchester.
  • Cassie Doherty, Investment Director at Parkwalk, discussing investment strategies for university spinouts.
  • A talk by Northern Gritstone’s Marion Bernard (CIO) and Jess McCreadie (Investment Director) on the importance of investing in university spinouts to spin the virtuous circle of research and impact.

Engaging Q&As and Spinout Showcases

Throughout the two-day event, spinout founders presented their innovations across Life Sciences, Science & Engineering, and Next-Stage Investment categories. These sessions were followed by lively Q&A discussions, with investors and attendees posing insightful questions about routes to market, investment readiness, the role of IP in their journey to commercialisation and the future potential of these groundbreaking technologies.

a collage of images showing people at the 2025 Investor Conference in Manchester
Spinouts presenting at the conference included:

Life Sciences:

  • Pollen Therapeutics (Brian Bigger – CSO & Co-Founder; Stuart Ellison – Co-Founder; Rebecca Holley – Co-Founder
  • Plant Organelle Technologies (Junwei Ji – Co-founder)
  • ReNewFoo (Matt Hutchinson – CEO & Co-Founder)
  • IVF Micro (Virginia Pensabene – Co-Founder)
  • TaBriX (Lydia Tabernero – Founder; Marc Creus – CEO)
  • RNA Forge (Emma Welbourne – Entreprenurial Lead)
  • AEH Hydrogel (Beenish Siddique – Director)
  • Assemblify (Kate Rowley – CEO)
  • Clot Protect (Helen Philippou – CEO)
  • Mitotype Precision Labs (Toby Burgess – COO; Heather Mortiboys – CEO)

Science and Engineering:

Next Stage/newly invested:

The presentations were chaired by Dinali de Silva (Head of Investment and Licensing – S&E, at the University of Manchester Innovation Factory on Day 1 and Andy Hogben (Head of Commercialisation at the University of Sheffield) on Day 2, offering investors a deep dive into cutting-edge research with commercial potential which welcomed a lively Q&A throughout.

Partnering Sessions for Investors and Founders

The event facilitated break-out room partnering sessions between investors and spinout founders, enabling in-depth discussions on investment opportunities. These were invaluable opportunities for our spinout teams to meet privately with the investors to discuss their personal commercialisation journeys.

Northern Gritstone Dinner and Networking

On the first evening, attendees gathered for a networking dinner, providing an excellent opportunity for informal discussions and relationship-building. The evening began with a pre-dinner talk by Professor Richard Jones, Vice President for Innovation at the University of Manchester, who explored the role of university commercialisation in the wider innovation ecosystem.

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Reflections from Our Leaders

Catherine Headley, CEO, University of Manchester Innovation Factory
“The conference truly demonstrated the strength and diversity of spinout companies emerging from Leeds, Manchester, and Sheffield. The level of investor engagement was remarkable, reflecting the exciting momentum behind innovation across the North of England.”

Dinali de Silva, Head of Investment & Licensing (Science & Engineering), University of Manchester Innovation Factory
“It was fantastic to be part of such a dynamic and productive event, highlighting the breadth of spinout innovation across the Universities of Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield. The strong turnout from investors nationwide reinforces the growing recognition of the Northern Triangle as a powerhouse for entrepreneurship and cutting-edge research translation.”

Andy Hogben, Head of Commercialisation, University of Sheffield
“The 2025 Investor Conference provided a fantastic platform for Sheffield’s spinouts to showcase their potential and connect with a wide network of engaged investors. Events like this are invaluable in driving the success of early-stage innovation and fostering meaningful investment partnerships.”

The Importance of Investing in University Spinouts

Investing in university spinouts is about more than financial returns—it’s about driving sustainability, innovation, and economic growth. These companies transform cutting-edge research into real-world solutions, tackling global challenges in healthcare, clean energy, AI, and advanced materials. They create high-skilled jobs, boost regional economies, and pioneer greener technologies to address climate change. By supporting spinouts, investors help turn research into impact, shaping a more resilient and prosperous future.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Investor Conference reaffirmed The Northern Triangle of Universities’ role as a hub for cutting-edge innovation, fostering collaborations that will shape the future of science, technology, and business. With fresh partnerships and investments emerging from the event, the Innovation Factory looks forward to seeing these promising ventures take their next steps towards real world impact.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss opportunities with any of the spinouts at our 2025 Investor Conference.

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