Campus Capital, a Sheffield, UK-based new venture capital firm, is launching its first £2m fund.
The firm, which builds “on campus” investment funds with universities, has signed up the University of Sheffield as its first partner. It is also in talks with other northern universities and plans to roll out the model nationally.
Launched by Michael Howe, founder of Sheffield-based artificial intelligence firm Otus Labs, and Samantha Deakin Hill, who previously ran a digital agency and now supports tech startups at the University of Sheffield, Campus Capital will invest in early-stage tech companies – whether they are university spin-outs, alumni businesses or local startups – with the target to provid tax-efficient returns for investors. Students can act as venture capitalists by participating alongside investment professionals in the management of the portfolio.
The firm has the backing of Tech North, whose former head Claire Braithwaite is among the advisory board members, along with Rupert Wingate-Saul of AXM Venture Capital. Led by manager Charles Breese, the fund has already received initial commitments from a range of alumni and private investors.
