Key Takeaways
- • The University of Manchester is launching a £10m Founders Fund to provide pre-seed investment to entrepreneurs, with an initial £3m already secured.
- • The fund is backed by philanthropic donations, including £2m committed by the University and £1m gifted by alumnus and technology entrepreneur Kevin Lomax.
- • Per a supplementary report, the fund offers £25k–£250k in pre-seed investment to student, staff, alumni, and University-affiliated start-up founders.
- • Unit M, the University's innovation directorate, will manage the fund in partnership with the Innovation Factory, the University's tech transfer office.
- • The launch was announced on 6 October 2026 at the opening of the University's Innovation Festival.
Summary
The University of Manchester has launched a £10m Founders Fund to provide early-stage, pre-seed investment to the next generation of entrepreneurs, according to the University's announcement. The launch was staged at the opening of the Innovation Festival on 6 October 2026, where the University presented the initiative as part of its broader strategy for impact through innovation.
The fund is backed by philanthropic donations. The University has committed £2m, and alumnus and technology entrepreneur Kevin Lomax has gifted £1m, bringing the initial secured capital to £3m against the £10m target. The fund is open to students, staff, alumni, and University-affiliated start-up and spin-out ventures.
Unit M, the University's innovation directorate, will manage the fund in partnership with the Innovation Factory, the University's tech transfer office. A supplementary report describes the investment range as £25k to £250k per founder team.
Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M, framed the fund's purpose around time and early development. "Our Founder Fund aims to get things moving," she said. "It will help give people time to think about how they innovate, how they develop creative thoughts, build partnerships and explore the commercial potential of their ideas."
The fund is backed by philanthropic donations. The University has committed £2m, and alumnus and technology entrepreneur Kevin Lomax has gifted £1m, bringing the initial secured capital to £3m against the £10m target. The fund is open to students, staff, alumni, and University-affiliated start-up and spin-out ventures.
Unit M, the University's innovation directorate, will manage the fund in partnership with the Innovation Factory, the University's tech transfer office. A supplementary report describes the investment range as £25k to £250k per founder team.
Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M, framed the fund's purpose around time and early development. "Our Founder Fund aims to get things moving," she said. "It will help give people time to think about how they innovate, how they develop creative thoughts, build partnerships and explore the commercial potential of their ideas."
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