Northern Gritstone
6 people tracked
Investment thesis
Invests in Northern Triangle university spinouts and deeptech companies, backed by three northern universities, offering post-investment NG Innovation Services: venture-building accelerators, leadership mentoring, and business infrastructure.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's website
Cassie Doherty leverages a Leeds PhD and 10+ years investing in UK university spinouts, plus trustee roles at Leeds Hospitals Charity, to connect hospital needs with northern deep‑tech commercialization.
Gareth Llewellyn, Sheffield alumnus and former agritech spin-out COO with mechanical engineering and marine science training, translates deeptech, robotics and food‑system efficiency research from Northern spin‑outs into growth.
James Gibbons is a life sciences investor and former MD of a spinout and head of IP licensing, focused on cellular senescence and multi-omics+AI, and NED at Crucible for ALS/FTD.
Khadija Ashfaq is an early-stage investor focused on AI, quantum, semiconductors and data infrastructure in the North of England, with prior AI and life-sciences experience and founder-accessible due diligence education.
Duncan Johnson, a UK private-equity veteran, combines PE and early-stage science venture experience to back northern university spinouts, emphasizes failure literacy via academic outreach, and advocates rebalancing finance from London.
Marion Bernard, a founding leader of a major UK growth-investment platform, embeds with the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, commercializing academic research and advising a science seed fund.
What they invest in
from 1 of 24 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×1Deep Tech ×1Robotics ×1
HQs:United Kingdom×1
Investments · 24 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathEnd-to-end in-silico trials solution
Opteran develops autonomy software for robots and machines by reverse-engineering neural algorithms from insect brains, using computational neuroscience rather than deep learning.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechRoboticsLondon, GB
James Marshall(Founder & Science Officer)Alex Cope(Co-founder & CTO)David Rajan(CEO & Co-founder)
Optical high-performance computing hardware offering higher performance at lower cost and energy than electronics.
Frequently asked questions
- What sectors does Northern Gritstone focus on?
- Northern Gritstone focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Deep Tech, Hardware, Healthtech, New Materials, Semiconductors.
- Does Northern Gritstone lead rounds?
- Northern Gritstone typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
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