The University of Manchester Founders Fund is a pre-seed investment fund launched in October 2026 to back start-ups and spin-outs founded by University of Manchester students, staff, and alumni. The evergreen fund is managed by Unit M, the university's innovation directorate, in partnership with Innovation Factory, its technology transfer office.
The Founders Fund backs pre-seed start-ups and spin-outs founded by University of Manchester students, staff, and alumni, writing small, non-controlling equity checks across any sector.
Returns are reinvested into future ventures, and founders also get access to Unit M's networks and expertise to help position their companies for follow-on seed funding.
In October 2026, the University of Manchester launched the Founders Fund, targeting $13.2 million in commitments, with $4 million secured at launch.
The university committed $2.6 million toward the fund, and alumnus and technology entrepreneur Kevin Lomax made a $1.3 million philanthropic gift toward it.
The fund is structured as an evergreen vehicle, with the first call for applications expected in January 2027 to coincide with the university's inaugural Innovation Festival.
Leadership
The Founders Fund is managed by Unit M, the University of Manchester's innovation directorate, in partnership with Innovation Factory, the university's technology transfer office. Unit M is led by Lou Cordwell OBE, Chief Executive Officer.
The Founders Fund itself is led by Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M.
Investment Strategy
The fund writes checks of $33,000 to $330,000 into pre-seed, University of Manchester-affiliated ventures across any sector, taking small, non-controlling equity stakes.
It forms part of the university's "Challenge Accepted" initiative and its goal of building Europe's most inclusive innovation ecosystem by 2035.
Lou Cordwell OBE - Chief Executive Officer, Unit M
Aline Miller - Associate Vice President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer, Unit M
aline.miller@manchester.ac.uk
United Kingdom
