A Midlands-based angel investment network is sharpening its strategic focus for 2026 as it seeks to more closely align ambitious start-ups with investors prepared to play an active role in their growth.
Minerva Business Angels, which operates as part of the University of Warwick Science Park, is repositioning itself as a more targeted connector between high-growth regional businesses and an expanding base of angel investors. The not-for-profit network is now concentrating on matching companies raising up to £500,000 in equity with investors looking to support the next phase of development beyond capital alone.
The shift follows Minerva’s 30th anniversary and reflects what the network describes as a changing appetite on both sides of the early-stage funding market. Rather than pursuing volume, the organisation is prioritising quality opportunities, stronger relationships, and deeper engagement between founders and funders across the Midlands.
The approach is already gaining traction. Minerva reports a strong pipeline of businesses choosing to raise exclusively through the network, offering investors early access to opportunities where funding is paired with structured, hands-on support. That support draws on Minerva’s collective experience, sector insight, and professional networks alongside equity investment.
Luke Pulford, Head of Minerva Business Angels, said the evolution reflects clear feedback from both founders and investors navigating current market conditions.
“There is a real appetite for closer collaboration on both sides,” said Pulford. “Founders want investors who understand the journey they are on, and investors want to feel genuinely connected to the businesses they back. Our renewed focus brings those two things together in a way that feels more purposeful and more impactful. The feedback from our community has been fantastic.”
The network’s new direction was underlined at a recent pitching event attended by long-standing members, new investors, and regional partners. Several businesses with established commercial traction presented to the network, with interest recorded in all three opportunities and investor discussions now progressing.
The event also marked three decades since Minerva’s founding, with attention deliberately focused on future activity rather than retrospection. Over that period, the network has supported hundreds of businesses to raise millions of pounds in equity finance and has delivered multiple exits for investors, including several in recent years that generated high-multiple returns.
Among those speaking at the event was long-standing Minerva investor David Mellor, who reflected on the motivations behind sustained engagement in angel investing.
“For me, it has always been about more than the financial mechanics,” he said. “There is something incredibly rewarding about being part of a company’s growth story, seeing founders navigate challenges and celebrating the wins along the way. The incentives and tax breaks matter, of course, but the real value comes from feeling involved in building something meaningful.”
Attendees also heard from Matt Adams of Ideas Lab, one of Minerva’s successful exits, who shared his experience building We Are Group and the returns delivered to early backers.
Looking ahead, Pulford said Minerva’s investor base continues to grow, while interest from businesses shows no sign of slowing. “The network remains committed to working closely with partners across the region while strengthening its role as a first port of call for angel investment in the Midlands,” he said, pointing to monthly pitch events, a new online deal platform, and a rising number of businesses raising exclusively through Minerva.
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