GM&C Life Sciences Fund
GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a £31m UK regional venture capital fund, managed by Catapult Ventures, that provides seed and early-stage equity to life sciences businesses in Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington, having invested in 42 portfolio companies since 2015.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAlderley Edge, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GM&C Life Sciences Fund does
GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a closed-end UK venture capital fund vehicle established in 2015 with £31m of committed capital, managed by Catapult Venture Managers Ltd (the FCA-authorised fund management arm of Catapult Ventures). The fund provides seed, early-stage and growth equity to life sciences businesses headquartered in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington region, targeting sub-sectors including anti-infectives, implantable medical devices and diagnostics. Limited partners are a consortium of regional public-sector and institutional investors — Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Cheshire East Council, Manchester Science Partnerships, and the directors of Catapult Ventures — providing both capital and deal-sourcing leverage through the regional ecosystem.
The fund invests directly into portfolio companies via private equity rounds, sourcing opportunities through regional networks, partner referrals and direct outreach, and supports investees with follow-on funding and ecosystem connections. By mid-2021, the fund had deployed capital into 42 companies and reached the end of its new investment period; it now operates in a portfolio-management and follow-on phase through at least 2030. Notable disclosed portfolio activity includes a £4.3m participation in Infex Therapeutics (anti-infectives targeting drug-resistant infections) and a £4.5m participation via PXN Ventures in QV Bioelectronics (GRACE implantable device for glioblastoma). The legal entity behind the fund structure is Catapult Ultimate Holdings Ltd, with operational headquarters managed from Enderby.
The fund's economics are those of a typical UK regional VC vehicle: management fees on committed capital and potential carried interest on exits, with no product pricing or direct customer revenue model. The regional life sciences mandate has effectively been succeeded by a new fund launched in mid-2022 by Praetura Ventures for the same Greater Manchester and Cheshire geography, while GM&C continues to manage its existing portfolio to 2030.
GM&C Life Sciences Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GM&C Life Sciences Fund
- Legal name
- Catapult Ultimate Holdings Ltd
- Website
- https://gmclifesciencesfund.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a £31m UK regional venture capital fund, managed by Catapult Ventures, that provides seed and early-stage equity to life sciences businesses in Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington, having invested in 42 portfolio companies since 2015.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GM&C Life Sciences Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital Fund (Life Sciences)
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Healthcare & Life Sciences Growth Equity (FSANACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
Keywords
Where GM&C Life Sciences Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alderley Edge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GM&C Life Sciences Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Returns and Management Fees: The fund generates returns through equity investments in life sciences startups and early-stage companies, with the goal of achieving capital appreciation through exits. The fund also collects management fees from its limited partners (investors).
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
GM&C Life Sciences Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a £31 million seed and early-stage venture capital fund that makes equity investments in life sciences businesses located in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington region. Managed by Catapult Ventures with capital from regional public-sector investors, the fund has made 42 investments across seed, early-stage, and growth stages and continues to provide follow-on funding to its portfolio until at least 2030.
Product overview
The GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a single, unified £31m seed and early-stage venture capital fund managed by Catapult Ventures. It targets life sciences businesses in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington region, making seed, early-stage, and growth investments into 42 companies, with follow-on support continuing until at least 2030. The fund's portfolio includes investments in companies such as Infex Therapeutics (anti-infectives), QV Bioelectronics (GRACE implantable device for glioblastoma), and CanCertain (diagnostics testing).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GM&C Life Sciences Fund A £31 million seed, early-stage and growth venture capital fund for life sciences businesses in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington region, managed by Catapult Ventures, with 42 portfolio investments made by mid-2021 and follow-on funding continuing until at least 2030.
Quantifiable outcome
- 42 portfolio companies invested across seed, early-stage and growth stages
Companies that use GM&C Life Sciences Fund
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
GM&C Life Sciences Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
GM&C Life Sciences Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Praetura VenturesminorSubsequent regional life sciences fund manager for the GMC region, with a new fund launched in mid-2022 following the end of GM&C Life Sciences Fund's new investment period
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights3 records
GM&C Life Sciences Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Praetura Ventures: Manchester-based regional VC that took over the Greater Manchester life sciences fund mandate in mid-2022 after GM&C's investment period ended. Operates the successor regional life sciences fund for the same geographic footprint with overlapping mandate.
- Catapult Ventures: The fund manager of GM&C Life Sciences Fund; runs multiple regional VC funds (£20m–£31m AUM each) in UK regions including East Midlands and West Midlands. Closest operational peer given the same GP managing similar early-stage regional vehicles.
- Epidarex Capital: UK-based early-stage life sciences VC focused on spinouts from research institutions. Comparable to GM&C as a specialist life sciences investor targeting seed/early-stage UK biotech opportunities, often with regional/ecosystem ties.
- Cambridge Innovation Capital: Regional life sciences and deep tech VC based in Cambridge, providing patient capital to early-stage companies with university/IP origins. Closely mirrors GM&C's model of regional focus, institutional LP backing, and long-dated follow-on support.
- Parkwalk Advisors: UK venture firm focused on university spinouts and deep tech/life sciences companies originating from UK research institutions. Comparable early-stage UK life sciences mandate with EIS fund structures and institutional backing.
Broad incumbents
- Syncona: UK-listed life sciences investment company that founds and builds biotech companies. Much larger scale but operates a comparable specialist life sciences mandate with long-hold developer model analogous to GM&C's patient-capital approach.
- Arix Bioscience: Global life sciences investment firm (LSE-listed) focused on development and growth of breakthrough biotechnology companies. Comparable specialist mandate in life sciences venture investing, though operating at a far larger scale than GM&C's regional focus.
- Oxford Science Enterprises: Science commercialisation investor built on the University of Oxford IP base, with deep exposure to life sciences spinouts. Comparable regional-anchor, university-adjacent life sciences investment thesis — though at significantly larger scale.
Regional players
- Midven (ex-Mercia Fund Management): UK regional early-stage investment manager operating multiple regional funds with a life sciences and technology focus. Directly comparable in structure as a regional multi-fund manager — though primarily focused on West Midlands rather than North West.
- YFM Equity Partners: UK regional VC managing multiple regional funds under the British Business Bank framework, with a portion of activity in life sciences/healthtech. Comparable model as a regional multi-fund manager deploying similar ticket sizes across UK regions.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GM&C Life Sciences Fund social profiles
Digital presenceGM&C Life Sciences Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GM&C Life Sciences Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GM&C Life Sciences Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GM&C Life Sciences Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments34 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GM&C Life Sciences Fund
What does GM&C Life Sciences Fund do?
GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a £31 million seed and early-stage venture capital fund that makes equity investments in life sciences businesses located in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington region. Managed by Catapult Ventures with capital from regional public-sector investors, the fund has made 42 investments across seed, early-stage, and growth stages and continues to provide follow-on funding to its portfolio until at least 2030.
Is GM&C Life Sciences Fund a public or private company?
GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was GM&C Life Sciences Fund founded?
GM&C Life Sciences Fund was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GM&C Life Sciences Fund based?
GM&C Life Sciences Fund is headquartered in Alderley Edge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does GM&C Life Sciences Fund make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns and Management Fees.
Who are GM&C Life Sciences Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Praetura Ventures, Catapult Ventures, Epidarex Capital, Cambridge Innovation Capital and Parkwalk Advisors. Broad incumbents are Syncona, Arix Bioscience and Oxford Science Enterprises. Regional players are Midven (ex-Mercia Fund Management) and YFM Equity Partners.
Does GM&C Life Sciences Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for GM&C Life Sciences Fund.
What industry is GM&C Life Sciences Fund in?
GM&C Life Sciences Fund's product category is Venture Capital Fund (Life Sciences). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAB, Healthcare & Life Sciences Growth Equity, with a secondary code of FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B). Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.