Dr Graham Davies has joined the Finance Yorkshire Seedcorn team as an investment manager.

Graham joins the team after being venture manager at the University of Manchester Intellectual Property Ltd (UMIP) for the last two years where he has been helping to create, manage and offer support to spin-out companies from the University. 

Graham said; "I will now have been part of the start-up process from all sides, from being heavily involved with a new company, to helping support and manage spin-outs, to now getting more involved in investing in them.

"I know how tough it can be to get started and seedcorn finance can be a great way for a new business to develop what's needed to get into the market.  The Seedcorn Fund offers vital support for this."

Graham will join a team tasked with seeking investment in early stage technology-based ventures across Yorkshire, the Humber and North and North East Lincolnshire.

Helping a range of small and medium sized businesses to meet their funding requirements for growth and development, Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15,000 to £2m.

The project is supported financially by the European Union. It has attracted £30 million investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of Europe's support for the region's economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme, £15million from Yorkshire Forward's Single Programme, and £45million match funding from the European Investment Bank.