25 March 2025, 09:15 - 11:30
The Hangout, UMi, Navigators Point, Belmont Business Park, Durham, DH1 1TW
Ever wondered how you could become an angel investor?
The North East has a shortage of angel investors. Without enough angels, our region lacks vital funding and support for early-stage businesses. Over half of the UK’s angels are based in London and the South East which leaves the North East underserved and lacking investment opportunities.
In recent years, the North East has been hampered by a lack of coordination of its angels. UMi, led by Forum member Nicki Clark OBE, is on a mission to change this through investment in the Northern Investment Hub which is a “one-stop-shop” for investors, providing education, deal flow and support.
We’ve invited angel investors Sam Whitehouse of LightOx and Ciaron Gallagher of CG Ventures as well as Charlotte Scott, who runs the Northern Investment Hub, and Aaron Lawson-Clark of LDC, to provide insights into the unique opportunities that becoming an angel offers.
This session is suitable for those interested in learning about the role of angel investment, whether as an angel, or for those seeking to meet angels. It will cover:
How to boost your personal knowledge about angel investing
Understand the tax reliefs available to investors, including EIS and SEIS. Discover how to source promising deals, including learning about the syndicates that exist in the North East.
Setting your own investment strategy
Learn about how much capital you need to invest as an angel. Discover how you can create a personalised investment thesis by aligning your passions and expertise with deal flow opportunities.
Getting started
Find out how to get started as an angel, including legal requirements, and further training offered in our region.
About Our Panellists
Sam Whitehouse is an Angel Investor and an experienced Chief Executive Officer and Chairman with a demonstrated history of working in the medical technologies and commercialisation in high growth companies. Working across a range of industrial applications including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and life sciences. Sam is currently the CEO of LightOx Ltd, developing light activated targeted therapies for Oral cancer and wound care treatments and is an also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, as well as sitting on the board of Medilink and the business board of the North East combined authority.
Ciaron Gallagher is an experienced investor and business owner with over 20 years in building, managing, and exiting businesses across sectors such as healthcare, residential care, leisure, real estate, recruitment, management consultancy, and IT. He has successfully navigated growth complexities, exits, management buyouts, and private equity sales. Ciaron is dedicated to mentoring emerging investors and founders and encouraging innovation and strategic thinking within the North East. Ciaron’s latest venture is within the life sciences sector.
Aaron Lawson-Clark supports ambitious management teams across the North East and Scotland, helping them to realise their growth ambitions with the support of a private equity partner. Aaron joined LDC in 2022, he has previously supported a range of ambitious, fast-growing businesses across a range of sectors throughout the UK. Aaron sits on the board at Mandata. Prior to joining LDC, Aaron had 15 years’ experience across private equity/venture capital and corporate banking, supporting the growth of scale-up to mid-market businesses across all sectors. Aaron is a passionate technologist having invested into a number of IT software, hardware, infrastructure and services businesses. After graduating from the University of Northumbria with a degree in Business Finance, Aaron had a successful career in Corporate & Institutional Banking for over 10 years before joining NVM Private Equity and the Northern VCTs, becoming an Investment Partner for the fund, investing nationally and responsible for c£0.5bn funds under management.
About Our Host
Charlotte Scott is a Senior Investor Relations Manager at UMi and runs the Northern Investor Hub. This means she is responsible for managing syndicates of angel investors in the North East, organising social events, education and deal flow.
The Small Print
Our events are shaped by the views and experiences of our panellists, so while we hope to cover the topics above, we may discuss other related subjects during the session.
Panel discussions are open to all members and partners of the Forum. Two guest places are available to ‘Ultimate’ and ‘Premium’ members. Please note guests must be from your own company.
If you are a ‘Core’ member and would like to upgrade your membership, or find out more, please email info@entrepreneursforum.net or call one of the team on 0191 500 7780.
