Building relationships
I'm drawn to founders who take the bold step of building something from nothing. The traits I value most complement my own principles: conviction, passion, and genuine enthusiasm for making their venture a success. Equally important is humility and a willingness to collaborate, which are the foundations of any strong working relationship.
The best founders balance being a maverick, unafraid to challenge norms, with being open to honest dialogue. That combination is what makes a partnership work.
Background
I am an Investment Director at Mercia Ventures, focusing on B2B software investments at Series A and beyond. Based in Manchester, I invest across the UK with a particular interest in cybersecurity and enterprise SaaS.
My background is in corporate finance. I trained as a Chartered Accountant at EY in London, where I spent seven years advising founders, management teams, and private equity investors on acquisitions and disposals. I joined a boutique corporate finance house in Manchester in 2017, where working on smaller transactions gave me a more hands-on role and, ultimately, introduced me to Mercia and the world of venture capital.
I joined Mercia in 2021 and have since led multiple investments and sit on the boards of several portfolio companies, including CultureAI, Risk Ledger, Forensic Analytics, and Tessaract. I work closely with founders across strategy, commercial development, and fundraising, and am particularly interested in businesses where differentiated technology solves a real and urgent problem.
The ideal founder strikes a balance between being a maverick—unafraid to challenge norms—and being open to constructive dialogue, creating the foundation for a partnership that drives lasting success.