UK spinout investor Northern Gritstone to open San Francisco office

Northern Gritstone, a UK-based investment fund supporting spinouts from universities in the north of England, is expanding its presence by establishing an office in San Francisco. The move aims to attract more US capital for its portfolio companies. Launched in 2021, Gritstone has raised £382 million and has since broadened its focus to include companies emerging from the University of Liverpool.

The investor is currently seeking a venture partner in the United States, whose role will involve connecting portfolio companies with a network, capital, and business development opportunities. However, Gritstone does not intend to invest directly in the US market. The company plans to allocate around $1 million to set up the new office and hire personnel.

Gritstone's CEO, Duncan Johnson, expressed the belief that expanding into the US would enable quicker growth, as the US market is more adept at procuring funds and has a higher risk appetite for technology investments. This strategy would also facilitate the recruitment of additional talent into the company's portfolio businesses.

Gritstone's portfolio includes companies such as enzyme engineering spinout Imperagen, photonics chip company Optalysys, and semiconductor scaleup Pragmatic Semiconductor.