The Questions Founders Often Ask
Founded by a team of industry veterans— Jim Odell, Justin Urquhart Stewart, Paul Newsham, Martin Taylor, Michael Mcdowell, and Tony Backhouse, Regionally Ventures is committed to bridging the funding gap for high-growth regional businesses across the UK. With 70p of every £1 traditionally invested in London, regional businesses represent a valuable, yet often overlooked, segment of the market.
We speak to a lot of founders. Some are just getting started, some are scaling fast, and others are in that in-between space – building traction but unsure what the next move should be. When we say that Regionally is here to support regional businesses in accessing investment, that often prompts a few recurring questions. So, we thought we’d share some of the most asked common ones – and how we tend to answer them.
“What sort of businesses do you work with?”
We work with businesses based outside London that are building real value – ideally with a B2B model, strong growth potential, and something distinctive about what they do and a problem they solve for the customer. That might be a deep tech solution, a clever spinout, a manufacturing business with ambition, or a dual-use technology that has both defence and civilian applications. We’re particularly interested in businesses tackling meaningful problems, with commercial potential and a solid, experienced team behind them.
“Do I need to be raising now to talk to you?”
No, not at all. In fact, the earlier we start talking, the more helpful we can be. Getting investor-ready doesn’t happen overnight and founders often underestimate how long it takes. If you think you might raise in the next 6–12 months, it’s well worth getting in touch now.
“What does ‘investor-ready’ actually mean?”
“Investor Ready” means being clear on your business model, growth plan, and your financials. It means being able to explain your proposition to someone who doesn’t know your sector. Think of that opening pitch on Dragon’s Den. And it means having the right materials and structure in place to give investors confidence. We help with all of that – positioning, decks, forecasts, and even the narrative.
Our Director of Advisory Services, Tony Backhouse, leads "The Regional Way" – our comprehensive process designed to guide businesses through each and every stage of the investment journey, ensuring they're not only ready to attract investment but are also set up for long-term success.
“I’m based in the North / Midlands / Wales – does that matter?”
It certainly does! In a good way. We exist to champion ambitious businesses outside the London bubble. We understand the context - the ecosystems, the challenges, and the opportunities. We also know that investors are increasingly looking regionally for well-run, high-potential businesses to invest in. It’s not about compromise – it’s about focus.
“What’s the process?”
It usually starts with a conversation. We get to know you and your business, work out whether we can help, and if we can, we’ll support you in getting pitch-ready. Once you’re ready, we connect you with aligned investors from our network, and stay involved to help the process run smoothly.
“You mentioned dual-use – what does that mean?”
Dual-use technologies are those that can be applied in both civilian and defence settings. Think cybersecurity, AI, satellite tech, and advanced materials. It’s a space where the UK has some real depth, and we’re keen to support regional founders working on applications that are commercially viable and nationally relevant
In short…
We’re here to help founders grow strong, investable businesses – not just chase funding for the sake of it. So whether you’re thinking about raising now, soon, or just want to understand what the road ahead might look like for your business, let’s talk.
If you share our vision for unlocking regional potential, we’d love to hear from you.