Par Equity is a venture capital firm that invests in innovative, high growth technology businesses across the North of the UK,
Between £500k and £10 million
Seed to Series A
Par Equity is a venture capital firm headquartered in Edinburgh, founded in 2008. It focuses on investing in early-stage, high-growth technology companies, particularly across the North of the UK, including Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland. The firm specialises in sectors such as enterprise software, health tech, and climate tech. Par Equity operates a unique hybrid model that combines institutional capital with a network of angel investors, providing portfolio companies with access to funding, expertise, and operational support. The firm has a strong emphasis on regional development and innovation, aiming to support scalable, high-impact businesses and contribute to economic growth outside of London and the South East.
Mission
Par Equity’s mission is to accelerate the growth of outstanding technology companies and drive positive impact across the North of the UK by investing in and supporting ambitious founders developing innovative solutions. The firm is committed to building a thriving regional ecosystem by backing entrepreneurs whose technologies address real-world challenges and create significant economic and societal benefit.
Goals
Par Equity aims to:
Values
Par Equity’s core values are rooted in partnership, integrity, and ambition. The firm believes that entrepreneurial success is best achieved through collaboration and shared expertise, supporting founders and stakeholders with transparency and fairness. Par Equity is committed to creating real impact by investing in businesses that combine commercial success with wider benefits to society and the economy. Internally, the firm upholds a culture of professionalism, responsibility, and continuous learning, and maintains high standards of governance, ethical conduct, and accountability throughout its operations.
Par Equity was co-founded in Edinburgh in 2008 by Paul Atkinson, Robert Higginson, Paul Munn, and Andrew Castell. Each founder brought complementary expertise in venture capital, private equity, entrepreneurship, and business leadership.
Paul Atkinson is noted for his extensive background in angel investing, recruitment, and building technology businesses. Robert Higginson and Paul Munn both brought significant experience in finance, investment management, and supporting early-stage growth companies. Andrew Castell rounded out the founding team with a strong track record in private equity, risk management, and corporate governance.
Together, the co-founders established Par Equity to provide both capital and hands-on support to innovative technology companies across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Northern England. Their combined experience laid the foundation for Par Equity’s mission-driven, partnership-oriented model, which continues to guide the firm’s engagement with ambitious entrepreneurs across the region.
Explore the founders professional journeys: Paul Atkinson, Robert Higginson, Paul Munn, Andrew Castell.
Par Equity invests in early-stage and scaleup technology companies that are developing innovative solutions to address significant sector challenges and drive high-growth outcomes. The firm supports technologies that create scalable commercial value and deliver impact in crucial areas such as health tech, climate solutions, and enterprise software.
Geographic Scope:
Par Equity primarily invests in companies with a core presence in Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland. The firm’s focus is on unlocking regional potential in these parts of the UK, working closely with mission-driven founders to scale their businesses both nationally and internationally.
Sectors of Interest:
Par Equity targets a broad spectrum of technology-driven sectors, with a particular emphasis on:
The firm often backs spin-outs and high-potential companies working with leading universities and research institutions across the North, helping to commercialise cutting-edge research into impactful businesses. Par Equity’s investment strategy is to support founders through hands-on partnership, providing access to capital, sector expertise, and a robust network of experienced investors and industry experts.
To be considered for investment, companies must meet the following criteria:
Par Equity employs a rigorous, multi-stage assessment process to identify and support the most promising high-growth technology companies across Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland. The process begins with an initial review of each company’s business plan, focusing on the strength and experience of the management team, the maturity and defensibility of the product or technology, and the clarity of the commercial model and market opportunity. Founders are expected to have at least a minimum viable product, evidence of market need, and a clear strategy for growth.
Following this, Par Equity engages directly with management to understand the business in detail, assess alignment with the firm’s investment focus, and discuss potential investment terms. If the opportunity advances, Par Equity undertakes comprehensive due diligence, including technical and market validation, competitor analysis, financial modelling, and a review of legal and operational matters.
The investment proposal is then brought before Par Equity’s investment committee, which evaluates the opportunity for fit with the firm’s objectives and its potential to deliver substantial regional and commercial impact. Throughout the process, Par Equity benchmarks each opportunity against sector trends and may consult its network of experienced investors and subject matter experts to validate the technology and scalability. This rigorous approach ensures that investments are well-positioned to succeed and benefit from Par Equity’s active engagement and broad professional network.
Par Equity has backed a range of high-growth technology businesses across the North of the UK, selecting companies for their innovative solutions, commercial scalability, and potential for regional and global impact. Three of the most notable portfolio companies include:
Advanced Electric Machines (AEM)
Advanced Electric Machines designs and manufactures sustainable electric motors for the automotive and transport sectors. AEM’s technology eliminates the need for rare earth metals and copper, making its powertrain motors greener, fully recyclable, and more cost-effective to produce. By focusing on commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and aerospace, AEM delivers high performance while significantly reducing the environmental impact of electric vehicles. Par Equity played a major role in a recent £23 million investment round, helping AEM scale production and expand internationally. Visit AEM.
Partful
Partful is transforming the manufacturing aftermarket with its cloud-based platform that enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create interactive, 3D exploded parts catalogues. This makes it easier for customers and dealers to identify, order, and fit the right components, reducing costly errors and equipment downtime. Supporting both traditional and electric vehicle sectors, Partful’s solution accelerates adoption of the circular economy while improving aftersales service. Par Equity has been a key investor through several funding rounds, helping Partful grow its business and expand its international customer base. Visit Partful.
Phlo
Phlo is a fast-growing digital pharmacy and healthcare platform that streamlines prescription provision and patient care. Patients can order, manage, and receive medications online through same-day delivery, improving access and efficiency. Phlo’s technology underpins services for prescription delivery as well as broader health and wellness offerings, including women’s health and weight management support. Par Equity has led multiple investment rounds to help Phlo scale nationally and evolve into a leader in digital health innovation across the UK. Visit Phlo.
Discover more successful investments: Par Equity Portfolio.
Par Equity is supported by a combination of private investors, institutional partners, and public sector funding programmes. The firm manages several investment funds, including the Par Equity EIS Fund and the Scale-Up Fund, each designed to back high-growth technology companies across Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland.
Key funding sources include the British Business Bank’s Regional Angels Programme, the Scottish National Investment Bank, and other government-backed initiatives, which provide matched capital and strategic support to help scale early-stage and growth businesses. Par Equity also raises capital from a substantial network of private investors, angel syndicates, and family offices, enabling a blended funding model that strengthens its ability to invest across health tech, climate solutions, and deep tech sectors.
Stages:
Par Equity invests in companies from seed through to Series A and early scale-up stages, supporting technology ventures from early commercialisation through to significant growth and market expansion. The firm is particularly active in B2B, IP-driven, and applied deep tech sectors across the North of the UK.
Equity:
Investments are typically made on an equity basis, with individual deal sizes usually ranging from £500,000 to £4 million as part of funding rounds, and total target raises for companies of £0.5 million to £10 million. Par Equity frequently co-invests alongside its investor network and institutional partners, helping companies access follow-on funding as they scale.
Funds:
Par Equity manages several investment funds, including the Par Equity EIS Fund (eligible for EIS tax relief), which targets high-potential technology companies, and the institutional Scale-Up Fund, which focuses on later-stage growth financing. The firm's distinctive hybrid model combines professional fund management with a large network of active angel investors to support portfolio growth.
Recent Developments:
Recent activity has included major investments such as an £8 million seed round for Neuranics (April 2025) and an £8 million+ Series A round for CSignum (April 2025), both backed alongside institutional and angel co-investors. Par Equity continues to lead and co-lead funding rounds for transformative ventures, strengthened by new partnerships, such as with the British Business Bank and the Scottish National Investment Bank, expanding its support for technology scale-ups across Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland.
Par Equity’s unique model and growing investor base ensure it remains a leading source of capital, strategic input, and operational support for scaling technology innovation across the region.
Par Equity is strongly committed to delivering positive economic and societal impact alongside financial returns, integrating responsible practices into its investment approach and operations. The firm’s mission is to accelerate the growth of technology businesses that drive regional development, job creation, and sector transformation, particularly in Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland.
Par Equity tracks and reports the impact of its portfolio through regular measurement against economic indicators such as job creation, R&D investment, and regional economic contribution. The firm is also actively developing frameworks to monitor environmental and social impact where relevant, with a growing focus on supporting technologies that advance sustainability and the net zero transition. Notably, more than 70% of Par Equity’s portfolio companies are based outside London and the South East, directly contributing to levelling up the UK’s innovation landscape.
In the past five years, Par Equity has invested over £165 million alongside a wide network of co-investors, catalysing significant scale-up activity and supporting the creation of thousands of high-skilled jobs in the North. The firm maintains a clear investment policy, excluding sectors such as armaments and upholding a strong commitment to ethical standards and responsible innovation. Par Equity also actively encourages its portfolio companies to adopt best practices in corporate governance, sustainability, and diversity, helping to ensure that every investment supports both commercial success and wider positive impact across the region.
Par Equity actively fosters a dynamic community of investors, founders, and technology leaders across Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland. The firm brings together an extensive network of experienced angels, sector specialists, and entrepreneurs who share a commitment to supporting ambitious technology businesses and regional innovation.
Par Equity regularly organises events such as investor briefings, portfolio showcases, educational seminars, and networking sessions. These gatherings encourage knowledge exchange, introduce emerging technologies, and create opportunities for peer learning and collaboration among investors, founders, and industry experts. Members of the Par Investor Network play an active role in deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio support, drawing on their expertise to accelerate company growth.
The firm also offers opportunities for passive investors through its EIS Fund and institutional funds, providing access to high-potential technology investments without the need for hands-on involvement. Par Equity keeps its community engaged through regular communications, newsletters, and impact updates, sharing portfolio milestones, investment opportunities, and news from across the innovation ecosystem.
By building a collaborative and supportive environment, Par Equity empowers its network of investors and portfolio companies to drive innovation, create jobs, and deliver long-lasting economic and societal impact across the North of the UK.
Par Equity is led by an experienced team combining deep expertise in venture capital, investment management, entrepreneurship, and technology. United by a commitment to supporting high-growth technology companies across the North of the UK, the team brings together founders, operators, technologists, clinicians, and investment professionals to deliver strategic guidance and operational value to portfolio businesses.
Leadership and Key Team Members:
Par Equity’s team is further supported by investment professionals, analysts, and its extended Par Investor Network, a large pool of seasoned entrepreneurs, industry specialists, and mentors who collaborate to provide deep sector expertise and operational support to founders.
Learn more about the full team on the Par Equity team page.
Are you an innovative founder developing technology in health tech, climate tech, or digital solutions with the potential for global impact? Discover how Par Equity can support your journey by visiting: Par Equity Website.
Stay updated with the latest news, events, and opportunities by following Par Equity on LinkedIn: Par Equity LinkedIn.
Explore more UK opportunities for greentech investment at Adopter’s Greentech Investors Map.
