Venture.Community, the South Yorkshire-based co-operative of entrepreneurs and Founders, has officially launched its first co-fund, part of a wider €115 million investment mission aimed at fostering ethical startup growth.
Announced during the opening of its new Investor Hub at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, the co-fund will back Pre-Seed and Seed-stage companies within its accelerator programme.
“We can expect our international partners to commit between $10 million to 30 million into South Yorkshire startups within the next three-to-five years,” Venture.Community Founder, Peter Hopton, said during the launch.
Founded in 2024, Venture.Community set out with a five-year pledge to unlock €115 million in VC funding. The co-fund’s structure is deliberately decentralised and community-driven, offering Founders more than just capital – it includes guidance, mentorship and a connection to wider commercial networks.
The co-operative, founded on principles of fairness and open collaboration, aims to enable startups and investors to negotiate on equal terms, sidestepping the traditional dominance of venture capital houses over term sheets.
This model, according to Venture.Community, enhances market access and ensures better alignment between founders and financiers.
The co-operative’s accelerator programme has already seen early success, with six startups currently participating: AddParts, Future Greens, Gold Standard Phantoms, Tickets for Good and TUBR. These companies span industries including manufacturing, HealthTech and social impact.
Hopton noted the strong early performance: “Venture.Community’s first cohort since FCA registration has begun and there are six excellent companies that are already making great progress with strategy and commercial traction.”
He added that the regional impact goes beyond the cohort: “For 2024, over £12 million in investment can be traced back to our demo days and open entrepreneurial education events. There’s also strong interest elsewhere in both new co-funds and new ‘Venture.Communities’ in other regions.”
Venture.Community says they are responding to an identified need in South Yorkshire: a region with a deep talent pool in engineering and technology but historically lacking in early-stage capital and startup education.
The Investor Hub, now open at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, will host events year-round and connect Founders with mentors-in-residence. It aims to bridge this gap by offering direct access to funding and experienced guidance.
Hopton explained the broader ecosystem benefits: “This is also critical in South Yorkshire, where we have great engineers and technology but insufficient access to entrepreneurial education and early-stage investment. Our membership includes experienced entrepreneurs that co-operate to help Founders build promising companies as well as enable access to networks for finance and customers..”
The Investor Hub launch on 08 July 2025 brought together Founders, investors and public officials. Speakers included representatives from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Mercia Asset Management, Medici Ventures and the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA), reflecting the growing momentum for the region’s startup ecosystem.