GC Business Finance (GC Angels)

GC Business Finance, operating its equity arm as GC Angels, is a publicly backed, FCA-regulated alternative finance provider and early-stage investor anchored in Manchester and part of The Growth Company. Its mission is to address the persistent imbalance in early-stage equity and debt finance across Greater Manchester and the wider North of England, supporting startups and SMEs that are unable to access mainstream bank funding. Through debt products (Start Up Loans of £500–£25k, NPIF II growth loans of £25k–£100k) and equity via GC Angels (£25k–£2m per round), the organisation has lent over £150m and deployed over £25.5m in equity into 30+ businesses since 2015. GC Angels invests directly alongside a network of 400+ associate angel investors, family offices, and institutional co-investors, co-investing in pre-seed and seed-stage businesses across digital, creative, and technology sectors. The fund is sector-agnostic (excluding gambling, alcohol, and tobacco) but prioritises businesses with shorter commercialisation paths, strong innovation credentials, and a clear social or economic impact in the North. Approximately 40% of portfolio companies are women-led, reflecting a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.