Catapult are Midlands-based but have several investments in the North West. They deliver both public-sector and private funding and will look at start-ups and smaller deals. They are strong in healthcare. They recently won a new £30m healthcare fund in the North West.
Example companies
Kanichi Research
Services are developing novel non-invasive diagnostic systems that measure analytes in exhaled breath for the rapid detection and diagnosis of a range of diseases.
Why they invested
Kanichi’s breath sensor technology has huge market potential with numerous advantages over current diagnostic tests.
Kick Sport
Kick Sport is an online retailer, specialising in martial arts clothing and equipment.
Why they invested
Kick Sport operates in the exciting e-tail space, in the sports enthusiast segment, which is more robust than many to the whims of consumer confidence. The web channel offers distinct benefits of product range, depth and price, when compared to more established channels, where there is no dominant retail player.
SolarTech Ltd
One of the UK’s designer and installers of renewable energy systems.
Why they invested
Opus liked the fact that Solartech was engineering and design-led. The business and team had already built a solid reputation and accreditation across the various domestic, commercial and public sectors.