Midlands Mindforge

Midlands Mindforge is a venture capital firm established by eight research-intensive universities in the Midlands: Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, and Warwick. Its mission is to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking science and technology from these universities, aiming to raise up to £250 million from strategic corporate partners, institutional investors, and qualifying individuals​. Midlands Mindforge focuses on early-stage, IP-rich businesses in sectors like Clean Technology, AI & Computational Science, Life Sciences, and Health Tech. The initiative seeks to bridge the significant funding gap for early-stage tech companies in the Midlands and foster a vibrant ecosystem that supports innovation and economic growth​. Led by key figures like Professor Trevor McMillan, Chair of the Midlands Innovation Board, and Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, Midlands Mindforge aims to create highly skilled jobs and support the UK’s ambition to be a global science and technology superpower. The fund will provide both capital and company-building skills to help transform academic research into successful businesses with real-world impact​.