Kiran Mehta Joins fhunded to Boost Lancashire Investment
Portflio - People | Jan 27, 2025 | Business Cloud

Lancashire County Council's initiative, fhunded, aims to augment early-stage venture capital and funding opportunities in Lancashire by partnering with Kiran Mehta, an experienced VC investor formerly with Mercia Ventures. Mehta will collaborate with fhunded's team, headed by Rory Southworth, to identify high-growth potential start-ups in Lancashire and prepare them for investment. He will also focus on engaging investors interested in innovative opportunities within the county. Mehta's past role at Mercia Ventures saw him facilitate over £20 million of VC investment into UK tech businesses, underscoring his expertise and ability to accelerate finance and scale-up efforts. Having previously supported fhunded's launch, Mehta is praised for his insight and capability in engaging early-stage enterprises, representing a strategic asset to Lancashire's tech economy development.
Sectors
- Venture Capital
- Technology
- Investment Advisory
Geography
- United Kingdom – The investment efforts are focused on the Lancashire region of the UK.
- Lancashire – The initiative is specifically targeted at enhancing investment activity within Lancashire.
Industry
- Venture Capital – The article focuses on the partnership with a VC specialist to boost early-stage investment.
- Technology – The target of the investment efforts is directed towards tech businesses.
- Investment Advisory – The initiative involves identifying and preparing businesses for investment, requiring advisory expertise.
Financials
- £20 million – The amount of VC investment facilitated by Kiran Mehta during his tenure at Mercia Ventures.
Participants
Name | Role | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Kiran Mehta | VC Specialist | People | Former VC Investment Manager at Mercia Ventures, now working with fhunded. |
Lancashire County Council | Initiator of fhunded | Government | The governmental body supporting the fhunded initiative. |
fhunded | Target company | Company | A Lancashire County Council initiative focused on early-stage finance and funding. |
Rory Southworth | Programme Lead | People | Leads the fhunded programme under Lancashire County Council. |
Mercia Ventures | Former Employer | Company | A venture capital firm where Kiran Mehta previously facilitated investments. |