South West angel investor network celebrates investment success

A network for business angel investors is set to mark the success of a Plymouth-based co-working space two years on from their investment.

The space, known as BLOCK, is a flexible workspace at Royal William Yard in the two-hundred-year-old Melville building that offers both office and collaborative workspaces plus a state-of-the-art gym, café & bar, and premium event space. With the help of investment generated through the mainstream network, BLOCK has created a hub that businesses of all sizes can access.

Established by UK law firm Michelmores in 2019, mainstream is a network for business angel investors focused to help accelerate the growth of angel investing, particularly in the South West.

Through its strong links with local incubators and regional funds, the network plays a pivotal role in connecting those interested in investing with early-stage business opportunities. As part of this, mainstream holds in-person bi-monthly pitch events, giving applicants the opportunity to pitch to a panel of angel investors.

The location of mainstream’s next pitch event on the 4th of May will celebrate BLOCK’s success and inspire other businesses about what can be achieved through the South West initiative.  

Ben Cheriton, Founder of BLOCK, said: "It has been a great experience working with mainstream. BLOCK raised circa £500k through mainstream and its members. The process was really efficient and a great experience. I would highly recommend the network to anybody looking to raise investment.

“BLOCK approached mainstream at a critical time and the funds raised were crucial in delivering the project. The mainstream investors involved in BLOCK have offered time and support in addition to funding and both have proved extremely valuable.

“BLOCK is now well on track to delivering on its business plan and will soon be raising additional funding for the next stage of its growth."

Richard Cobb, Partner at Michelmores, added: “It’s fantastic to see the end-result of BLOCK’s hard work and be able to celebrate this with them by holding our next pitch event at BLOCK’s impressive co-working space. I hope this will inspire the rest of the applicants at the event by showcasing what can be achieved through the initiative.

“The Melville Building at Royal William Yard is home to a number of key professional firms who support South West businesses, such as KPMG and Francis Clark, and we expect a good turnout from both Plymouth and the wider Devon and Cornwall investor community.”

Companies that have secured investment from the network include Lune & Wild, who deliver freshly prepared meals for babies and young children, FluoretiQ, a diagnostics company spun out from University of Bristol, and Devon based RoleMapper who provided AI-powered job intelligence.

Four exciting early-stage companies have been selected from 30 applicants to present to interested investors, and the mainstream team welcome hearing from additional potential members who want to attend and learn more about the network. For more information contact: mainstream@michelmores.com