Yorkshire Paves the Way for UK’s AI Revolution with Launch of Oberon Yorkshire AI EIS Fund
Sheffield, UK – Yorkshire is staking its claim as a leading hub for artificial intelligence (AI) in the UK, as the newly launched Oberon Yorkshire AI EIS Fund announces plans to invest millions into the region. Developed in partnership with Yorkshire AI Labs LLP, the fund showcases the significant investor confidence in Yorkshire’s potential to become a national center for AI innovation and economic growth.
The Oberon Yorkshire AI EIS Fund will target pioneering AI-driven companies across Northern England, leveraging the region’s industrial heritage, robust technology ecosystem, and top research institutions. Investments will focus on transformative sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and financial services, where AI integration offers substantial benefits to both the economy and society.
The Fund is delivered in collaboration with Yorkshire AI Labs (YAIL), a specialist incubator renowned for building and scaling some of the region’s most innovative AI companies. YAIL’s unique model combines sweat equity, capital, and hands-on commercial strategy to create investor-ready businesses from scratch.
David Richards, founder of YAIL, stated: “This isn’t just a fund, it’s the next phase of a blueprint that’s already working. We’ve proven that nationally significant AI companies can be built right here in Yorkshire. The Oberon Fund allows us to take that model and scale it, to support more founders, accelerate more platforms, and build an ecosystem that the entire country can be proud of.”
Paul Sheehan, Investment Director of Oberon Yorkshire AI EIS, added: “The Oberon Yorkshire AI EIS Fund reflects our belief in the significant economic and technological potential of the North of England. Working with YAIL, we have early access to a pipeline of rigorously selected high-growth potential companies in the AI space. With Oberon providing the investment structure and YAIL identifying regional talent, this new venture is poised for success in transforming untapped potential into scalable, high-performing businesses.”
With a growing pipeline of opportunities already identified by YAIL, and a proven track record of success with companies such as IntelliAM AI Plc (IPO-listed industrial AI), PureTec (a sustainable orthodontics platform), and DigitalCNC (a University of Sheffield spinout applying AI to precision manufacturing), the Fund aims to accelerate regional growth, boost employment, and solidify Yorkshire’s position as a national and global leader in the AI landscape.
For more information, please visit: https://yorkshire.ai/oberoneisfund/
-ENDS-
Media Contacts:
Yorkshire AI Labs
pr@yorkshire.ai
Oberon Investments:
Edward Osborne-Fardon, Head of Marketing/PR/Comms
edwardof@oberoninvestments.com
Notes to Editors
About Yorkshire AI Labs
Yorkshire AI Labs is a venture capital firm based in Sheffield, UK, specializing in supporting AI and deep-tech startups. It combines strategic investment with practical expertise to help innovative companies achieve accelerated growth.
Disclaimer
Investment in the Fund is only permitted by those for whom it can be assessed as suitable in accordance with COBS 9, either by their financial advisors or by Oberon. Financial advisors are required to explain to clients the risks of investing in the Fund and confirm the Fund is suitable for their clients. The risk factors set out in the Product Brochure and the Investor Agreement should be carefully considered before submitting an application to invest. An investment in the Fund is NOT suitable for all Investors. EIS tax reliefs are subject to change, investments may also rely on the company or investment opportunity in question meeting EIS qualifying criteria which are not guaranteed. Investments will be made in small unquoted companies, which carry a higher risk than many other forms of investment. The EIS investments are likely to be illiquid and difficult to realize. The value of shares and income from them may go down as well as up, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and may not be repeated. Capital invested in the Fund is at risk and you may lose all the money you invest.
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Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.