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Entrepreneurs face many challenges through their journeys. We're entrepreneurs ourselves so it’s a journey we understand well.

The entrepreneur...
it's in our DNA

Built on experience...

We have built a team with deep and varied experience that has founded, built, invested in and advised a range of different businesses from dynamic start-ups to more established enterprises. We use this experience to support your business across many different areas from board evolution and business transformation to acquisitive growth and subsequent integration.

Based around relationships...

Like you, we're still learning. If we don't have the answers, we often know those that do. Our model is based around our relationships and we stay close to both previous and current investors, entrepreneurs and experts in their fields who we can call upon. Having a strong network of proven entrepreneurs and industry specialists allows us to support our companies both informally and through board positions.

"I worked with Simon on the Moneypenny equity investment deal and he delivered a fantastic result for us. Simon had clearly built an outstanding team and their work ethic, thoroughness and commerciality were instrumental in delivering a great transaction for the Company and its stakeholders. Perhaps the greatest achievement was that Simon and his team turned what can be a stressful process into an extremely enjoyable one."

Ed Reeves
,
Director and Founder of Moneypenny

"Mike and Ben have been a huge part of Peak’s success since leading our seed investment round. They live in the real world and have always given us practical guidance and support whenever we need it. They have a real passion for seeing Peak grow and I’ve always felt they would run through walls for us. It’s great having them in our corner and part of our team."

Richard Potter
,
CEO of Peak

"I have worked with Ben and Mike for the past few years and have been hugely thankful for their support in helping to establish We Influence as one of the leading Digital Marketing agencies within the North West. Their expertise in helping develop a successful strategy for the business has enabled us to fast-forward many of our growth plans, with the result that we have been able to achieve record revenues & profit each year since we partnered in 2017. It has been more than a partnership based on investment, though. I have been indebted to Ben and the team for the trust they have placed in We Influence and its team to deliver outstanding results for our clients and for the business. 2020 has obviously been a challenging year for us all, but they have always been on the end of a phone (or a zoom call) to offer advice and guidance when needed. Their knowledge of and interest in the digital sector has helped We Influence see things differently and more strategically to secure new opportunities for the business, even during this COVID-19 era. Arete will be great partners for We Influence as we plan for an exciting 2021 and continue to thrive."

Graham Withe
,
Managing Director of We Influence.

"Tactus has been working with Mike, Ben and David, individually and collectively, for a number of years. It’s obvious that they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in each of their sectors but the success of Arete is all about collaboration, partnership and a champion mindset. They also bring a simple approach to fundraising and speedy execution. The Arete team is now an extension of the senior team at Tactus and their honesty, courage and integrity is something we value deeply."

Scott Brenchley
,
CEO of Tactus Group

“Mike was the architect of the Inspired Energy IPO on AIM in late 2011 having identified the opportunity for a different type of challenger M&A based platform in our space. A Board member since float, Mike’s capital markets experience and deal structuring capability were instrumental in helping the company to execute the initial phase of its buy and build strategy and grow the market capitalisation to over c.£50m by 2016. Since becoming Non Executive Chairman of the company in 2016, Mike has successfully guided the company through its transition from owner founders to the integration of a professional leadership team with the resultant acceleration of the company’s growth to a market cap in excess of c. £150m, as well as its recent £30m capital raise against the backdrop of COVID. He is a trusted and valued mentor to the executive team."

Mark Dickinson
,
CEO of Inspired Energy

“Simon, Ben and the wider Arete team are an absolute breath of fresh air to work with. Real, transparent and hugely supportive. They provide you with the space to operate whilst adding value at every interaction. Their support from day one has been second to none and it goes way beyond the investment. They genuinely care about our business and absolutely buy into our social purpose. They care just as much about the social impact as they do the financial, meaning that as an executive team, we are aligned from top to bottom."

Russell Teale
,
MD at Vivify Venues

"Simon, Ben and the wider Arete team are an absolute breath of fresh air to work with. Real, transparent and hugely supportive. They provide you with the space to operate whilst adding value at every interaction. Their support from day one has been second to none and it goes way beyond the investment. They genuinely care about our business and absolutely buy into our social purpose. They care just as much about the social impact as they do the financial, meaning that as an executive team, we are aligned from top to bottom."

Russell Teale
,
MD at Vivify Venues

"I worked with Simon on the Moneypenny equity investment deal and he delivered a fantastic result for us. Simon had clearly built an outstanding team and their work ethic, thoroughness and commerciality were instrumental in delivering a great transaction for the company and its stakeholders. Perhaps the greatest achievement was that Simon and his team turned what can be a stressful process into an extremely enjoyable one."

Ed Reeves
,
Director and Founder of Moneypenny

"Mike and Ben have been a huge part of Peak’s success since leading our seed investment round. They live in the real world and have always given us practical guidance and support whenever we need it. They have a real passion for seeing Peak grow and I’ve always felt they would run through walls for us. It’s great having them in our corner and part of our team."

Richard Potter
,
CEO of Peak

"I worked with Simon on three investment deals over the best part of a decade before the ultimate exit to trade for £125m. I found his combination of drive, resilience and commerciality to be invaluable during that whole period not just the deal processes."

Gary Jacobson
,
former CEO of Bifold Fluidpower

"Tactus has been working with Mike, Ben and David, individually and collectively, for a number of years. It’s obvious that they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in each of their sectors but the success of Arete is all about collaboration, partnership and a champion mindset. They also bring a simple approach to fundraising and speedy execution. The Arete team is now an extension of the senior team at Tactus and their honesty, courage and integrity is something we value deeply."

Scott Brenchley
,
CEO of Tactus Group

“Mike was the architect of the Inspired Energy IPO on AIM in late 2011 having identified the opportunity for a different type of challenger M&A based platform in our space. A Board member since float, Mike’s capital markets experience and deal structuring capability were instrumental in helping the company to execute the initial phase of its buy and build strategy and grow the market capitalisation to over c.£50m by 2016. Since becoming Non Executive Chairman of the company in 2016, Mike has successfully guided the company through its transition from owner founders to the integration of a professional leadership team with the resultant acceleration of the company’s growth to a market cap in excess of c. £150m, as well as its recent £30m capital raise against the backdrop of COVID. He is a trusted and valued mentor to the executive team."

Mark Dickinson
,
CEO of Inspired Energy

What we look for...

03.

Your impact.

It is critical that our investments make a positive and lasting impact on their own environments. This forms a key part of our investment criteria and we believe this goes hand-in-hand with investment returns.

06.

Investment range.

We provide flexible equity solutions, typically up to £20m and this can be deployed through multiple investment rounds. Our entrepreneurial nature and close alignment with our investment partners allows us to invest beyond this range for the right opportunities.

02.

Our impact.

We provide help and support to positively impact our investments where that support is needed. We think our collaborative style differentiates us….just ask the management teams we work with.

05.

Investment approach.

The breadth of experience across our team allows us to invest across a range of different sectors and add value to each opportunity in order to drive investor returns. We generate proprietary deal-flow from our network where the provision of capital and expertise helps to transform and disrupt end markets.

01.

It starts with people.

Our relationship-based approach means we look firstly, and most importantly, at the people we back. We work with entrepreneurs that share our values and ambitions of fulfilling their potential. It’s about doing business the right way with people that enjoy working with us.

04.

Equity solutions.

We invest equity across the lifecycle of ambitious businesses, from earlier stage growth funding to established businesses where a capital event may be required. We are an investor with the conviction to provide follow-on capital.

Our Impact

Growth & Entrepreneurial Capital

Venture Capital

Equity solutions

We invest in the lifecycle of ambitious businesses, from early stage to established.

Energy

If something is worth doing, it's worth giving it everything. That means bringing energy, positivity and a relentless focus to find solutions to every project, task or relationship we have.

Impact

To win together, we need the right results. Everything we do is about making a meaningful and positive contribution to the life and success of others.

Team

When teamwork and loyalty exist within a business, anything is possible. This way of thinking applies to how we approach our own company as well as those we invest in and support.

What to expect

The Arete Code is our way of doing things: a set of core values that shape the experiences we create for staff, entrepreneurs and investors.

Know-how

It's not what we know; it’s what we do with what we know that counts. Our experiences as entrepreneurs and investors gets put into practice on a daily basis.

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Impact

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