Investing Regionally, Building the Future

Andy Bard is the Portfolio Manager for the Midlands and works with a number of investees across all the regional Midven-focused funds.

Andy works with the boards and management teams at the various stages of their growth journey and ultimately is responsible for shaping and delivering a consensual exit strategy.

Prior to joining the company in 2018, Andy had spent 15 years working within the Corporate and Commercial Restructuring team for RBS plc, responsible for executing viable turnaround plans.

Andy is a Fellow of the ICAEW having trained with KPMG in Leeds after graduating from Leeds University with a degree in Accounting and Finance.

Andy has two almost financially independent daughters and is now enjoying the opportunity to spend time travelling around with his wife in their 46 year old camper van (…and even more time repairing it!)

Jordan is an Investment Associate at Future Planet Capital. He joined the firm in 2023 and works across two funds: the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, which supports regional growth and innovation, and the Co-Investment Fund, which invests alongside angel investors and syndicates. Jordan’s role involves identifying and evaluating potential investment opportunities in Birmingham and the West Midlands region.

Before joining Midven, Jordan gained experience in various fields, including Transformation and Change Management at Propel Finance, a finance company, and as a Finance and Operations Consultant at Saglobal, a Microsoft Gold Partner. He also worked within the Technology Ventures Team as an Investment Analyst at The Development Bank of Wales, a public sector organisation that provides funding for Welsh businesses.

Jordan graduated with a first-class degree in BSc (Hons) Business Economics from the University of Reading in 2020. He then completed a Pg Diploma in Financial Services Management from the University of South Wales and a MSc in Finance from the University of Gloucester.

Luize is an Investment Analyst at Future Planet Capital, working within the regional investment team at the firm’s Birmingham office.

She recently graduated with First-Class Honours in Economics and Politics from the University of Leeds. As part of her degree, she completed an exchange year with distinction at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Her previous professional experience includes internships at Citibank and Callidus Capital, a corporate finance and investment advisory firm.

During her studies, Luize served as the President of the Trading and Investment Society and was selected as a delegate for the LSE Alternative Investments Conference for two consecutive years. Luize has also been invited to speak on a podcast and various leadership panels. She is the UK Ambassador for Female x Finance, a women-only finance community with over 8,000 members.

Rupert joined Midven in 2023 as fund principal for the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund and brings over 30 years of investment experience to the company. His role is to position the WMCIF at the centre of the SME ecosystem and to bring other pots of capital into the market, to give early-stage, high-growth companies in the West Midlands access to the capital they require to grow.

With director roles at 3i Group and Barclays Ventures in Birmingham, Rupert has a strong track record in investing in and managing diverse portfolios of businesses in the Midlands. However, it is not only his experience in venture capital and on boards of directors that he brings. Since 2014 Rupert has been on the advisory committee of the London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF).

Surjit is the Director of Midven, part of Future Planet Capital, having joined the company in August 2005. He is Fund Principal and Investment Committee Member for the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund as well as having an ongoing similar role for the Exceed Partnership. He is a Chartered Accountant with over eleven years experience of advising small and medium sized private companies, particularly in the area of fund raising.

Surjit trained with Arthur Andersen, specialising in corporate finance. Following a 12 month secondment to Livingbridge Equity Partners he joined Deloitte Corporate Finance in January 2003. Surjit has a degree in Economics and Finance from Brunel University and a Masters in Corporate Strategy & Governance from Nottingham University.

Surj has added significant value as part-time Finance Director for a number of Midven portfolio companies.

Tony is an Investment Director at Future Planet Capital, mainly working on the funds managed out of the Birmingham office under the Midven banner.

Tony joined Midven in 1998. Tony is currently an Investment Director for the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund and also The Exceed Partnership, and has worked on two previous regional equity funds in the West Midlands. Tony has sourced and led over 50 investments, and his exits have provided a verifiable, personal IRR on realised investments which is in the top quartile for regional fund managers.

He is a chartered accountant by background, having trained with Deloitte & Touche in Birmingham, specialising in advisory services to small and medium sized companies. He has also worked in the finance departments of two Birmingham based businesses, one a management buy-in backed by NatWest Ventures and the other an entrepreneurial business backed by business angels.  He has a degree in Economics with Politics from Manchester University.