About Us
We've Been There and Done It
Arthington Ventures was founded with a simple belief: founders deserve support from people who truly understand the journey.
Our Story
From Founder to Founder-Backer
Arthington Ventures was born from firsthand experience. Our founder, Keith Griffiths, knows what it's like to build a business from nothing, to face the challenges that keep founders up at night, and to successfully exit with a meaningful outcome.
After building and selling Built Environment Network (BEN), Built Environment Marketing, and UKREiiF - which grew to attract over 14,000 attendees and contributed more than £20 million to the Leeds economy - Keith saw an opportunity to give back to the founder community.
Too often, the support available to entrepreneurs comes from people who haven't walked in their shoes. Consultants who've never built a business. Investors who've never faced a payroll crunch. Advisors who don't understand the emotional toll of the founder journey.
Arthington Ventures is different. We bring capital, yes - but more importantly, we bring genuine understanding and practical support from people who've been there and done it.
Leadership
Our Team
Experienced leaders driving Arthington Ventures forward
Keith Griffiths
Founder & Chief Executive
Stephen Ayres
Group CFO
Amanda Griffiths
Director
Steven Holmes
Marketing Director
Jamie Osborne
Sales Director
Louis Field
Director of Business Development
Investment Philosophy
How We Think About Investing
Our approach is built on real experience and genuine partnership with founders.
We invest in founders, not just ideas
Great businesses are built by great people. We back founders with the experience, drive, and resilience to navigate the challenges of building something meaningful.
We prefer businesses we can actively support
Our portfolio focuses on areas where our experience adds real value. Events, technology, property, and economic development are sectors we know intimately.
We take a long-term view
Building something worthwhile takes time. We're patient capital, supporting founders through the inevitable ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey.
We look for clear exit potential
Every investment should have a path to a meaningful exit. Having been through the exit process ourselves, we help founders plan and execute successful outcomes.
Our Values
What We Stand For
These principles guide everything we do at Arthington Ventures.
Integrity
We do what we say and say what we mean. Our word is our bond, and we build trust through consistent action.
Experience
We've built, scaled, and exited businesses. We understand the founder journey because we've lived it.
Partnership
We're not just investors - we're partners. We're in it for the long haul, through the ups and downs.
Results
We're focused on outcomes, not activity. We measure success by the success of our portfolio companies.