Sara Palmer

Head of Investment, Innovate UK Business Connect | Connecting investors, industry and government to fund innovation | UK & International investment networks

Exeter, England, United Kingdom

About

Experience

  • Innovate UK Business Connect ()
    • Head of Investment
      Dec 2024 - Present · 1 yr 8 mos

      Leading the investor engagement team, developing investor communities - across the UK, internationally, and with a focus on future economy domains inc. Net Zero, Healthy Living, Digital & Technologies of the future. The Investment Team seek to inspire and involve investors with the best of UK innovation, while driving EDI (equality, diversity, inclusion) mindsets. How do we do this? Sign up to our newsletter (investors only, non-investors will be removed!) to find out how we can connect you with other investors and a world-leading portfolio of innovative businesses*: https://info.ktn-uk.org/p/2VFU-D5K/investor-network *this is not a financial promotion!

    • Investment Ecosystems Lead
      Sep 2023 - Jan 2025 · 1 yr 5 mos

  • Granted Consultancy - a Ryan company (4 yrs 2 mos)
    • Head Of Partnerships
      Apr 2021 - Jun 2024 · 3 yrs 3 mos

    • Partnerships Manager
      May 2020 - Apr 2021 · 1 yr

      Granted Consultancy (now part of the Ryan Group) seek partners who support the mission to foster a collaborative ecosystem within innovation funding, by supporting businesses to accelerate new product development, offset R&D costs, access top class research facilities and drive market entry.

  • Crowdcube Limited ()
    • Lead Equity Campaign Manager
      May 2017 - Apr 2020 · 3 yrs

      I worked with over 200 companies from Crowdcube's #fundedclub, directly supporting £120m+ investment raised. My role was to help businesses refine their business plan and pitch, tidy themselves up from a legal and financial perspective, and plan an engaging campaign to hit their fundraising target.

    • Investment Analyst
      Oct 2015 - Apr 2017 · 1 yr 7 mos

  • Marketing Source (2 yrs 2 mos)
    • Head of Partnerships
      Jan 2014 - Jul 2015 · 1 yr 7 mos

      As the primary buyer for Marketing Source, my responsibility was to 1. open and evolve strategic data partnerships, 2. set up a procurement process for all business departments to bring cost-saving and contract security.

    • Partnerships Relationship Manager
      Jun 2013 - Jan 2014 · 8 mos

  • Business Development Executive at LSL Corporate Client Department
    Dec 2011 - May 2013 · 1 yr 6 mos