9 February 

Lending Works, the first peer-to-peer lending platform to have insurance protecting lenders against certain borrower default risks, today becomes the first major UK platform to launch an Individual Savings Account (ISA).

9 February 

London/Macedonian-based startup Cognism has secured $500,000 in seed investment. The round, which was led by Netcetera alongside other investors including Startup Funding Club, SC Ventures, Tsingbay Venture Capital, Tom James, James Hodson, Usman Khan and others.

9 February 

• Nearly half of UK investors POSITIVE about Brexit, two fifths fearful of Trump and a staggering 73% lack faith in Theresa May
• Seven million investors believe UK entrepreneurs will drive the economy back to strength

7 February 

The Augentius Annual Industry Survey is based on the views of more than 200 GP and LP respondents from Asia, the US and Europe. 

Download report here

7 February 

Beer & Young has raised £2.2million for a company who was the first free smart navigation and traffic app on iPhone. As a leading provider of connected navigation solutions they are positioned to become the largest 3D-mapping company in the world by the end of 2018. 

7 February 

Exonate, an early stage biotechnology company has been awarded a £4.9m Seeding Drug Discovery award by the Wellcome Trust to continue development of an eye – drop treatment for wet age–related macular degeneration.

7 February 

Refract, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) start-up based in Newcastle, has received funding of £0.5m from Mercia Fund Management and the Finance For Business North East Technology Fund, managed by IP Group plc. This is one of a number of investments made in the North East of England by the Mercia Group.

7 February 

Campus Capital, the new and innovative UK venture capital firm, has signed up its second key university partner.  The latest deal with the University of Manchester comes just one month after it signed its initial partnership with the University of Sheffield and just before it starts raising its first £2m fund.

7 February 

First Derivatives plc (FD) has agreed a partnership with BGF, the UK’s leading investor in small and mid-sized companies.  The partnership, aimed at developing companies, will combine access to FD’s technology and support with access to BGF’s £2.5bn balance sheet and network of board level executives.  

7 February 

Amati Global Investors is delighted to announce that Mattioli Woods plc has acquired a 49% stake in the Company. This is a strong endorsement of Amati’s capabilities and reputation as a specialist fund manager focussed on UK quoted small and mid-sized companies.

February 2017

The Enterprise Index, a quarterly barometer of owner managers and entrepreneurs, found that confidence in the UK economy grew five points from the previous quarter, with 50% of respondents expecting the economy to improve in the next 12 months.  Optimism in their own business prospects was also high, with three quarters (76%) optimistic about the year ahead.

Download report here

6 February 

BGF has appointed Fiona Gibson to support its growing portfolio in the South West of England.  Fiona joins BGF from Lloyds Banking Group where she was Head of Equity Investments, responsible for the bank’s portfolio of more than 250 legacy equity assets.