Finland: Carbonaide, a spin-out company from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland that enables the manufacturing of carbon-negative concrete, has raised €1.8 million in seed funding led by Lakan Betoni and Vantaa Energy. The round was completed with public loans and in-kind contributions from Business Finland and other Finnish concrete companies and strategic investors.

GERMANY: METYCLE, an online trading platform enabling the digital, fast, and efficient trade of secondary metals, has successfully completed a €1.5 million pre-seed financing round led by marketplace-focused VCs Market One Capital and DFF, as well as angel investors Tom Bird, ambassador and veteran of the global recycling industry, and Louis Pfitzner, entrepreneur and marketplace investor.

Vector Homes, a cleantech company which is developing new techniques and materials for affordable and sustainable modular housing, has closed its seed investment round after raising £450,000, securing funding from SFC Capital, GC Angels, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and social housing investment firm HSPG.

A design engineer and TV presenter, skilled in creating space-saving architectural innovations for the home, is feeling flush after securing £160,000 backing from the British Design Fund for his latest invention – a frame that allows toilets to be folded away in a cupboard when not in use.

University of Nottingham spinout, Scintam Engineering, has developed an innovative technology that uses electricity to help relieve a major problem faced within aerospace, automotive and other engineering industries. The start-up recently secured a £125K investment from British Design Fund, as part of a £325K seed funding round, as it now looks to take its technology to market.

Düsseldorf-based technology startup iFactory3D has completed a financing round on the investment platform Companisto. More than 600 individual private investors and business angels pledged over one million euros for the company and its innovative product, the One Pro 3D belt printer. One of the aspects that convinced them was a special feature that differentiates the 3D belt printer from conventional printers: thanks to the built-in conveyor belt and smart camera technology, objects can be printed in series around the clock without supervision.

A Middlesborough-based vinyl pressing company, Press on Vinyl, is set to disrupt the growing vinyl record market after raising £475,000 in equity investment as part of a 7-figure round.

Press on Vinyl is a precision manufacturer and distributer of vinyl records, committed to lowering lead times and delivering the highest quality products with the best customer service standards to vinyl lovers worldwide.  The company recently brought a state-of-the-art vinyl record pressing facility to Teesside, the first ever in the North of England.

Stoke-On-Trent business Wade Ceramics, has secured a £400,000 investment to help safeguard its current employees and allow the company to enter new partnerships and grow its product range.

A Wellingborough-based paper honeycomb board manufacturer has secured £750,000 to expand its product range, create jobs and enter new markets.  The Alternative Pallet Company Ltd who trade as PALLITE® received funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). The MEIF funding will help to create 15 new jobs in the next year, with the ability to offer apprenticeships to the under-25s.

Rapidly growing biomass fuel manufacturer Land Energy (LE) has secured £6 million in funding from Independent Growth Finance (IGF). The asset business lending (ABL) package includes invoice finance, inventory and equipment facilities. The significant working capital will enable the company to expand its operations and develop a new, clean-burning briquette aimed at the domestic solid fuel market.

Bowers Electrical Engineering Services Ltd has secured £250,000 from Maven Capital Partners E&SE Midlands Debt Finance fund, through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and backed by the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme Loan (CBILS).

A London-based, textile brand which promotes, social, ecological, and cultural development has secured £250,000 to further develop its products and recruit additional senior staff.

London-based Ananas Anam UK Limited secured the finance from the Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF), provided by The FSE Group and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). The company is the creator of PIÑATEXÒ, an innovative material made from pineapple leaves, a by-product of the pineapple harvest.