Graphite Capital, a leading UK mid-market private equity specialist, has made several promotions and new appointments which reinforce the strength of its investment and value creation teams.

James Markham, Omar Kayat and Humphrey Baker have been promoted to senior partner, John Western has become a partner and Zoe Jackson has been made an investment manager. Graphite has also recruited three investment executives: Edgar Borg Rodriguez, Tom Llewellyn and Alex Hearne.

Legitify has experienced a peak in demand for its Remote Online Notarization solution. After launching a Beta solution early this summer, Legitify is currently processing notarizations across various jurisdictions in Europe and the UK, with a focus on: Sweden, Ireland and the UK in the first phase. The start-up founders were both part of Antler STO4 cohort in Stockholm in the Fall of 2020 and launched the company those days.  Fast forward, in June 2021, Legitify was among 2% of the start-ups selected to join the NDRC Accelerator in Dublin, Ireland. Legitify, as part of NDRC, will present their company and solution in the NDRC Demo Day on September 28th.

Cardiff University has become the sixth partner of SETsquared, the world’s top-ranked university-business incubator. Cardiff joins the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton, and Surrey and will further strengthen the group’s capability for providing enterprise and innovation programmes for researchers, entrepreneurs and high-growth companies in its ecosystem.

Techstars, the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, has announced the launch of two new accelerator programs in Paris and Stockholm. The launch showcases Techstars’ commitment to investing in startup talent in Europe, where it plans to invest in more than 100 startups in 2022 through its various accelerator programs in seven countries. Both programs will be fully funded by Techstars, following the recent July close of a new $150 million fund, intended to support more local entrepreneurs looking for global exposure.  

Independent Growth Finance (IGF), a leading independent commercial finance provider, has appointed Jamie O’Neill as Asset Based Lending director. 

The winners for the MSDUK Awards have been announced. 

Bloc Ventures, the venture capital company focused on early-stage European deep technology investment, has announced the appointment of Andy Green CBE (pictured) as Senior Independent Director and Sue Prevezer QC as Non-Executive Director as it bolsters its board of directors.

Revaia, formerly known as Gaia Capital Partners, has announced the final closing of its first growth fund, Europe's largest female-founded VC fund, at €250 million, exceeding its initial target of €200 million. Furthermore, the sustainable growth equity fund has taken a new name in the form of "Revaia" in line with its mission to reveal the future European tech leaders.

YFM Equity Partners (YFM) in the North West is continuing to grow with the appointment of portfolio director Gavin Chadwick. 

Recognising the critical need for scalable, innovative technology in creating a more sustainable, greener future, Founders Factory has teamed up with G-Force to launch its Sustainability Seed Program -the company’s first pre/seed investment programme dedicated to sustainability and climate-tech.

Pollinate, the global fintech that partners with banks to help business customers succeed and grow, has announced the winners of “Ingenious,” 

An entrepreneur who invented 3D printed personalised gummy vitamins tailored to people’s nutritional needs, lifestyles and goals is just one of the highlights of a new documentary featuring weird and wonderful ideas that will change the world.