Just a few weeks after their merger, Keensight Capital portfolio company Sogelink and Geodesial Group has announced the acquisition of France-based company ILTR which develops the GEODP solution facilitating the management of public domain occupations. The obvious synergies with the Sogelink - Geodesial Group range of services dedicated to these issues were the guiding force behind this new operation, which also underlines the ambition of the group to cover the entire value chain in the construction sector, with around 40 solutions now at its disposal.

Curve, the fast-growing financial super app, has closed the largest ever equity raise on Crowdcube, breaking multiple records during the campaign. The raise closed last Thursday, hitting nearly £10m in funding from 11,795 investors.  In another record, Curve was the fastest ever company on Crowdcube to raise £6m, which it did in just 2 hours 49 minutes after it went live on 25th May. The fundraise has also been Crowdcube’s most popular in 2021 and far outstrips the total of £6m Curve raised during its 2019 crowdfund

A syndicate of significant Welsh investment angels has completed a £950,000 investment in Swansea-based Marine Power Systems.  Led by lead investor Andrew Diplock, the syndicate of 15 investors has invested £700,000 along with £250,000 match funding from the Development Bank of Wales’ Wales Angel Co-investment Fund. A further £750,000 from private investors has brought the total of the latest equity fundraise to £1.7 million.

Warwickshire based manufacturer of energy storage solutions, Off Grid Energy, has secured a £1.25m investment to scale-up its operations, further developing its product offering whilst creating new jobs in the area.

Off Grid Energy secured the finance 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).

eleXsysEnergy has raised £640,000 through Angel Investment Network, the world’s largest online angel investment platform. eleXsys Energy has developed a unique, international award-winning, enabling technology that will drive the transition of global energy grids to a clean energy future. The eleXsys® technology enables large commercial and industrial rooftops to become grid-connected, solar power plants. eleXsys® is the critical enabling technology being installed to build the IKEA eleXsys Microgrid at IKEA Adelaide, which will become 100% powered by renewable generation by 2025.

The value of venture capital raised by UK companies surged to the highest quarterly total in Q1 2021 according to research from Refinitiv Deals Intelligence.

UK companies raised £3.5bn from 206 deals in the first three months of 2021 – up from the £2.5bn in Q4 2020 from 140 deals.

Maven Capital Partners has led an investment round into Horizon Technologies for an undisclosed amount. The UK aerospace OEM is a world leader in airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems. Additionally, the company’s business segment, Horizon Aerospace, is a leading developer of airborne Sat Phone monitoring systems for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications.

Stoke-on-Trent-based The Supply Register (TSR), has secured further funding from venture capital firm Midven through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).

The company, which has created an online teacher recruitment platform, is using the funding to accelerate the next phase of its growth as schools return and Covid-19 restrictions ease. This follows The Supply Register experiencing a surge in demand for its services.

BGF has completed a £5.2 million investment in Odro, a Scottish-headquartered technology business that provides video interviewing and engagement software to the recruitment industry.

IW Capital has announced the completion of a successful investment in LAT Water Ltd. Led by IW Capital, £4.7 million has been raised in the round to accelerate LAT Water’s commercial growth in developing sustainable wastewater treatment solutions globally, following early success both in the UK and China.

Innovate Finance, the industry body representing UK FinTech, has named Louise Smith as its new Chair.

Louise Smith is Lloyd’s first Chief Digital Officer, and is responsible for the programme of work that supports Lloyd’s to further build its digital capabilities and offering across the insurance industry. She is nationally and internationally recognised as a thought leader on digital innovation, disruptive technologies and the emerging workforce.  She is currently laying the groundwork to ensure Lloyd’s has a strong, consistent digital approach in its Future at Lloyd’s programme of work.  

Airkit, the world’s first low-code Digital Customer Experience platform, today announced it has raised an additional $40M Series B investment led by EQT Ventures, with additional investments from Accel, Emergence Capital, Salesforce Ventures, and other existing shareholders. The new Series B will be used to accelerate the company’s investments in go-to-market and product development.