Kernel Capital and Suir Valley Ventures have invested €2.25 million in Dundalk based Nova Leah Ltd. The round was led by the Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Growth Fund (RoI), with a €1.5M investment. Nova Leah has developed a pioneering cybersecurity compliance solution for medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers. It has been designed to improve the security of connected medical devices, improve patient safety and reduce associated regulatory costs. The platform has global deployments with a blue chip customer base.

Arthur Krebbers reveals new research by a team of American and Chinese business academics* which shows that bribe-giving can be an entrepreneurial underdog’s plan B.

FreeOx Biotech, a spin-out of Hospital Clinic Barcelona-IDIBAPS created in 2017 that is developing a new class of neuroprotective drugs, has closed its first round of funding with €500,000 from private investors Montserrat Esteve and Francisco Javier Alsina.

Scottish startup Cyan Forensics, which develops digital forensic technology to help law enforcement catch criminals faster, has closed a £900,000 investment round led by Mercia Fund Managers, bringing its total funding to nearly £1.5million since it was founded in 2016.

Kin Capital and Enterprise Investment Partners have announced the merger of their two businesses, subject to regulatory approval, creating a major new force in the venture capital and tax efficient investment markets.

The stronger and larger firm is perfectly geared up to face the challenges of the next few years by streamlining investment processes in order to bring a modern tax efficient investing offering.

Investing will be easier, digitally focused and more cost effective by building an even more transparent offering to investors, who will have faster reporting services too.

Mercia Technologies investment Medherant, a developer of innovative transdermal drug delivery treatments for pain and CNS diseases, has successfully completed two Phase I studies with its novel Ibuprofen TEPI® Patch.

The TEPI Patch was shown to be well tolerated by all subjects in a study of skin irritation and sensitisation. This marks the first clinical safety evaluation of Medherant’s novel adhesive, facilitating the development of the next generation of drug-in-adhesive patches.

InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital fund, today announces its investment in Arc, which today unveils ‘Vector’ – the world’s first fully-electric motorcycle with Human Machine Interface (HMI). Arc Vector is the most advanced electric motorcycle ever brought to market, using exotic materials, thoroughbred componentry and cutting-edge architecture, wrapped in a futuristic body.

The investment from InMotion Ventures, along with Mercia Fund Managers, the Proof of Concept & Early Stage Fund which is part of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, and a number of industry specialist angels, will support Arc with its global ambition for Vector to be the cleanest, safest, and most fulfilling motorcycle on the road.

Aiden.ai, a London based AI analytics startup, announced today that it has raised a $1.6 million seed round to fuel the company’s rapid growth and the development of the first AI powered marketing analyst.

The round has been led by Partech. Other notable investors include Sophia Bendz, who previously led marketing at Spotify for 7 years and Nicolas Pinto, founder of Perceptio which was eventually acquired by Apple.

Silicon Valley Bank has released its State of the Markets Q4 2018 Report, which examines the European venture landscape and fundraising potential for UK firms. The report also covers Germany and the US in a more general look at the health and productivity of the global innovation economy.

G.Network and Albion have closed an agreement with Cube Infrastructure Fund II, whereby Cube II is providing an initial GBP60 million of additional funding to G.Network.

An online platform aimed at helping businesses improve employee referrals and reduce hiring costs has secured £275,000 from London-based investment fund, Fuel Ventures.  Real Links works with organisations to improve hiring through their employee network and is the second company to receive investment from Fuel Ventures since raising £20 million in its third round.

CFP Composites, a manufacturer of revolutionary ultra-lightweight and cost-efficient heat resistant materials – used to replace heavy metal parts in a wide range of applications – has secured a £1.8million funding round to bring its next-generation carbon fibre panels to market.