UK-based EdTech gaming studio, Kuato Studios, has raised £4.5m in a round led by Horizons Ventures and is launching ‘Panic Room’ – its first virtual reality title. 

Renowned for creating award-winning apps and education-based games – and for partnering with well-known brands such as Disney and Marvel – Kuato wants to use ‘Panic Room’ to showcase how VR can be used in new and innovative ways. ‘Panic Room', empowered by Kuato’s newly-patented ‘Actor/Director’ platform, is the world’s first cross-platform, socially-interactive virtual reality game, opening the developer up to new platforms and audiences.

Mid-market private equity firm NorthEdge has invested in Helios Medical Communications (Helios), a full-service, independent, global healthcare communications and strategic consultancy, to support its UK and international expansion plans.

Weezy, the UK’s leading on-demand superfast supermarket that delivers groceries in only 15 minutes, has raised $20 million in Series A funding to expand its grocery delivery service across London and the broader UK. The new investment was led by New York-based venture capital fund Left Lane Capital. Also participating are UK-based fund DN Capital, earlier investors Heartcore Capital and angel investors, notably Chris Muhr, the Groupon founder. The funding will help expand the company’s London-based team by 50 employees over the next four months, in addition to extra fulfilment centre staff. 

Poptop – the Newcastle-based events booking platform – has raised a further £440,000 to pursue its global expansion plans. The funding comes from existing investors DSW Ventures and NorthStar Ventures, which was investing from the North East Innovation Fund supported by the European Regional Development Fund.  Poptop’s platform was the first private events marketplace of its type and has revolutionised the way consumers plan and book events from birthdays to grand weddings. 

Award winning Digital life insurance provider DeadHappy has completed a £4.75M investment from new investors Channel 4 Ventures and Venture Founders, and follow-on investors Octopus and eVentures.

Birmingham-based tele-optometry manufacturer Eyoto,has secured funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) WM Equity Finance Fund, managed by venture capital firm Midven as part of a £2.5M funding round. Other investors in the round included Mercia Asset Management, the Future Fund and a group of angel investors.

Buy and build Investment group Tristone Capital, through its care division Tristone Healthcare, has acquired North Wales-based care business, ProCare (Wales) Limited.  

OnePlanetCapital, a new sustainably driven investment house, has launched a specialist sustainability EIS Fund to invest in businesses tackling climate change.

The new OnePlanetCapital Sustainable EIS Fund is broad-based, targeting investments that will tackle climate change and supporting businesses with a positive environmental impact. It aims to deliver industry leading returns whilst only backing companies and projects that will genuinely benefit the environmental prospects of the UK and the wider planet. 

BGF has completed a multi-million pound investment in Cirrus, an award-winning provider of omnichannel cloud contact centre solutions.

Founded in 2013 by Jason Roos, Cirrus’ software is used by private and public sector organisations looking to digitalise their customer service operations. The business has seen continued growth across the UK and North America making it one of the leading Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) platforms.

Livingbridge, one of the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investors, has bolstered its leadership team 

Liva Healthcare, a European market leader in scalable digital health coaching, has secured a new funding round of EUR 24.5 million, led by Verlinvest, the go-to investor for mission-driven entrepreneurs and category-defining global consumer brands. The investment will enable Liva to strengthen its position as a European leader in digital health and lifestyle coaching for chronic disease prevention and management.   

Scale Up Group has completed a £3.8 million 'Series A' growth capital investment into its client IMMJ Systems Limited by Foresight and SUG members. IMMJ is a rapidly growing electronic document management solution supplier, with a focus on healthcare.