Nigeria: Releaf, a technology company that makes it easier for consumer goods manufacturers in Africa to access high-quality ingredients for their factories, has raised $3.3 million in an oversubscribed Pre-Series A funding round. The new funding will support the launch of two new technologies: Kraken II - a portable version of its award-winning palm nut de-sheller and SITE - a geospatial mapping application that informs the most profitable positioning of food processing assets.

Invest Europe, the association representing Europe’s private equity, venture capital and infrastructure sectors, today launched a new microsite, the first in a series of initiatives to recognise the association’s support for the industry over the last 40 years, as well as the contribution of private equity and venture capital to Europe’s economy and society.

New research published today reveals that the UK’s class of small, fast-growing entrepreneurial businesses are looking to raise an average of £1.9 million in equity finance over the coming two years to fund their growth plans.

The study, commissioned by the Venture Capital Trust Association (VCTA), among 240 senior decision makers in charge of recently launched small businesses less than seven years old and employing up to 250 employees, reveals a strong appetite for growth despite the economic challenges facing the country.  An overwhelming majority (92%) of respondents said they are likely to consider raising equity through a Venture Capital Trust. 

Kuai Commerce has closed a Pre-Seed Round, raising $2.4m to build its social commerce solution for D2C brands looking to sell in the world’s largest ecommerce market, China.

EnsiliTech, the award-winning biopharmaceuticals company has raised £1.2 million in pre-seed funding to aid the development of a pioneering refrigeration-free approach to transporting vaccines and other materials.

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.

More than 30 of Wales’ most successful female entrepreneurs and business leaders have united to form Women Angels of Wales (WAW),  

Seedrs has launched its 2022 Sector Report which reveals the sectors that filled investors with conviction last year in the face of macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds. The Report, which analysed more than 324 campaigns, found that ClimateTech thrived with investment growing 154% from £15.7m to £40.1m, with 58% more businesses raising from 37% more investors. 

Hilltop Leaf, the company behind one of the UK’s first medicinal cannabis cultivation and production facilities, has raised £2m from Traditum Private Equity and private investors.  The funding will enable the company to make its first commercial sales and scale its infrastructure to become one of the largest UK producers of medicinal cannabis products for the specialist prescription market. 

Following the launch of the RCA's first Design & Impact S/EIS Fund, a £5 million multi-sector fund investing in early-stage Royal College of Art companies - managed by Infinity Asset Management - we spoke to InnovationRCA Director Dr Nadia Danhash to find out more....

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Brose, a fast-growing UK wine business focused on the globally developing appetite for rose wine is seeking equity investment.