NatWest, the UK’s biggest business bank, has launched a new free support scheme for business owners who want to problem solve and gain insights from others in a similar position. The online workshops will be facilitated and structured by a dedicated NatWest Accelerator Manager in groups of no more than six people. The sessions aim to create a positive environment to focus on removing barriers to business so they can scale.

British Patient Capital has made a €30m commitment to Partech Growth II, which has announced its final close at €650m.

METCLOUD, the innovative cloud and cybersecurity provider, has secured £1,000,000 funding from Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) West Midlands Equity Fund, managed by Midven, part of the Future Planet Capital Group, for its multi-award-winning platform. 

Launched in 2017, Birmingham-based METCLOUD has rapidly established itself as one of the most innovative cybersecurity and cloud technology providers in the UK. As well as providing a leading cybersecurity platform, through its partnerships, METCLOUD is helping organisations to accelerate the adoption of next generation technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics.

Turquoise, the UK merchant bank specialising in energy, environment and efficiency, has invested in Switchd via the Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2 (LCIF2). This forms part of a capital raising round of over £1.2 million in which other investors included Nationwide Building Society, Inspired Energy and Crowdcube.

ARC Marine has secured £2 million in funding during its latest round. The deal was led by the FSE Group, the appointed fund manager for CIOSIF (The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund) and supported by a US impact VC fund Sustainable Ocean Alliance and two technically experienced angel investors.

NOS 5G Fund, created by NOS and managed by Armilar Venture Partners, and Triple Point Ventures, have co-invested €4.4M in digital health start-up knok. The investment round also includes participation from previous investors, the Social Innovation Fund and Social and Environmental Impact Fund MSM (Mustard Seed MAZE). The Portuguese start-up will use the investment to develop complete and fully integrated telemedicine solutions which benefit enormously from 5G technology.

The World Business Angels Investment Forum has appointed Gagan Arora, Founder & CEO of Vertex Group, as Senator for India. Senator Gagan Arora will represent India at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum. The inclusion of India in WBAF provides a wide range of opportunities for India’s start-ups, scaleups and high growth businesses and opens doors for economic development.

Vauban, the platform that provides venture capital fund managers with everything they need to raise a fund and invest capital quickly, has closed a £4.7m funding round.

Investors include co-leads Pentech and Outward, in addition to 7percent Ventures and MJ Hudson. A roster of high profile angel investors have also participated; This includes  the CEO of Nested Matt Robinson;  the founder of Grabayo, Will Neale; the founder and CEO of ComplyAdvantage, Charles Delingpole; Partner at Augmentum Fintech Perry Blacher; and Al Giles, from legal services provider Axiom.

FYLD, the London-based, AI-driven digital platform designed to revolutionise the safety and efficiency of field teams, has announced the successful completion of its £10 million Series A funding round.

The funding was provided by Koru, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s venture incubator, and corporate partner SGN, a leading UK gas distribution network operator. To date, FYLD has raised a total of £14.4 million.

British Business Investments, a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary within the British Business Bank group, has made a £7m commitment to FOLK2FOLK, a specialist marketplace lender for rural and regional smaller businesses.

British Patient Capital has participated in Quell Therapeutics’ $156m Series B funding round. The deal is the first life sciences  investment from Future Fund: Breakthrough, a £375m programme where British Patient Capital co-invests with private sector investors in innovative R&D-intensive UK companies.

NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners and part of the Northern Powerhouse Fund, has invested a six-figure funding package in Margin Guardian Ltd, a platform that provides fashion retailers with data insight and targeting services. Funds will allow the business to invest in its platform, commercialise and develop an android version of its app, in addition to the iOS version, as well as fuel its marketing activities.