Manchester-based technology business Culture Shift has secured £1.5m investment in a funding round led by Praetura Ventures and Blackfinch Ventures.  Founded in 2018, Culture Shift has created a platform for people to confidentially and safely report workplace harassment.

YFM Equity Partners (YFM) in the North West is continuing to grow with the appointment of portfolio director Gavin Chadwick. 

Maven Capital Partners, one of the UK’s most active SME finance providers, has provided a substantial debt funding package to Differentology Ltd via the North East Development Capital Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The funding will enable the company to deliver on its ambitious expansion plans and embark on a management buyout to exploit opportunities in new markets.

Yorkshire-based entrepreneur, Tim Whitworth, of private equity house TIM Group Holdings, has backed an exciting new digital marketing start-up. Created by young female entrepreneur Chloe Byrne, Audience was conceived with the primary purpose of connecting smaller businesses with their target audiences.

A company whose software helps hospitality businesses to boost sales has raised £500,000 from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

Veremark, the global pre-employment screening service that helps companies verify employee credentials, has raised a $2.8m seed round in follow-on investment from ACF Investors, Triple Point Ventures and SOV Ventures. This brings the total funding to $3.8m. Launched in late 2019, Veremark provides an automated digital first solution that instantly lets companies, large or small, order a wide range of checks like employment history, academic, criminal and credit records checks anywhere in the world.

BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active growth economy investor, has exited its investment in BHR Group, 

GoKwik, an e-commerce enablement company on a mission to democratize the shopping experience and increase GMV realization for e-commerce businesses, has raised a $5.5m (INR 40 crores) Pre-Series A round led by Matrix Partners, which also saw the participation of global investor RTP Global.  Marquee Angels and other leading industry figures have also contributed to the fund, which will be used to expand internationally.

Jordan Dargue, Head of Access to Finance at Innovation SuperNetwork

OLIO, the community sustainability app, has announced a $43million Series B round to fund its fight against the $1.3trillion of food waste created globally each year.  Founded in London in 2015 by Tessa Clarke and Saasha Celestial-One, OLIO has amassed a user base of five million people. The app is used to give away unwanted food and other household items to neighbours, for free, with the aim of reducing waste in the home and helping people to consume more locally and sustainably. 

Recognising the critical need for scalable, innovative technology in creating a more sustainable, greener future, Founders Factory has teamed up with G-Force to launch its Sustainability Seed Program -the company’s first pre/seed investment programme dedicated to sustainability and climate-tech.

Pollinate, the global fintech that partners with banks to help business customers succeed and grow, has announced the winners of “Ingenious,”