Maven Capital Partners, one of the UK’s most active investors in smaller businesses, has led a £1.54 million funding round for Adimo, a marketing technology platform that enables FMCG brands to turn their digital marketing campaigns into shoppable experiences. 

BGF has invested in Northern Building Plastics to support its growth ambitions.  Northern Building Plastics is a specialist distributor of high-quality uPVC plastics and building products to trade customers. Led by co-founders, Judah Wilson and Richard Lindop, the business opened its first super depot in Leeds in 2010, followed by a second site successfully opened in Bolton in May 2018 on the back of strong growth and a proven model.  

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has released an educational video introducing venture capital trusts.

Scott Haughton from Envestors looks at how investment opportunities in China are becoming easier to access.

Bowmark Capital has agreed to sell its stake in Node4, a leading provider of hybrid managed cloud and integrated IT solutions, to Providence Equity Partners.  The transaction also marks an exit for mid-market private equity investor LDC, which first invested in Node4 in 2013 and re-invested for a minority shareholding alongside Bowmark.

YFM Equity Partners opened its two managed Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) for non-prospectus top-up offers in early February, and both are now fully subscribed, ahead of schedule, achieving a further £14m of committed funds from returning investors.

IgniteNI has revealed the 10 game-changing start-ups selected to participate in its renowned accelerator programme for growing technology companies.  Launching in Belfast on Monday 8th March and running until Friday the 28th May 2021, 2 out of 10 early-stage companies chosen to take part are from Buckinghamshire and Sussex, with the remainder from Northern Ireland, Germany, Ireland and the US. Supported by Invest Northern Ireland, IgniteNI is a powerhouse for young businesses that provides mentorship, financial support and access to investors and other supports to help them scale.

The Funky Appliance Company has partnered with London based Forster Chase Ventures for a Series A funding campaign. To date, The Funky Appliance Company, founded by husband-and-wife team Joe and Sadie Sillett in June 2016, has raised all its capital on Europe’s leading equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs and counts 360 investors in over 25 countries. The company takes popular household appliances and gives them a funky twist. 

BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active investor has invested £15.5 million into property developer Burrington Estates, to support the ambitious growth plans of the Exeter-based business.  

Downing Ventures' Healthcare team argues that now is a great time to invest in the sector.

NorthEdge has completed its investment into Distology, a leading specialist cyber security distributor.  Founded in 2014, Distology is a value-added-distributor representing vendors of IT security technology products across EMEA, helping to protect businesses’ digital estates from the growing threat of cyber-attacks. The business is headquartered in Manchester with access to the European market via its office in The Netherlands.

Countingup, the business current account with built-in accounting software, has announced the close of a £9.1 million Series A investment round, led by Framework Venture Partners and joined by Gresham House Ventures, Sage, and existing investors. The funding will be used to drive product innovation, growth and team expansion.  Countingup is an innovative fintech company that offers a business current account with built-in accounting software. The two-in-one app simplifies bookkeeping and taxes for the self-employed as well as accountants across the UK.