Quendoo, a digital platform that allows property owners to take back control of their property bookings, payments, marketing and availability, has launched after securing EUR 750,000 in VC funding.

Investors are looking for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs are looking for investors, but it is not just a case of putting the two parties together.  The fit needs to be right and the relationship needs to last – and be a positive experience for both sides.

Seedrs' investors in Senta will see up to a 120x return on their seed investments after the Bristol-based software company agreed to be acquired by IRIS Software Group.

Foresight Group has made a £5 million investment to support the buy-in management buy-out of Plantexpand Limited, a well-established specialist plant and vehicle maintenance provider servicing the utilities industry. The investment is made by the £100 million Foresight East of England Fund, an evergreen patient pool of capital, cornerstoned by the Cambridgeshire Pension Fund that supports growing SMEs across the East of England.

Shippeo, the European leader in real-time transportation visibility (RTTV), has raise $32 million. This new round is co-led by Battery Ventures, a global, technology focused investment firm and existing investors (NGP Capital, ETF Partners, Partech and Bpifrance Digital Venture). Shippeo will use the investment to strengthen its market-leading position and continue delivering on product innovation.

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has announced that Elisabeth Scott has been voted Chair of the AIC.

The membership of the AIC has elected Sapna Shah and Mickey Morrissey to the AIC board. Former Chair Rachel Beagles and Elisabeth Scott have been re-elected. All appointments took effect following the AIC’s annual general meeting on 14 January 2021.

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.

Maven Capital Partners, one of the UK’s most active fund managers, has further strengthened its East & South East Midlands team with the appointment of experienced banker Richard Brighty.

IgniteNI has revealed the 20 start-ups that will be participating in the renowned 2021 Propel Pre-Accelerator programme which kicks off this week. Supported by Invest Northern Ireland, Propel is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs who use innovative and disruptive technologies to build their business and achieve international success.

South East Angels have launched their Brighton investor group, set to be the most active angel network in the local area. With a focus on providing value as well as funding to startups, the group is made up of High Net Worth Individuals with entrepreneurial backgrounds who are interested in investing in early-stage startups. 

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.