A new medical device supplier which aims to offer UK hospitals the latest innovations from around the world has secured a £650,000 investment fromNPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

James Murdoch looks at whether Convertibles benefit the founders or the investors in Equity Crowdfunding.

The Link App - software designed to facilitate communication between law firms and their clients - has received significant investment from GC Angels as part of a larger funding round to accelerate growth and expand globally.  The Manchester-based business was set up by qualified solicitor Lauren Riley, who noticed that clients were looking for faster responses from lawyers, more clarity on case progress and an overall better customer service experience.

Jenson Funding Partners have completed an investment in LogistCompare a marketplace platform for warehouse space and associated services.  Their aim is to provide ecommerce retailers with a one-stop-shop for their storage and fulfilment needs. LogistCompare is an innovative marketplace for warehouse space and services.  They connect organizations that need storage space with warehouse providers that can accommodate their requirements. The platform allows warehouse providers to rent out available space online and to promote their logistics services. 

Lanistar, a new banking alternative fintech company, has launched after securing £2m seed-funding. The company, which is based in Hammersmith, formally launches with over 45 fulltime staff, with a further 150 support staff due to be added, and is founded by serial entrepreneur Gurhan Kiziloz who has stated his ambition to create a £1bn fintech company and challenge traditional banking services.

VoxSmart, the global leader in communications surveillance technology for Financial Markets, has completed a strategic funding round of £5.5m ($7.2m) from NatWest. 

Advice on fundraising during the CoronaVirus pandemic from TechNation.

Foresight Group LLP and Belltown Power Limited have formed a joint venture to develop Belltown’s pipeline of greenfield onshore wind energy projects across the UK under the existing Belltown brand. 

The JV aims to deliver more than 300MW of incremental clean electricity capacity to support the UK’s move to a net-zero power system. The pipeline is focused on sites with excellent potential for wind development, predominantly in Scotland and Wales, and will be developed on a merchant-only, PPA or CfD supported basis.

Jenson Funding Partners has completed an investment in ZEUS a property valuation app which allows property owners to obtain fast & accurate valuations and also provides estate agents with quality leads.  It works for both sales and rentals and is a truly unique platform.

Symvan Capital's Kealan Doyle predicts that will almost certainly be a further downward stage, probably centered in the United States.  And it will be nasty.  Yet we are probably a few weeks away from a significant buying opportunity for equity investors, as financial markets will recover whilst the real economy is tumbling.

Andrew Aldridge from Deepbridge Capital urges investors not to loose their nerve and why is important for us to carry on investing.

Everybody in the financial world understands how the markets have reacted to the Coronavirus crisis and largely why they have reacted.  Many investors are sitting on cash or nervous about long-term planning.  However, your country needs your investment – in particular the innovative sectors supported by the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) need your support. 

Funding London – the Mayor of London's investment vehicle – is being supported by several iconic mentors.  Entrepreneurs and investors such as  Sukhendu Pal and Steve Garnett will offer support and guidance to investments in the two funds, the London Co-Investment Fund (LCIF) and the Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF).