Tracey Davidson has been appointed to the new role of Deputy CEO of Handelsbanken plc, Heartwood Wealth Management’s parent company. 

New data from leading global insights platform, Atheneum, has revealed that only one in four (25 percent) global finance experts expect consumer confidence in their countries to improve over the next six months, with UK experts highlighting the continuing uncertainty around Brexit as a key factor.

Mafic, an innovative information company based at the Surrey Technology Centre near Guildford, has won a grant from the national SPRINT (SPace Research and Innovation Network for Technology) programme. Mafic will work with SPRINT partner, the University of Southampton on a major project to develop new machine learning solutions for heavy industries such as shipbuilding, rail, and oil and gas construction.

A total of £1.28 billion was raised in October through secondary fundraisings by investment companies, marking an all-time record for the investment company industry.

Fundraisings by existing investment companies reached £1.28b in October 2019, the highest level of secondary fundraising ever seen in a single calendar month according to new data from the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). The second-highest month for fundraising by existing investment companies was in June this year (£1.18b).

Medopad, a fast-growing healthtech AI startup headquartered in London, has earned investment in a funding round led by Leaps by Bayer in to further develop its digital health platform. The investment brings Medopad’s total amount raised to over $50M. The company will use the new funds to fuel clinical studies, including digital biomarker discovery, creation of digital therapeutics (DTx), technology development, geographic expansion and commercial growth through strategic collaborations.

Copenhagen-based Forecast has announced new funding to grow its AI-powered project management software company. London-based Crane Venture Partners led the $5.5m funding round with participation from existing investors SEED Capital and Heartcore. With the new investment, Forecast has raised $10m in total funding.

Despite a cloudy global economic outlook and rising political uncertainty, the venture ecosystem remains robust, according to Silicon Valley Bank’s latest State of the Markets Report. The report found that private markets are buoyant, with VC dry powder close to historic highs, PE fundraising having its own record year and ample private capital stockpiled for years to come.

The Management team of Professional Music Technology has completed a Management Buyout of the business, with financing provided by YFM Equity Partners and the founders of the business.

My first six articles looked at my experience of investing in individual companies; one of the conclusions I had come to was that, at least for the passive investor, the right strategy is to diversify the portfolio but that managing too many start-up investments can be onerous. Investing in a fund campaign allows you to invest in multiple businesses with one click of a button. Problem solved?

Cervest, the leader in Earth Science AI, has closed a £3.7m investment round to fund the launch of a revolutionary real-time, climate forecasting platform; a platform with the power to help decision makers manage risk, inform policy and one that could even help solve Earth’s most pressing environmental problems. 

Led by deep-tech investor Future Positive Capital, with co-investor Astanor Ventures, the pre-Series A funding round was oversubscribed on its initial £2.5m target and brings the company’s total to more than £4.5m. 

Some 63% of real estate professionals believe the secured property debt market is currently attractive for investors,  says research commissioned by secured property lender Fitzrovia Finance.

Dow Schofield Watts Angels, the business angel network, has expanded its team with the appointment of Ellie Boardman as Investment Executive.