BondMason has raised £1.85 million to drive the growth of the business and fulfil the company’s vision to enable more investors to access returns from direct lending.

The direct lending market in the UK is continuing to come-of-age, offering investors the potential to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns with lower volatility compared to equity capital markets. This was marked by another record year of growth for direct lending in 2017.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) has invested more than £50 million across the Northern Powerhouse region, supporting over 260 small and medium growing companies.

Angel Academe has invested in doppel, a wristband shown to reduce stress. It works by creating a silent vibration on the inside of your wrist which feels just like the ‘lub-dub’ of a heartbeat. Slower rhythms are calming, and faster rhythms help you feel focused – like music. You can use it to stay calm under pressure, focus on the task ahead of you, and keep going when you need to.

Atelerix, a Cambridge and Newcastle, UK-based spin-out from the University of Newcastle and creators of an innovative cell encapsulation technology, closed a round of funding of undisclosed amount.

An East Midlands life sciences company which develops synthetic alternatives to antibodies has closed a £1.5m Series A funding round supported by Mercia Fund Managers and a number of private investors.

GCI, the converged ICT services company, has been acquired by Mayfair Private Equity as it moves to the next stage of its growth strategy. BGF, which has backed GCI since 2012, has exited its investment as part of the deal.

In this podcast, Alan Cowley, the entrepreneurial project director of Invested Investor interviewed Dobree and asked her about the role of the University in tech transfer and in commercialising their research. 

An Enterprise Investment Scheme that led to a world-first innovation in online learning has given investors a 75x return on their money in a little over five years.

The Par Syndicate, a business angel network established by Edinburgh-based venture capital firm Par Equity, acquired International Correspondence Schools in late 2012.

At the time, despite being a long-established “distance learning” specialist, ICS was in danger of administration, with 50 jobs and the hopes of thousands of students at risk.

Now, after half a decade of refocusing and growth, it has been transformed into a fully fledged online education provider and a trailblazer in virtual learning environments.

OurCrowd, a global leader in equity crowdfunding, has announced its further expansion in Asia, with an innovative partnership with Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (“BBL”), one of Thailand and Southeast Asia’s premier commercial banks.

OurCrowd and BBL have already launched their cooperation in support of Thailand’s tech ecosystem which will create key relationships for Thailand’s major corporations seeking next generation technology. The collaboration empowers OurCrowd to deliver deeper exposure for BBL’s SME and major corporate clients to Israeli and global technologies.

SIPP providers are likely to review non-standard investments with increasing caution following recent FSCS fines, says BondMason.

Foresight Group has appointed Ray Harris to its Private Equity Investment team, following Ben Dawson’s appointment earlier this year.

International law firm, Addleshaw Goddard has successfully advised on the sale of ICS Learn in a management buyout backed by private equity firm Primary Capital Partners.