Social impact investment company Resonance has launched its latest ground breaking Fund – The Resonance West Midlands Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) Fund.

The Fund has already secured approximately £1m of commitments in principle from a number of investors. Resonance has also identified an initial £2m of investment need from a wide range of social enterprises in diverse sectors, and is looking forward to hearing from other social enterprises from across the region that are looking for investment to grow their business and social impact.

eFront, the leading technology provider to alternative investment professionals, and PitchBook, the premier data provider for the private and public equity markets, announce today a strategic partnership to integrate PitchBook data within the recently announced eFront Insight solution. 

Cryptocurrency regulation is necessary, on its way, and the vital work being done by many international financial watchdogs and lawmakers must be championed, says the boss of one of the world’s largest independent financial services organisations.

Facebook has announced the opening of LDN_LAB, its first in-house start-up incubator. Following the opening of their new London office in Rathbone Place, which will be home to 2,300 people by the end of 2018, this is the latest step in Facebook's ongoing investment in the UK and in digital skills.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), London is the third best place in the world to start a business. But when it comes to growing a business, the UK falls to thirteenth place. Led by an expert advisory panel including Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook EMEA VP, and in partnership with London-based investment fund Bethnal Green Ventures, the LDN_LAB programme has been designed to support start-ups building communities through technology, with the goal to fuel innovation, create economic impact, and bootstrap the next generation of start-ups in the UK tech eco-system.

Imperial College Business School is set to run its first Online Masters in Business Analytics programme from October 2018.

The FCA is seeking views on how technology can make it easier for firms to meet their regulatory reporting requirements and improve the quality of the information they provide.

Investment levels in high growth tech companies in Wales have doubled in the past year, according to latest figures.

Angelgroups, a connected network of angel investors across the North of England, has launched in York.

Martin Avison, founder of Angelgroups, said: “I am delighted to bring such opportunities to the region and welcome the support of our associates.

“We are a peer network of high net worth and sophisticated investors who provide much more than simply investment. Our

Pireta has closed its investment round after raising £500k from OION members. 

£18.2m new build development will bring 207 new beds to Stirling’s underserved and over-stretched student accommodation market.

The British Business Bank’s 2018 Small Business Finance Markets report reveals welcome evidence that the UK’s small businesses are diversifying in their choice of finance. Although still the predominant channel, there are encouraging signs that small businesses are looking beyond their main bank for finance and turning to alternative sources.

The value of SME asset finance deals (up 12%) and peer-to-peer business lending (up 51%) in 2017 both showed strong growth. Although net bank lending volumes remained positive (£0.7bn) in 2017, they were weaker than in both 2016 (£3bn) and 2015 (£2bn). Significant increases were seen in 2017 in both the value and number of SME equity deals (up 79% and 12% respectively).

Dr Ilian Iliev, EcoMachines Ventures evaulates how investors are reacting to the changing financial environment of EIS.