The developers of a communication platform that offers secure digital access to healthcare services have received £200,000 of seed funding in a deal led by Mercia Fund Management and involving the NHS-backed West Midlands Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) fund.

Maven Capital Partners has appointed three new Investment Managers and a dedicated portfolio administrator to its North West investment team, in support of NPIF Maven Equity Finance, which has a North West focus and is managed by Maven for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

World number one tennis champion Andy Murray continues to back early-stage businesses in 2017 as part of his strategic relationship with Seedrs, today investing undisclosed amounts into ambitious British companies Den and Morpher as well as exercising preemptive rights in Landbay’s latest equity round.

Mercia Fund Management is to partner with Innovate UK’s £8.5million Investment Accelerator initiative, a pilot programme which provides simultaneous grant funding and venture capital.

Footfalls & Heartbeats today announce a strategic investment round of £1.25m with The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) tax relief. New product innovation is a key area of focus for Footfalls & Heartbeats, whose wearable technology is providing personalised, preventative healthcare, and solutions to aid the wellbeing of individuals.

Octopus Ventures backed eve Sleep has announced its IPO on AIM, with a market cap of c.£140m - the first retail IPO of 2017 in the UK.  

White Bull Summits, producers of Europe’s exclusive technology entrepreneur and investment summits, Pathways, has today announced the 60 finalists for this year’s Bully Awards, recognising outstanding European startups. The finalists were shortlisted based on excellence in product innovation, leadership and performance, growth and growth potential.

YFM Equity Partners has closed its first buy-out fund, YFMEP 2016, at £45m, 50% above its initial target.

Takumi, the leading European and original “micro-influencer” marketing platform which connects brands to these influencers to create impactful grassroot Instagram marketing campaigns, today announces the successful completion of a Series A funding round worth $4 million (£3.2 million) to fund its US and global expansion.

Cult Wines, a specialist in the acquisition and investment management of fine wines, has appointed Patrick Thornton-Smith as a Non-Executive Director and member of the firm's Global Management Team. Patrick’s appointment will support the firm’s record-breaking growth levels which have been driven by rising global demand, particularly in the UK and Asia.

Innovation Birmingham Campus start-ups, Kaido and Quickcode Labs, have been announced as two of just three West Midlands businesses to top this year’s global Digital Leaders DL100 list.

GENBA Digital Limited, a Midlands-based digital logistics platform that bridges the gap between publishers and resellers of video game content, plans to scale up after receiving a growth investment boost of £400,000 from early-stage technology investor, Mercia Fund Management.