Law firm Shoosmiths has advised venture capital firm, MMC Ventures, on the firm’s GBP2.5m investment in online floristry business, Bloom & Wild, in a Series A funding round.
Venture capital firm MMC, which has been backing early-stage, high-growth companies since 2000, joins existing angel investors including Catamaran Ventures and Samos who also participated in the round.
Launched in 2013 by Aron Gelbard and Ben Stanway, Bloom & Wild has developed a floral brand centred on unique letterbox packaging to enable a bouquet of flowers to be delivered through any standard letterbox.
Based in South-West London, the business delivers flowers across the UK and gives users the option of a monthly subscription.
Today’s funding announcement marks the next stage of growth for the business, which will use the funding to support further website and app development, investing in the user experience, design and development teams, and to trial new products.
Camilla Dolan (pictured), investment director at MMC Ventures, says: ‘Shoosmiths have again provided us with seamless advice. We wanted to invest in Bloom & Wild as we have been particularly impressed with the approach they have taken to applying technology to creating a perfect gift experience for flower lovers.
‘The MMC team have significant experience in supporting and helping to scale on-demand businesses, so we’re excited to start working closely with the team over the coming months.’
Aron Gelbard, co-founder and CEO of Bloom & Wild, says: ‘Today’s funding marks an exciting next step – we look forward to working with Camilla and the team at MMC as we continue improving the proposition.’
Shoosmiths Alastair Peet said: 'It was a pleasure to advise MMC Ventures on their investment in to Bloom & Wild, a business which has really made a mark on their market. We wish both parties every success in the future.'
Shoosmiths' corporate team has advised public and private companies, management teams, investors and debt providers through the business life cycle. Shoosmiths work with businesses from start-up and first round finance through to mergers and acquisitions, MBO and MBI transactions, development funding and on exits, by way of sale, listing or private equity investment.
The national corporate team has been placed second by deal volume in Experian's UK Deal Review and Advisor League Table and have recently won Law Firm of the Year at the M&A Awards 2015.
