Managers
ACF Investors, a UK venture capital fund that works alongside sector expert business angels to invest in high potential businesses, has passed its 100th company investment.
The angel-partnership investment model has been highly successful, funding businesses through multiple investment rounds and is validated by the fact that the funds investments have almost tripled their initial value.
Almost half of ACF’s investments over the past decade have been in companies outside of London and the South East. Its commitment to the regions has showcased some of the amazing talent and businesses that can be found across the country such as
China Ping An Insurance Overseas (Holdings) Limited, the main offshore investment and asset management platform of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd (2318 HK, 601318 SH), together with its subsidiaries (Ping An Overseas Holdings), has successfully closed Ping An Global Equity Selection Fund II (the Selection Fund II), and Ping An GP Opportunities Fund (the GP Opportunities Fund) (collectively the Funds).
Turquoise, the UK merchant bank specialising in energy, environment and efficiency, has made a follow-on investment by Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2 (LCIF2) in its existing portfolio company, Spark EV Technology. The investment is part of the company’s GBP250,000 capital raising round involving both existing and new shareholders.
Spark EV Technology works in energy optimisation and range prediction technology for electric vehicles (EVs) of all sizes. Spark seeks to accelerate the mass adoption of EVs by working with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to implement its technology globally.
Ian Thomas, managing director at Turquoise, comments: “LCIF2 is pleased to make
Derbyshire-based manufacturer Denby Pottery is reinforcing its UK and international footprint as it partners with Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance through a GBP10 million combined facility which replaces a similar arrangement.
Denby has been crafting pottery for more than 200 years in the Derbyshire village after which it is named, and the facility from Secure Trust Bank will be used to support the day-to-day cash requirements of its UK manufacturing base and multi-channel sales growth both domestically and internationally.
The business, which employs over 700 people in the UK, operates in the domestic market through wholesale partners, an e-commerce
A UK company that provides an ethical alternative to the ad tracking techniques used by tech giants such as Facebook and Google has raised a GBP1.5 million investment to build its global presence.
CitizenMe has secured funding from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia, alongside funds from 1818 Capital and private investors.
The platform was developed in response to concerns over current practices, where consumers’ data is collected via apps or website cookies and may be used by multiple companies for marketing purposes.
Using CitizenMe’s technology, customers
Vopak Solar Park Eemshaven in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands is now operational. The new solar park has a capacity of approximately 25 megawatts, which is equivalent to an average consumption of approximately 8,000 Dutch households.
The project is a joint venture between Vopak, an independent tank storage company, Groningen Seaports, and funds managed by independently-owned infrastructure manager Whitehelm Capital.
The solar park is built on 19 hectares of land around Vopak Terminal Eemshaven. The entire solar park is now in operation and supplies the Dutch electricity grid. The green energy certificates were mainly purchased by local companies
swissfillon, a specialist in sterile filling of complex pharmaceuticals, is joining 31 Group-backed ten23 health, a pure-play, patient-centric and sustainable biologics drug product contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO).
Founded in 2013 by Daniel Kehl and based in Visp Switzerland, swissfillon is a FDA and Swissmedic approved drug product-focused CDMO. The company is a leader in the sterile filling of complex pharmaceuticals into innovative containers and devices, such as pre-filled syringes, cartridges and vials.
The combined business of ten23 and swissfillon will provide an integrated offering for sterile drug product development and manufacturing of biologics, challenging molecules and dosage forms,
Growing tech startup Willo has set its sights on becoming the global leader in video interviewing after receiving a GBP630,000 investment to fund growth in key markets – including the USA.
The cash injection – from high net-worth investors including ex Freeserve PLC COO Mark Danby, ex BT talent chief Susan McRoberts, and entrepreneur and Santander Global Head of Digital Mobility Solutions Jose Ignacio Puente – takes the overall investment in the Glasgow-founded tech firm to more than GBP1 million.
This round has been led by Guernsey-based early stage tech investment firm 1818 Venture Capital, which also invested in Willo’s
White Star Capital, a multi-stage global technology investment platform, has secured USD360 million for its third flagship fund, above its original target of USD300 million, to invest in exceptional entrepreneurs building ambitious, global businesses.
The firm has successfully raised in excess of USD500 million over the last 18 months, and now manages USD750 million of assets, including USD50 million from its recently announced Digital Asset Fund and more than USD90 million raised from co-investment vehicles. The firm also announced it will open an office in Singapore.
Following two funds of USD70 million and USD180 million, announced in 2015 and 2018
Trill Impact has closed investments in Arctic Group AB (Arctic Group) and ID North AB (ID North) to form a cybersecurity services platform jointly called European ID Security.
Trill Impact has identified several attractive companies across Europe, including Arctic Group and ID North, which address a strong societal need for improved cyber resilience. Trill Impact aims to create a leading group that seeks to address this societal challenge by investing in European ID Security, a thought leader in identity security, an attractive and important vertical of the fast-growing and fragmented cybersecurity service provider market. European ID Security has a highly
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
