Solivus, the pioneer of new ‘skin-like’ solar panels, has secured a GBP2.4 million investment, led by Founders Factory and G-Force and supported by Crowdcube investors, to fund expansion plans putting solar power at the heart of the UK’s energy generation. The seed investment sees Solivus join the Founders Factory G-Force sustainability seed programme where it will spend the next six months rapidly scaling its business – using the funding to grow its commercial rooftop business and mass market its recently launched ‘portable’ solar sculpture for homeowners Solivus says its flexible, organic thin-film solar (OPV) panels that can be wrapped around

REBELS 0.0% has successfully completed a CHF1 million seed funding round led by the StartAngels Network. Other private business angels, including experienced experts from the beverage and consumer goods industry in the DACH region, also participated in the round.  They REBELS 0,0% is the first Swiss company to offer non-alcoholic alternatives to various spirits and now wants to reach “conscious drinkers” throughout Europe. The start-up REBELS 0.0% launched its range of double distilled alcohol-free gin, rum and aperitif alternatives on the Swiss market last year.

Darwin Group (Darwin), a Shropshire-based provider of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) buildings for the healthcare and education sector, has secured significant funding from Kartesia, a European specialist provider of capital solutions for mid-sized companies. Darwin is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist offsite modular construction projects. Its innovative, high-specification modular systems are capable of rapid deployment in demanding environments and the Company is well-positioned to continue to support NHS Trusts in delivering new healthcare facilities across the UK.    Kartesia’s funds will support the management team in delivering its ambitious organic growth plans, including significant further investment

OakNorth Bank has provided Harwood Private Capital with a GBP20 million funding package to facilitate the management buyout (MBO) of family-run horticulture firm, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Limited. The deal enables the managed exit of the founding Carey and Fothergill families.   A member of the Harwood Capital Management family of funds (AUM>GBP1bn), Harwood Private Capital focuses on supporting growth orientated SMEs and lower mid-market companies in the UK. The firm’s flexible capital allows it to support business owners/management teams in meeting their growth objectives without the loss of control associated with traditional private equity investment.   Founded in 1978 by

Maven Capital Partners (Maven) has led a GBP4.25 million funding round for Mypura.com Group Limited (Pura), a baby care brand which specialises in eco-friendly baby wipes and nappies. The transaction includes GBP4 million of funding split evenly across the Maven VCTs, NPIF Maven Equity Finance, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, and Maven Investor Partners, Maven’s high net worth investment syndicate. Michael Law, former Operations Director at Next Plc, has also invested and will join the Board. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Glasgow-based contact lens technology pioneers Ocutec Limited have secured GBP1.5 million in a seed funding round led by Deepbridge Capital. The funding round, which includes provision of GBP1 million of funding via the Deepbridge Technology Growth EIS fund, GBP360k from Intuitive Investments Group (IIG) and a GBP100k SMART grant to support the Company’s development projects, is to be used for recruitment, new equipment and further product development.   The University of Strathclyde spin-out has patented technology covering the formulation of contact lens products, contact lens comfort solutions, and injection moulding technology for rapid manufacturing using polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Fast growing Edtech startup Vygo has raised GBP1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round supported by online age investment platform Angel Investment Network. Vygo is a Saas platform reinventing the conventional social support ecosystem in higher education.  The round was led by Edtech VC Sparkmind and supported by Angel Investment Network. Other participants include Edtech accelerator Supercharger Ventures and the Australian Catholic University. The funds will be used for platform development and expansion of its UK and European presence.  Offering personalised support services beyond the physical campus, the business already works with a third of Australian Universities and is rapidly