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FeedStock, an AI-driven SaaS business that leverages the latest natural language processing technologies to enable financial services companies to meet both their compliance requirements and commercial goals, has secured a GBP2.5 million investment in a funding round led by Praetura Ventures.
CDC Group, the UK’s publicly owned impact investor, is to commit a further GBP2 billion into African businesses over the next two years, as it looks to double the size of its portfolio on the continent.The company, the world’s largest bilateral development investor in Africa, today unveiled at the UK-Africa Investment Summit (AIS) in London a string of new partnerships totalling nearly $400m. The bulk of funds will be to provide African banks with greater liquidity to support SMEs, entrepreneurs and microbusinesses in their regions.
Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive of CDC, says: “Investors have a real opportunity to embrace the
bfinance, an independent investment consultancy, has appointed former LGPS investor Trevor Castledine as Senior Director, Private Markets. Joining the private markets team at bfinance’s London office, Castledine brings over twenty-five years’ experience in financial services, pensions and investments.
Castledine was formerly Deputy CIO and Private Credit Investment Director at LPP (Local Pensions Partnership), and prior to that was Deputy CIO at Lancashire County Pension Fund. He has won multiple awards and commendations for his work including LAPF Investments Awards “Investment Strategy of the Year” 2015, Professional Pensions Awards “Best Use of Alternatives” 2015, Institutional Investor Peer-to-Peer Awards “Best Use of Private
Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC), the award-winning UK fund manager and social enterprise, has invested GBP2.5 million from its Social and Sustainable Housing (SASH) fund into Valley House, a charity that supports vulnerable young parents and victims of domestic abuse in and around Coventry.This is SASC’s 4th investment from its SASH fund, which has so far committed over GBP16 million. SASC aims to grow the fund to GBP100 million to support 30 organisations to house 10,000 people over the next 10 years.
Valley House offers accommodation services to young parents aged 16 to 24 years old and individuals and
Elder Ltd has raised another GBP8.2 million funding round as its technology-enabled live-in care service gains nationwide popularity, bringing the total raised to GBP16.5 million. The round was led by Acton Capital, a leading growth venture capital investor from Munich, Germany and participated by existing investors.
Elder is one of the UK’s fastest-growing startups and has delivered more than 350,000 days of care in more than 300 towns and cities across the UK since 2016 – with the Outer Hebrides being the only remaining area where care is yet to be delivered.
By allowing the customer to stay in their own
Coniq has secured GBP6.4 million of growth equity to meet the growing demand for its award-winning CRM and loyalty platform used by the world’s leading shopping malls, outlets and brands.The round was led by Guinness Asset Management with Maven Capital Partners, and participation from existing investors Venrex Investment Management. High profile angel investors, including Greg Marsh the founder of OneFineStay, also invested as part of this round.
Coniq’s market-leading iQ Platform radically simplifies launching shopper engagement and loyalty programmes. This enables marketers to effectively and quickly increase sales by leveraging proprietary customer loyalty data, to understand and anticipate the purchasing
The first quarter of 2019 broke the all-time record for investment in Europe, with EUR7.3 billion invested (EUR8.3 billion including Israel), and according to a new study by e-front, the global venture capital industry hit an all-time high last year.
Funds advised by YFM Equity Partners (YFM) have backed a GBP5.6 million investment into Unbiased EC1 Limited (Unbiased) an online platform that connects people to providers across the Financial Adviser, Mortgage Broker and Accountancy markets. YFM’s investment comes from its two advised VCTs, British Smaller Companies VCT plc and British Smaller Companies VCT2 plc, alongside YFM Equity Partners Growth II LP.
Unbiased partners with professional advisory firms offering a range of tools to help them acquire, track and manage their new business pipeline. The service is free for consumers and offers the widest choice of advisers in the UK, using smart
Zadig & Voltaire, a French brand in the modern luxury ready-to-wear market, is to receive a strategic growth investment from Peninsula, a European Private Equity investment management firm.Zadig & Voltaire will remain majority-owned by its founder Thierry Gillier, while TA Associates, the current minority partner, will be exiting its investment. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Known for its chic and rock and roll inspiration, Zadig & Voltaire, the modern luxury iconic brand, has grown consistently since its founding in 1995. Today, the company operates approximately 400 boutiques and shop-in-shops in more than 30 markets around the
Specialist fixed income manager, BlueBay Asset Management (BlueBay), has appointed Stephan Eckstein to the newly created role of Sales Director.Based in Zurich, Eckstein reports to Roberto Valsecchi Oliva, Head of Switzerland and Southern Europe and will be responsible for developing BlueBay’s presence with wholesale investors in the region. Stephan’s appointment continues to bolster BlueBay’s Swiss presence, following the appointments of Renato Aebi and Marc-Hendrik Berthold in 2018.
Valsecchi Oliva says: “Stephan is a very experienced senior sales individual who I believe will be integral in driving and further developing our Swiss wholesale presence. Stephan’s appointment highlights BlueBay’s strong commitment
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