Downing Ventures has provided a follow-on investment for portfolio company Upp Technolgies ltd (Upp). Founded in 2019, Upp enables brands and retailers to thrive by connecting Google’s Ads data with product performance data. This enables the delivery of automated retail performance with performance insights, optimisations and improvements that are automatically executed. Upp includes high profile retailers such as nkuku, Charles Tyrwhitt and Poundshop.com as its clients.  Downing Ventures first invested in Upp in 2016 and will continue to support the company as it continues on its growth journey.

BetterCloud, an SaaS Management Platform provider, has secured a strategic growth investment from Vista Equity Partners (Vista). The partnership will enable BetterCloud to continue to accelerate growth and product innovation, expand into new geographic markets and continue to build best-in-class capabilities for its global customer base.  BetterCloud’s existing investors, including Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, Warburg Pincus and others, will continue as minority investors.

DigiCert, a global provider of Digital Trust, backed by Clearlake Capital Group, Crosspoint Capital Partners, and TA Associates (TA), has acquired DNS Made Easy, a provider of enterprise-grade managed Domain Name System (DNS) services, as well as affiliated brands, including Constellix. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.    The acquisition of DNS Made Easy expands DigiCert’s digital trust portfolio to include managed DNS services with one of the fastest DNS response times and global availability. 

Salford-based start-up B-B-L Protect, has raised a six-figure investment from SFC Capital following a successful pitch with non-profit angel investment organisation NorthInvest. Founded in 2020, B-B-L Protect has created a range of isolation devices, known as Aeropods, which are designed for the safe transport and movement of patients with infectious diseases, such as Covid 19, Lassa Fever and Ebola.  Their Aeropod 15 is the only isolation device in the world with full aviation compliance.     BBL Protect will use the funds secured in this round to begin commercialisation of their AeroPod range of products, as well as recruiting a

Insurtech leader Zywave, backed by Clearlake Capital Group and Aurora Capital, has acquired Strategic Insurance Software (SIS), a provider of web-based agency management systems (AMS) and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for P&C insurance agencies. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Founded in 1995, SIS serves more than 800 broker customers, many with a focus on commercial lines, by providing agency management and customer relationship management solutions that streamline and automate workflows throughout an agency.

A fast-growing HR software platform that helps firms to manage the performance of employees in different locations has raised a further £3m from existing investors.