Solutions
Job search app SonicJobs has secured USD5.5 million in a funding round led by Triple Point Ventures, TMT Investments and Ufi Ventures.
The new funding will enable SonicJobs, which is based in London, to further integrate machine learning into its robotic process automation, accelerate bringing on more candidates in the UK and launch in the US, the largest market in the world, in order to move from Series A to Unicorn.
Other prominent investors have also participated in the round including Richard Flint (Sky Bet), W Fund, Vivek Kumar (PropertyGuru), Paul Huntingdon (Serocor Group), Rod Leefe (serial HR tech investor),
Lapse, a photo-sharing app enabling groups of friends to avoid the pressures of traditional social networks by emulating the experience of film cameras, has closed an USD11 million seed round led by Octopus Ventures and GV (formerly Google Ventures).
Middle Eastern private equity firm Foursan Group has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Jo Academy, an online private tutoring platform based in Jordan.
Jo Academy established its preeminent reputation by offering online supplementary courses (pre- recorded and live) to Grade 12 students enrolled in the Jordanian national program (Tawjihi). The company recently expanded its offering to service G6-11 students (national and international streams) as well as university students. In September 2021, Jo Academy celebrated servicing over 1 million students.
This is the third investment by Foursan via its latest fund following its acquisitions of Polymedic, a leading generic
Commercial insurance specialist Broker Insights has raised more than GBP6 million in a Series A funding round led by Mercia.
Chroma Ventures, which first backed Broker Insights with seed funding in 2018, made a follow-on investment in this round, alongside a group of private UK and US investors.
The funding will enable further development of Broker Insights’ platform, which enables insurers to distribute their products more efficiently to regional brokers through automation and collaboration tools. It also provides real-time data to give them greater insight into companies’ insurance requirements.
Chroma Ventures is the investment arm of 4J Studios entrepreneurs
Fast-growing lettings and estate agency, Lomond Group, has become the largest lettings and estate agent in Scotland after acquiring DJ Alexander.
The move, which was supported by Lomond Group’s private equity partner LDC, brings the company’s portfolio of managed properties to 9,500 in Scotland, and significantly strengthens its presence in the Scottish central belt. It is the Group’s 24th acquisition in 2021 and means it now manages more than 30,000 properties throughout the UK.
DJ Alexander will continue to trade under its existing name, with founder David Alexander leading the Lomond business in Scotland as CEO. Andrew Seldon will
Kraken Ventures, an independent investment firm targeting early stage companies and protocols across the crypto and fintech ecosystem, has closed its first fund, Kraken Ventures Fund I LP at USD65 million.
A UK-based internet of things software platform provider has raised GBP2.1 million to accelerate international expansion.
Konektio received funding from both the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), managed by Mercia and Foresight Group, along with existing investor Tern plc.
The funding will allow the Chesterfield-based business to further develop the product, boost its sales and marketing team, create a number of new highly skilled roles at its headquarters, and grow sales in international markets.
KKR Is to acquire Yayoi Co, a software developer, distributor, and support service provider for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan from ORIX Corporation (ORIX), an integrated financial services group.
KKR is making its investment from its Asia IV Fund.
Yayoi is the one of the largest financial and accounting software provider for SMEs and sole proprietors in Japan, best known for its namesake accounting and tax filing software, widely used by Japanese SMEs.
Future VC, which runs internship and development programmes, has opened applications for all of its global cohorts in 2022.
Future VC was established to support talented individuals from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in venture capital, to help them learn about and work in VC, and in doing so improve the inclusiveness of the industry. Future VC was launched by Diversity VC in 2017.
Due to Future VC’s successful expansion, there are now programmes live in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and on the East Coast of the US, which means Future VC can host participants from the world
RosterLab, a newly-formed rostering software company, has closed NZD150,000 in pre-seed funding from Quidnet Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund based in New Zealand.
The NZD500,000 total round was led by Matū Fund, with participation from Quidnet Ventures and the University of Auckland Investors’ Fund. This funding will support the company’s software application development and initial product launch targeting New Zealand’s healthcare market.
RosterLab offers an automated rostering platform, based on advanced techniques developed at the University of Auckland, to a variety of high-intensity sectors, including healthcare providers.
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
