Investors: Done deals
We want to track all early stage deals that get done (even if they are not our deals).
Dec 2009
TH_NK
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £1m
Sector: Business services, Creative Services, IT & Internet, New Media, Professonal Services, Technology
Location: North East
Website: http://www.think.eu/
Summary: Expanding digital design agency TH_NK, which is based in the North East, secured the £1m funding round to build its creative team in London and invest in technology. The finance came from ProVen VCT, the venture capital trust managed by international venture capital outfit Beringea.
Dec 2009
Skimbit
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £900,000
Sector: Creative Services, IT & Internet, New Media, Publishing and Printing, Technology
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.skimlinks.com/
Summary: Skimbit runs a technology platform to enable online publishers to monetise their content via affiliate links called Skimlinks. The company raised the Series A round with investment led by Sussex Place Ventures, and also backed by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), The Accelerator Group, and private investors.
Nov 2009
Playfire.com
Investment stage: pre-launchInvestment completed: £1.3m
Sector: IT & Internet, New Media, Technology
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.playfire.com/
Summary: Started by internet entrepreneur Keiran O'Neill, social network for gamers Playfire.com received seed backing from high profile entrepreneurs-turned-investors Brent Hoberman of Lastminute.com and MyDeco, Michael Birch of Bebo.com and Skype founder Niklas Zennstrom. O'Neill previously started and sold two web companies by the age of 21.
Nov 2009
Dial2Do
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: €1m
Sector: Technology
Location: Dublin
Website: http://www.dial2do.com/
Summary: The Rococo Software spin-out has reportedly raised €1m in a funding round led by Powerscourt Capital Partners and Enterprise Ireland. Dial2Do will be looking to strengthen its progress in the hands-free headsets software market among mobile users, particularly in the US where it already works with US manufacturer South Wing.
Nov 2009
e-trader group Ltd
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £1.2m
Sector: Financial and Legal Services
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.stockshifters.com/
Summary: MMC Ventures' backing has enabled e-trader group Ltd to complete its acquisition of designer brand fashion clearance channel koodos.com. The company already runs online trade marketplace stockshifters.com for retailers and manufacturers to sell surplus stock.
Nov 2009
Revival Action
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £100,000
Sector: Business services, Financial and Legal Services
Location: North West
Website: http://revivalaction.com/
Summary: The Cheshire-based legal services company, which specialises in stopping repossessions and evictions, raised funds from an unnamed private investor in exchange for 20% of the business.
Nov 2009
Conformetrix
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: Undisclosed
Sector: Chemicals and Health products, Medical and Health, Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology, Science and Research, Technology
Location: North West
Website: http://www.conformetrix.com/
Summary: The Manchester-based drug development company, a Manchester University spin-out, was acquired by private equity fund, the Aquarius Origin Fund, which makes investments of up to £750,000. The fund was launched less than six months ago with the aim of raising £7.5m from high net worth individuals.
Nov 2009
Cogenta Systems
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £800,000
Sector: Business services, IT & Internet, Professonal Services, Technology
Location: North East
Website: http://www.cogenta.com/
Summary: A Winsor-based price comparison site for consumers, Cogenta will branch out through this investment by opening offices in Newcastle thanks to funding from Hotspur Capital Partners, to the tune of £450,000, and £350,000 from NorthStar Equity Investors (NSEI). It hopes the expansion capital will increase sales from £500,000 to £10m in two years.
Nov 2009
Call Britannia
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £1.14m
Sector: Business services, Professonal Services
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.callbritannia.com/
Summary: Serial entrepreneur, Karen Darby, who built and sold Simply Switch for £22m, created call centre business Call Britannia to provide 10,000 jobs in Britain's in economically challenged areas. She raised £1m with £500,000 coming from Bridges Ventures, £350,000 from Big Issue Invest, and £292,500 from the government's Future Jobs Fund. Management, including Darby, committed a further £150,000.
Oct 2009
Retroscreen Virology Limited
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £2.6m
Sector: Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.retroscreen.com/
Summary: The London-based viral research house received second-round backing from Aquarius Equity Partners Ltd, IP Venture Fund.
Oct 2009
Lein Applied Diagnostics
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £1m
Sector: Electronics, Engineering and Electrical, Medical and Health, Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology, Science and Research
Location: South East
Website: http://www.lein-ad.com/
Summary: Having raised £1m from institutional investors UPF (the UMIP Premier Fund, managed by MTI) and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) the medical diagnostics company is looking for angel investors to complete its funding round. It will use the money to accelerate its clinical trials through miniaturisation of its optical measurement technology.
Oct 2009
Saaspoint
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: €1.3m
Sector: Technology
Location: Dublin
Website: http://www.saaspoint.com/
Summary: With offices in Dublin, London, Stockholm and Denver, Saaspoint raised the finance from private investors and Enterprise Ireland.
Oct 2009
Fizzback
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £1.6m
Sector: Technology
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.fizzback.com/
Summary: London-based customer feedback technology company received backing from Nauta Capital and Advent Venture Partners.
Oct 2009
Crunch.co.uk
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: Undisclosed
Sector: IT & Internet
Location: South East
Website: http://www.crunch.co.uk/
Summary: The Brighton-based online accountancy software company with offices in London raised an undisclosed sum from a handful of business angels including Bebo co-founder Paul Birch and ex-Skype chairman Michael van Swaaij.
Oct 2009
Amuso.com
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: $1.5m
Sector: Entertainment
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.amuso.com/
Summary: The London-based web gameshow platform raised a second round backed by Mangrove Partners and a number of angel investors.
Oct 2009
SubHub
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £700,000
Sector: IT & Internet
Location: Wales
Website: http://www.subhub.com/
Summary: The Cardiff-based website building company was backed by Finance Wales, as well as private investors Dr Simon Murdoch and fellow technology David Hulston.
Oct 2009
Monkey Bizness
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £2m
Sector: Entertainment, Leisure, Pubs, Restaurants & Hotels, Retail - Food
Location: undefined
Website: http://www.monkey-bizness.co.uk/
Summary: The family entertainment centre operator has centres in six location across the UK - Lewes, Gosport, Poole, Sheffield, Stevenage and Hull - and is looking to expand with £2m from the Octopus Capital for Enterprise Fund.
Oct 2009
MPSTOR Ltd
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: €1.5m
Sector: Electronics, Engineering and Electrical, Manufacturing - Non Food, Technology
Location: Cork
Website: http://www.mpstor.com/
Summary: Identified as an Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up, MPSTOR Ltd has raised £1.5m from the Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Fund to boost its international sales and marketing plans.
Oct 2009
Shutl.co.uk
Investment stage: pre-launchInvestment completed: £500,000
Sector: IT & Internet
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.shutl.co.uk/
Summary: Still in stealth mode, Shutl.co.uk, created by eCourier co-founder Tom Allason, received backing from angel investors including Bebo co-founder Paul Birch, Mark Zaleski and Robert Dighero.
Oct 2009
Enrich Social Productions (ESP)
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £2.1m
Sector: Business services, Creative Services, IT & Internet, New Media, Publishing and Printing, Technology
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.enrichproductions.net/
Summary: ESP, which specialises in the production and distribution of multi-platform multimedia formats, raised the development capital via Ariadne Capital's pool of entrepreneurs, including Betfair founder Andrew Black, Sportingbet founder Mark Blandford, ex-chair and CEO of SportingIndex Richard Glynn, and Goldman Sachs' principal of strategic investments Philip Highlander. The round, though, was led by Edge Performance VCT. Ariadne's Julie Meyer has a stake in the business having advised the company on two previous rounds.
Sep 2009
Basekit
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: Undisclosed
Sector: Business services, Creative Services, IT & Internet, New Media, Technology
Location: South West
Website: http://www.basekit.com/
Summary: A Seedcamp winner, Bristol-based Basekit provides a content management system used by web designers. The company raised an undisclosed sum from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and Eden Ventures.
Sep 2009
Accuris Networks
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: €1m
Sector: Business services, Technology, Telecommunications
Location: Dublin
Intermediary: William Fry
Website: http://www.accuris-networks.com/
Summary: The early stage Irish mobile software company raised €1m via Atlantic Bridge, Enterprise Ireland and private investors, following reports of significant losses for the year and the July announcement of a €1.5m investment in expansion and its R&D programme.
Sep 2009
Documetric
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £2m
Sector: Business services, Financial and Legal Services, Professonal Services
Location: Yorkshire and The Humber
Website: http://www.documetric.com/
Summary: Rotherham-based business process outsourcing company Documetric raised £2m via the government's Capital for Enterprise (CfE) funding scheme. The deal was led by Maven Capital Partners, a joint manager of the £75m fund.
Sep 2009
GradFutures Ltd
Investment stage: pre-launchInvestment completed: Undisclosed
Sector: Business services, Education, Coaching and Training, Recruitment and human resources
Location: South East
Website: http://www.gradfutures.com/
Summary: The online graduate recruitment company raised substantial funding from South East Seed Fund, the Cascade Fund, and angel investors.
Sep 2009
Retrogenix
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £150,000
Sector: Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology
Location: Yorkshire and The Humber
Website: http://www.retrogenix.com/
Summary: The Sheffield-based drug screening company founded by former AstraZeneca project leader Dr Jim Freeth was backed by three angel investors.
Aug 2009
Surrey Nanosystems
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £2.5m
Sector: Technology
Location: South East
Website: http://www.surreynanosystems.com/
Summary: Semiconductor specialist Surrey Nanosystems nets £2.5m from Octopus Ventures, IP Group, University of Surrey and other investors.
Aug 2009
TweetDeck
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £1.2m
Sector: IT & Internet
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.tweetdeck.com/
Summary: Twitter App TweetDeck raises £1.2 from PROfounders Capital.
Jul 2009
Lab901 Limited
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £2.4m
Sector: Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology
Location: Scotland
Website: http://www.lab901.net/
Summary: Edinburgh Swine Flu screening company brings its total fundraisings to £9.4m with backing from Archangel Informal Investment Ltd, Alliance Trust Equity Partners (ATEP), Scottish Enterprise SVF, Foresight 3 VCT and TriCapital Ltd.
Jun 2009
Journey Dynamics
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £500,000
Sector: Technology
Location: South East
Website: http://www.journeydynamics.com/
Summary: The traffic technology company, which tracks driver behaviour on its MyDrive platform to improve satellite navigation devices, secured the funding from the South East Seed Fund, managed by Finance South East, along with three private investors. It plans to expand beyond its current western Europe geographical reach.
Jun 2009
ParcelPoke
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: Undisclosed
Sector: Entertainment, IT & Internet, New Media, Personal Services, Retail - Non Food, Technology
Location: South East
Website: http://www.parcel-poke.co.uk/
Summary: The developer of the world's first instant gift messaging service (iGMS) - it enables users to send real gifts without a postal address - received investment from South East Seed Fund, managed by Finance South East, and nine angel investors. It plans to pursue an international roll-out of the Facebook application.
Jun 2009
White Springs
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £550,000
Sector: Business services, Education, Coaching and Training, Technology
Location: South East
Website: http://www.white-springs.com/
Summary: The sales training technology provider, which supplies and integrates its software into leading CRM vendors to reinforce sales training, was backed by private investors, as well as The Bank of London and Middle East (BLME), and the South East Seed Fund, managed by Finance South East.
May 2009
BeCheeky.com
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: Undisclosed
Sector: IT & Internet, New Media, Retail - Non Food
Location: South West
Website: http://www.becheeky.com/
Summary: Online lingerie and swimwear retailer BeCheeky.com received a second round in funding from earlier investor South West Ventures, part of YFM Group. The funding vehicle previously backed the company set up by husband and wife James and Sarah Akin-Smith with £200,000 as part of a £630,000 fundraising.
May 2009
Toximet Ltd
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £665,000
Sector: Chemicals and Health products, Manufacturing - Food, Medical and Health, Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology, Science and Research
Location: South East
Website: http://www.toximet.com/
Summary: The University of Greenwich spin-out has created a quality testing instrument for food producers and manufacturers to ensure products meet stringent international food saftey standards are met. It raised its funding round from the South East Seed Fund and angel investors.
Apr 2009
Travel Intelligence Group (TIG)
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £2.2m
Sector: IT & Internet, Leisure, Pubs, Restaurants & Hotels, New Media, Retail - Non Food, Technology
Location: Greater London
Website: http://www.travelintelligence.com/
Summary: London-based luxury and boutique hotels website Travel Intelligence Group (TIG) raised £2.2m via two private equity firms Big Bang Ventures and Saints Capital to develop its technology platform. Brent Hoberman and Martha Lane-Fox, co-founders of Lastminute.com also provided their support, with Hoberman joining the advisory board as chairman
Apr 2009
QuantaSol
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £1.35m
Sector: Greentech, Science and Research, Technology
Location: South East
Website: http://www.quantasol.com/
Summary: Surrey-based solar cell company QuantaSol raised £1.35m via a consortium of investors led by Low Carbon Accelerator, which invested £480,000, with money also coming from Imperial Innovations, Numis Securities Ltd, Netscientific Ltd, and Sheffield University Enterprise.
Mar 2009
Warwick Effect Polymers (WEP)
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: £1m
Sector: Manufacturing - Non Food, Pharmaceuticals / Biotechnology, Science and Research, Technology
Location: West Midlands
Website: http://www.warwickeffectpolymers.co.uk/
Summary: The Warwick University spin-out raised £1m via venture capital firm Catapult Ventures, which invested £600,000, Mercia Technology Seed Fund, Oxford Technology VCT, private investors and management. The biotechnology firm is now looking to commercialise its technology.
Jan 2009
WhoseView.ie
Investment stage: early stageInvestment completed: €120,000
Sector: IT & Internet
Location: Dublin
Website: http://www.whoseview.ie/
Summary: The Dublin-based local reviews website raised €100,000 from an angel investor, plus €20,000 from Enterprise Ireland.
Aug 2008
Cafe in the Park
Investment stage: developmentInvestment completed: £525,000
Sector: Leisure, Pubs, Restaurants & Hotels, Retail - Food
Location: South East
Website: http://www.cafeinthepark.com/
Summary: The park-based cafe chain is looking to expand. With two cafes - one in Hertfordshire, the other in Buckinghamshire - husband and wife team Ian and Carly Trisk-Grove raised £525,000, including £250,000 from the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme and £200,000 from angel network Beer & Partners.
