Blog by Briony Phillips, Investment Activator
There was good news for founders raising in the South West in November – 14 companies have closed investment rounds totalling a little over £17.5m, read on to find out more about those who have disclosed their investments.
Bertram Fairbanks
A commercial law firm in Exeter has rebranded after securing new investment. Formerly known as Bertram Law, the company will now be known as Bertram Fairbanks after being backed by entrepreneur Andy Fairbanks, who also joins as an investor and co-director. The firm – which has also moved to Pynes Hill – operates through an alternative business structure (ABS). This is a company that has non-lawyers in its ownership and management structure.
Capsule Insurance
Capsule, a specialist insurance provider to high-growth companies in the UK, announced a partnership with Vouch, a San Francisco-based insurance platform that provides business insurance for high-growth technology startups in the US. With this partnership, the two companies will work together to ensure that they can support their clients’ needs internationally. The partnership comes just a year after Capsule’s launch, and will help startups and tech innovators across all the main markets protect themselves as they grow.
Emm
A Bristol startup has developed a high-tech menstrual cup it says could “revolutionise” women’s health – and help close the gender health gap. SETsquared Bristol member Emm was founded by Jenny Button in 2020 and is now working in partnership with the University of Cambridge having closed its pre-seed funding round of more than $1m (£870,000). The company is hoping to tap into the $25bn feminine hygiene market with its product, which syncs with a smartphone app and uses sensing technology to monitor and provide data and insights to the user.
Flabba
A tech company whose remote working software is used by the Home Office and the NHS has raised £400,000 from npif – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (npif), and angel investors. Flabba’s advanced platform integrates with standard videoconferencing software such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams to provide a workflow solution.
Journey
Hotel marketing technology specialist Journey Hospitality had raised £5 million in growth capital funding from private equity firm Averroes Capital. Journey Hospitality will use the funding to further product development and market expansion as well as to scale up the company’s platform and bolster teams of senior executives. The investment is the first growth funding raise Journey Hospitality has secured since it was launched in 2010 and follows the launch of the firm’s onejourney e-commerce platform to aggregate hotel products and services.
RoleMapper
A tech company in Exeter that helps organisations recruit more diversely has raised £1.75m in its latest funding round. Role Mapper has developed a platform that allows companies to design and structure jobs that improve diversity when hiring staff. Its technology also helps firms recruit candidates based on their skill set rather than educational background – as well as hybrid and flexible working. The funding round was led by asset management firm Mercia and included existing backer Qantx and private investors.
This article is written as part of the Investment Activator Programme (IAP) in the West of England. This programme is run by TechSPARK and is kindly sponsored by TLT LLP, delaware, West of England Combined Authority, UWE, Sanderson, Engine Shed and Rocketmakers.
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