Seedrs’ January 2024 Highlights 

The United Kingdom’s score in the National Entrepreneurial Context Index (NECI) continues to fall, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2023/2024 Report, released this week in Morocco.

Coenseo Ventures has announced the launch of FundIQ, a groundbreaking platform designed to transform the early-stage investment market in the UK. FundIQ emerges from the successful acquisition of Capital Pilot by Coenseo Ventures, bringing with it a legacy of innovation and a commitment to enhancing the investability of startup companies.

Focused on fostering the equal opportunity for all within innovation and education, Catalyst has launched its free work experience programme, 

BugBiome, a biotech harnessing nature’s microbial defences for pest protection to benefit human and planet health, has successfully closed a pre-seed funding round, securing £310k from Cambridge Angels and Discovery Park Ventures.  This investment will support BugBiome’s mission to address agricultural and human pest protection with naturally derived solutions harnessing the microbiome as a sustainable source of alternatives to synthetic and bio-accumulative chemicals.

The team behind Scotland’s flagship event for business founders and investors has launched a survey to try and establish clarity around the state of the investment landscape in Scotland.

Global digital video consumption grew 24% in the previous year, according to a recent report [1], and now accounts for 82% of all Internet traffic according to Cisco [3]. Meanwhile, investment in artificial intelligence also grew at an exponential rate, from 11% of VC funding dollars in 2022, to 26% in 2023 [2]. However, the majority of AI research continues to be confined to written inputs and outputs.

London startup, Koalaa, whose world-first soft prosthetic arms are aiding independence for individuals with limb differences around the world, has closed a funding round of $1.2 million (£925,000).  The round was initiated by existing investor British Design Fund and includes £200,000 secured from the Imperial College Enterprise Fund II (ICEF), which invests in startup companies that have a strong connection to the University.  Business angels also took part in the round. The funds raised in this round, which started in July 2022, are being used to expand Koalaa’s business internationally.

Clue Software, a provider of software for investigations and intelligence management, has raised £4 million led by Frog Capital, with £1 million coming from angel investors and employees, supported by investment advisor ScaleUp Group. Founded by Clare Elford (CEO), and Thomas Drohan (CCO), the tech for good platform has grown exponentially despite challenging UK market conditions for tech investment.

Algor Education has received investment from the Investors Club.

London-based startup AudioStack has raised a £2.5 million pre-Series A round led by Quadri Ventures to revolutionize large scale audio production for enterprises through Artificial Intelligence.

Manchester-based The Insights Family, a global leader in kids, parents, and family market intelligence, has announced a significant £5.6 million investment round led by BGF – one of the largest and most experienced growth capital investors in the UK and Ireland.

BGF has invested £5 million in the business, with additional participation from DSW Ventures, – the venture capital arm of Dow Schofield Watts, marking a pivotal step for The Insights Family.