News

This week (w/c 17 Sept 2018) P2P investment aggregator Orca announced that it was raising £500K on equity crowdfunding platform, Seedrs. By the end of play Tuesday, the Fintech startup had exceeded it's campaign target. For two years, Orca has been providing market-leading research on the peer to peer lending (P2P) sector. Their data-driven analyses and insights have supported ret...
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Startups looking to drive innovation within the logistics and supply chain space - this could be for you! Wincanton, the largest British logistics company, is once again looking for tech startups to pitch their solutions for industry specific challenges, as part of their returning W2 Labs innovation programme. Providing supply chain solutions to some of the world’s most admired brands acros...
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Portugal-based EdTech startup Magikbee, who are on a mission to reimagine kids’ learning by using the childs own world to teach in a fun and engaging way, secures a further $250,000 round of funding, that will help the company to continue to develop its edtech portfolio. Aiming to reimagine screen time by creating an ecosystem that promotes active fun and learning, over the past two years, ...
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Perlego - billed as the 'Spotify for textbooks' - recently closed a $4.8m (£3.7) venture round, signalling a new chapter in it's mission to grow the company across the UK and Europe. Leading the round is ADV, with participation from existing angel investors, including Simon Franks, co-founder of Lovefilm, Peter Hinssen and Alex Chesterman, founder of Zoopla. Founded by Gauthier Van Mal...
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  Twenty aspiring early stage NI technology startups pitched for the chance to win a cash prize for their businesses, closing Ignite NI’s first Propel Pre-Accelerator programme, highlighting a bright future for Northern Irish Innovation. The Propel teams showcased their innovative tech products and services at a packed-out pitch event in the Ormeau Baths in a bid to secure prizes...
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New technology like AI, automation and robotics could pave the way for better working conditions – including higher pay and reduced workloads – a new TUC report called 'A Future that Works for Working People' sets out (10th September 2018).  Government and business estimate that new technologies could boost UK GDP by at least £200bn in the next decade. But most UK...
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A couple of weeks ago we announced that one Early-stage Irish start-up will walk away with £50,000-worth of cash and business support at the Innovation Nation 2018 Ascend Start-up Competition. Applications now close asap! The inaugural tech and innovation conference taking place in Newry on 27th September has teamed up with leading startup platform Startacus (that's us!) to d...
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Workspace accelerator Huckletree has launched Fairer Funding Now, a campaign calling for greater diversity among startup leaders receiving investment, after a study revealed the extent of discrimination in the funding process, with almost half of startup leaders in the UK and Ireland having experienced or known someone who has faced discrimination while seeking funding. The Huckletree survey...
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Countingup raises £2.3m in seed funding to offer accounting and banking to small businesses, receiving the backing of leading fintech investors, led by Forward Partners with participation from Frontline Ventures and JamJar Investments. Founded by Tim Fouracre, formerly CEO of Clear Books Plc, Countingup, a revolutionary mobile app, allows small businesses to do their banking, bookkeepi...
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Startacus has teamed up with the inaugural Innovation Nation 2018 to deliver Ascend, an all-Ireland tech start-up pitch competition, where 10-12 early-stage startups will be given a platform to showcase their latest innovation. Innovation Nation 2018, taking place in Newry on Thursday 27 September, is a first for the Newry, Mourne and Down district and will aim to lift the lid on how you and your...
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Ignite returns to Newcastle, home to its inaugural accelerator programme, to launch a 3-month funded, pre-accelerator programme for up to 20 early-stage businesses. Founded in Newcastle in 2011, Ignite has been investing in and supporting entrepreneurs and startups around the UK ever since, accelerating over 130 startups, historically investing in 25+ companies each year, and mentoring and suppor...
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Urban Massage announces new on-demand wellness services, including fitness and beauty, and immediately raises over £2.5m in investment via equity crowdfunding platform, Seedrs. This morning (13 Aug 18), Urban Massage, the tech-forward wellness app, announced plans to launch a new suite of wellness services from September this year. At the same time, they launched their public crowdfunding c...
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