The British Design Fund (BDF) has opened its sixth fund, and first Evergreen Fund, to investors . It will seek to continue championing the very best of British innovation, invention and engineering, from the UK’s most promising product design and manufacturing start-ups.

Fundpath, the critical data and business intelligence service for the wealth and asset management industry, has copmpleted a £2 million funding round with its venture capital partner, Fuel Ventures. This second round of funding follows a £4m investment made in March 2023.

Dorset Business Angels will hold its next pitch event on 20th May. It has already confirmed four pitching companies who are seeking funding and will be presenting their businesses at the event.

Insurtech PeppercornAI has raised £3.25 million in its latest funding round. The funding, of which Wealth Club raised £1.9m, included high net worth investors, existing investors EHE Capital and Angels Invest Wales. The round was heavily oversubscribed despite reports showing investment into UK fintech and insurtech was down 34% last year. 

Startup companies are falling into insolvency at the fastest rate in a decade. What does this mean for founders and their angel backers? John Baker and Hemal Gor of PwC UK share their thoughts....

Startups are an important aspect of the UK corporate ecosystem, it is important for the health of the overall UK economy that we have an environment where startups are capable of succeeding. Analysis that we have undertaken suggests that many startups are failing and as a consequence founders and shareholders need to take a more proactive approach to securing the funding required to deliver a sustainable future.

Cornwall is set to develop its own angel investment network to foster the growth of local businesses.  The Cornwall Angel Network is a joint initiative from the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and the British Business Bank, aiming to help establish a more diverse investment community in the Duchy. Those behind the network are also hoping it will stimulate higher levels of equity investment in the county.

According to the British Business Bank, the network will complement other angel networks, such as Tech South West’s Angel Investor Programme, and funding streams including the lender's own South West Investment Fund which launched last year.

A new University of Liverpool spin-out company, Atomik AM, brings together cutting-edge chemistry and solutions-focused engineering expertise to enable manufacturers to reduce cost, waste and adverse social impact.

Three businesses who have turbo-charged employee growth are featured in a prestigious list of the UK’s fastest growing businesses led by women which was created by E2E, in collaboration with The Independent, and is a definitive compilation honouring the exceptional achievements of the top 100 fastest-growing businesses led or founded by women in the UK.

The British Business Bank has appointed Kristen McLeod CBE as its new Chief Strategy Officer, effective from September 2024.

Clean Growth Fund has invested in the £10m seed round of Oriole Networks, a new company that revolutionises the performance of AI systems and data centres. The investment was made alongside UCL Technology Fund, XTX Ventures and Dorilton Ventures, and with support from the Innovate UK Investor Partnership.

Edinburgh-based biotechnology firm, Calcivis, has secured £5m in funding to roll out its cutting-edge dental technology.

The firm's patented system enables early detection of tooth decay - which in turn can enable timely preventive treatment - by deploying a biologic diagnostic agent in combination with an imaging device. Calcivis aims to revolutionise early-intervention diagnostics in dentistry. Its innovative technology uses bioluminescence to highlight quickly and clearly where preventive measures are required before decay becomes irreversible.

Animal Health Angels has made its first investment is in Marleybones, a female founded business which is a fresh dog food brand known for its unique pantry fresh® solution.

This is part of a £900k seed funding led by JamJar Investments, the venture capital firm set up by the founders of innocent drinks, and further supported by Active Partners, the consumer investor behind Soho house, Rapha and KatKin. The funds will be used to grow the Marleybones team, expand its presence in both online and offline channels and broaden its retail footprint after its recent UK launches in Waitrose and Whole Foods Market.