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.

Onfido, an innovative start-up created by students at the University of Oxford which uses artificial intelligence to verify customer identities, has been sold to Entrust Corp, a global leader in trusted payments, identities and data security.

Investment and pension provider Prosper is establishing a back office at Capital Quarter in Cardiff following an investment of £520,000 from the Development Bank of Wales and a syndicate of 11 business angels.

Ready2Scale is an EU funded project that is providing 25 digital and deep tech startups with €1.5 million of funding through 60k equity-free grants. The project will also be providing the startups with a tailored 6-month acceleration program, which includes access to specialised investment readiness training, up to 5 market discovery missions across Europe, access to 100+ expert mentors, and much more.

Ingenion Medical has been awarded a CE Mark for cymactive™ 2.0R, its novel indwelling catheter designed to mimic natural urination, a key milestone for the business. With the CE Mark, Ingenion can start European-wide sales and marketing of the company’s innovative first catheter, indicated for men experiencing chronic, non-neurogenic urinary retention.

Ingenion is seeking to raise up to £3 million this year to support commercialisation of its 1st medical device to treat chronic, non-neurogenic retention, as well as the further development of its device to treat chronic female incontinence & retention.

To date, Ingenion has raised over £4.8 million in equity from High Net Worth Investors and family offices in the UK, the USA and other countries. In addition, Ingenion has been awarded four grants, including its latest grant announced on 10 April 2024.

To find out more about this exciting company and how you can invest go to our Funding Pages website to see the full investment ad.

Read the full press release here https://ingenionmedical.co.uk/ingenion-medical-announces-ce-mark-for-cymactive/

A University of Glasgow start-up that is set to revolutionise the hydrogen energy sector has announced the successful closure of its pre-seed funding round totalling more than £1m in equity and grants.

Bridgend-based AI technology firm Clinithink is helping to improve patient care, relieve workloads for stretched clinicians and deliver significant savings to the NHS with investment from the Development Bank of Wales.

New data shows the alarming impact that financial pressures are having on university and business collaboration. Our innovative economy relies on this collaboration to drive growth and prosperity.