YFM and Maven sign on dotted line with £5m backing of Summize

A Manchester-based start-up that aims to save legal departments hours creating and reviewing contracts has raised £5m in Series A funding from YFM Equity Partners and Maven.

Summize has developed a SaaS solution that automates the contract creation process and provides teams with analytics and summaries. The start-up estimates its users save 85 per cent in time spent reviewing contracts.

Pixaera raises £4.9m to bring VR to workplace training

Pixaera, a start-up bringing VR to workplace training, has raised $5.7m (£4.9m) in a seed round led by LocalGlobe. ERM, York IE and angel investors also participated.

Businesses can access a library of immersive training simulations on safety and leadership to mental health on Pixaera’s platform. Once immersed, employees can hone their skills, put theoretical training into practice and rehearse and repeat procedures.

£3.9m raised to give a billion women better breast screening access

A start-up looking to give a billion women worldwide access to better breast screening has raised a further €4.5m (£3.9m), taking its total raised to €11m (£9.5m). VI Partners led the Series A round with EQT Foundation, a family office and a digital health investor also participating.

AI software platform Vara partners with local screening clinics to provide breast cancer screenings to women who do not have access to government or private screening programmes. Vara says its platform can prevent as many as 42 per cent missed cancers and reduce radiologist workload by as much as 73 per cent.

Octopus Ventures wraps around Sidekick

Sidekick, a digital investment manager, has announced a £3.3m pre-seed equity round led by Octopus Ventures. Seedcamp, Semantic and angel investors also participated in the round.

Sidekick offers access to alternative investments and the ability to borrow against these portfolios. Customers will have access to a Sidekick investment team, who will provide regular updates on portfolio performance and share editorial content to help customers build their investment knowledge.

Mercia and Foresight put PDB Biotech under microscope

A Nottingham University spinout that has devised a blood test to better manage tuberculosis (TB) has raised an additional £2.4m. Mercia and Foresight led the round alongside the University of Nottingham and angel investors.

PBD Biotech has developed a rapid screening test that can identify TB at an early stage before the individual develops symptoms. Although the disease is treatable, it is currently difficult to identify carriers.

Mobility start-up drives £250,000 funding

Smart Kiwi, a data intelligence platform for mobility operators, has raised £250,000 in a pre-seed round led by SFC Capital. Additional investors include Plug & Play and start-up Wise Guys.

Smart Kiwi predicts demand for e-scooters, bikes, mopeds and cars, with real time updates on how to most efficiently distribute a fleet. The platform also provides information on when to reduce the price on vehicles in certain locations and when to put the fleet into maintenance.

More Deals of the Week

Deals of the Week Oct 17 to Oct 21 – a Growth Business round-up

Deals of the Week Oct 10 to Oct 14 – a Growth Business round-up

Deals of the Week October 3 to October 7 – a Growth Business round-up