Start-up keeping your data safe raises £9.8m
Worldr, a platform which allows companies to retain data sovereignty over information shared on communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Outlook and Slack, has raised £9.8m in seed funding. Molten Ventures led the round with participation from IQ Capital, Playfair Capital, MD One Ventures, Pretiosum Ventures and Navigate VC.
Worldr stores all communications and files within the customer’s own environment to limit the risk of data breaches on a third-party server. It also retains messages from WhatsApp in a secure storage facility to meet GDPR and other compliance standards.
TikTok-style workplace learning app raises £4.9m
A TikTok-style platform for workplace learning has raised $5.7m (£4.9m) in a seed round led by AlbionVC, with Chalfen Ventures, Edenred Capital, Portfolio Ventures, Blue Lion Global and leading angels.
5Mins features bite-sized lessons from educators and coaches worldwide covering skills for the workplace. Based on a user’s learning interests, role and needs, the platform then recommends deeper learning options such as courses, books and coaching through its marketplace.
Airly secures £4.7m to create fresh air
A cleantech aiming to clean up the air has raised $5.5m (£4.7m) in Series A funding. Firstminute Capital and Pi Labs led the round with participation from the Sir Richard Branson Family Office, AENU, Untitled, Semapa Next, TO Ventures and angel investors.
Approximately nine in 10 people around the world breathe unclean air, the company says, and more than 10 million people die each year from air pollution. The Airly platform provides air quality monitoring to local governments, companies and local communities.
AI start-up helping companies achieve net zero receives £5m
TOffeeAM, a software company using AI to help design net-zero solutions, has raised £5m in Series A funding. London-based Presidio Ventures Europe and East Innovate led the round. IQ Capital, Exor Seed, US venture fund Type One Ventures, Italian investor Excellis and angel investors also participated.
ToffeeAM’s designs can enable the wider use of sustainable fuels, the design of more efficient batteries, the development of advanced nuclear technologies and other innovations needed for a sustainable future.
Carbon Re secures £4.2m to tackle high-emission industries
Cambridge University and UCL joint spin-out Carbon Re, a climate tech company building AI to decarbonise energy-intensive industries, has raised £4.2m in seed funding. Berlin-based Planet A Ventures led the investment, with follow-on participation from Clean Growth Fund, UCL Technology Fund and Cambridge Enterprise.
Carbon Re’s AI platform enables the pollutive industries, such as cement, steel and glass, which account for over 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce their CO2 output. Each installation of the software, it says, saves as much CO2 as taking 11,000 cars off the road.
Low-alcohol spritz brand raises a glass with £2.5m
Something and Nothing, a London-based premium low-alcohol drinks company, has raised £2.5m in an investment round which included ACF Investors and Rianta capital.
The brand produces a range of premium sodas and a low-alcohol wine-based spritz. The company uses natural ingredients in all its products and is marketed as an alternative to soft drinks or zero-sugar substitutes.
Friend meet-up planner says hello to £1.92m
An app that makes it easier to make plans with friends has raised £1.92m. ACF Investors, Supernode Global, Boost Capital and angel investors participated in the round.
London-based Howbout links friends’ social calendars so they can see when they’re all free to meet, which the company says and is part of a growing trend away from public social networks such as Facebook, in favour of more private, closed groups.
More Deals of the Week
Deals of the Week Oct 31 to Nov 4 – a Growth Business round-up
Deals of the Week Oct 24 to Oct 28 – a Growth Business round-up
Deals of the Week Oct 17 to Oct 21 – a Growth Business round-up
