Qardus is an ethical and Sharia-compliant financing platform for social impact Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and investors. Qardus asserts that the 3.8 million Muslim community in the UK, and 25 million in Europe, is massively underserved when it comes to accessing interest-free (Sharia-compliant) structures. It intends to change this. Qardus offers up to £200,000 in innovative interest-free business financing to eligible SMEs for tenors of up to 24 months and is Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approved. Qardus points out that it has provided over £250,000 in financing to some high social impact SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic, maintained a 100% track record with a 0% default rate to date, and featured in media entities like Sifted, Islamic Finance News, Peer-to-Peer Finance News, and Fintech Futures amongst others. It will use 30% of the investment on marketing costs for acquiring SMEs and investors on its platform, 60% on growing its team, and 10% on obtaining additional licenses to expand its services.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£313,009
Spendology is a fintech company that licenses a digital-first SaaS-based travel money platform to retailers globally, addressing the demand for travel cash, which remains popular among Brits, with over £56 billion spent annually. Inspired by the inconvenience of traditional currency exchange services, the company's chairman, Don Clark, aims to revolutionize the industry, much like he did in a previous financial services venture that resulted in a significant sale. Spendology's innovative platform allows travel companies to offer online ordering and home delivery of travel cash, generating additional profits for these businesses and royalties for Spendology. Their platform is available to travel companies of all sizes worldwide, already operating in the UK and launching in the US, with plans to expand to 28 countries, serving a market worth $1 trillion.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£354,053
StepLadder is a financial technology company dedicated to helping people buy their first home. The company asserts that it is tackling the housing crisis with its 'StepLadder Circles' that is based on the Rotating Savings and Credit Association model (ROSCA). Users have to state a monthly monetary contribution and a financial goal. The portal then adds them to a group of people with the same goal wherein all users contribute the same amount each month. The portal then randomly allocates one person in the circle each month the total contribution received. This repeats every month for the duration of the circle until everyone has received their deposit. It has awarded over £750,000 to members on its portal. The platform has featured in The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, and The Independent. It also won 'Innovator of the Year' in the Women in Tech Awards 2020. StepLadder will use the investment received to improve its pan-UK growth via referral and ambassador programs.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£161,420
Sustainable Accelerator 2019, also known as, Sustainable Accelerator Investment Fund (SAIF) supports the UK’s best EIS & SEIS sustainability startups. The company's goal is to empower the next generation of businesses to redefine the way we consume energy, clean air, manage waste, and apply smart resource technology. Sustainable Accelerator 2019 actively supports start-up growth, they diversify portfolios, offer sector/strategy specific programme, capture equity stakes before rapid growth. The company looks forward to empowering the next generation of businesses driving sustainability forward.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,021,720
Sustainable Accelerator actively supports start up growth for the UK's best SEIS & EIS sustainability startups. They use experienced mentors for 1-on-1 support from proven industry veterans and portfolio services to help new businesses grow.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£829,600
Using artificial intelligence to accurately match a person's CV with a business's job requirements. Recruitment Smart have developed SniperAI, a tool created by specialists and a researcher from Carnegie Mellon University to quickly search and scan the ideal candidate for a specific job role.
This technology can be integrated into a company's job listings to automatically screen submitted CVs and returns a suitability score. In addition, as HR departments are under constant scrutiny to provide information on equality in the workplace, SniperAI can offer a list of appropriate candidates without bias. Recruitment Smart will generate revenue from initial set-up costs and licensing the product to businesses.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£272,650
Super Snaps is a photo printing service designed for the fast-growing millennial audience. Super Snaps has become a proven brand and model as its team has printed more than 2,000,000+ photos since its launch. The company has more than 40,000 customers who have given it a +5 star Trustpilot rating. In 2018, Super Snaps became the official reseller for Polaroid. Furthermore, Super Snaps is planning to incorporate international expansion and innovative functionality. With its proceeds, the company aims to inaugurate seven new product lines by generating new revenue streams and growing market share.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£43,950
A share tip service to save investors time and money by consolidating the most trusted tipsters and analysts to follow and copy. Stockomendation aims to increase trading activity and engagement on trading platforms by aggregating, tracking, collating and analysing tips offered by those working in the industry. They use a multitude of sources including brokers, websites and researchers so investors can view and follow track records of success with confidence.
Stockomendation has received a £100k UK Government Innovation Grant, £200k from the Development Bank of Wales Technology Fund, partnered with a leading UK University and developed artificial intelligence technologies using Big Data to analyse the market for stock tips and advising which shares to buy or sell. To date, in the UK more than 40,000 stock tips and 300 analysts and tipsters have been tracked for the 7,500 current investors on the platform.
Revenue is generated via monthly membership subscriptions, as well as licensing agreements, partnerships, sponsorships and advertisements. Stockomendation has launched in the UK and is now seeking funds to expand into the EU, USA, Canada and Asia. In addition, this funding round will allow the business to launch further monetisation methods to increase B2C and B2B relations, recruit key hires, develop multi-lingual offerings, increase data collection and develop more sophisticated functionalities such as widgets.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£381,725
VINEX is a digital Business-To-Business (B2B) trading platform that connects buyers and sellers to source, sample, negotiate and execute contracts related to wine. The company has traded more than 115 million bottles of wine across 26 countries since 2016. It has also witnessed 3,200 monthly visitors on its platform with an average of 80 million litres of wine traded each month, from 16 countries. The company recently launched VINPay, an industry-first financial technology service customised for the wine industry, providing wineries with guaranteed payment and increased access to capital liquidity. VINEX argues that VINPay pays wineries in 3 days from dispatch, rather than them waiting for 90+ days, and removes non-payment risk. The company points out that it has already started processing invoices, making and receiving payments from 7 countries. VINEX aims to become a contender in the wholesale wine market that is set to exceed US$381 billion in 2021. It will use the investment to help wineries invest and flourish.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£159,720
Charm is a peer-to-peer impact investment platform that allows a user to use his/her investments to drive positive change in the world while earning a financial return. Morgan Stanley estimates that 85% of people are interested in sustainable investing. Charm enables individuals to fund projects led by high-impact entrepreneurs selling clean energy solutions in developing economies. Users can view their investments on the company's transparent, personalised impact investment dashboard, as well as, earn social, environmental and financial bottom line returns for their contributions. The company secured a £496,000 grant funding to develop its platform, refine its offering & provide growth capital. It is in the process of becoming an appointed representative of a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorised entity post this funding round. It will use the investment to expand its team, develop its platform, and raise brand awareness.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£273,720
