My Beauty Squad is a technology platform having a team of 120 mobile beauticians across four cities. It aims to be the number one beauty platform for women to book mobile-beautician appointments, watch tutorials, get advice on beauty products, and be part of a beauty community. The My Beauty Squad app consists of features like an online booking medium for mobile beauticians, promotional apps for big brands, and blogger apps with product information. The company has completed over 5800 bookings since launching its application. It won the 2019 'Best Mobile Beauty Specialists' Award by SME News. The company will use the investment to improve its technology, operations and marketing in London and other major cities. It also plans to launch its proprietary beauty product lines, including lash collection (October 2020) and beauty tools set (February 2021).
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£60,451
MusicGurus is an e-learning platform that offers video courses, interactive sheet music and online tests/exams. The company argues that conventional music learning is archaic consisting of lessons in either paper or PDF formats. MusicGurus aims to change this. Its portal features celebrity artists and pro musicians teaching all instruments and styles allowing users to avail the scrolling sheet music option and even "Play with a live band". MusicGurus asserts that it has 40,000+ users worldwide. It aims to become a contender in the $18 billion music learning industry. The company has raised £700,000+ to date from Venture Capitalist’s (VCs) such as Ascension Ventures and business angels such as the founder of Caffè Nero. MusicGurus has also partnered with music establishments such as Rockschool, Sony ATV, Hal Leonard, and Schott, amongst others. It will use the investment to develop new celebrity and partner courses, increase its sales, and prepare for a Series A round in 2021.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£176,336
StanMe aims to be the first community marketplace to enable collaboration and co-selling between independent creators. It asserts that the majority of creators have to continuously learn techniques to market themselves, adapt to social platforms’ ever-changing algorithms, and grow and maintain a large community to generate a sufficient amount of sales. StanMe claims that not all can do so and intends to address this situation with its services. It launched its public beta in July 2020 with more than 1,000 users and has processed over 130 transactions since its beta launch. StanMe claims it has more than 1,900 pre-registered users on its waiting list and aspires to become a contender in the creator economy valued at $11 billion in 2019. It will use the investment to accelerate its growth, invest in technology, and boost marketing initiatives.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£164,080
Stark is a blockchain connected software application that allows businesses to accept digital currencies peer-to-peer via online and instore routes. The application supports same-day settlements supporting 30 international currencies and endeavours to make acquiring a 'Merchant Acquiring Account' (MAA) an effortless task for business owners and entrepreneurs. Payment companies, gateways and financial technology providers can integrate with Stark to offer new solutions to their business clients. Stark's goal is to build a team that is passionate about technology and helping businesses succeed. The company will use the investment to enter the market with an effective sales-focused marketing campaign.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£182,366
JiveBird allows users to create and send a greetings package that consists of a personal voice message, music, eCard, a photo or selfie, and a gift to their loved ones or acquaintances. The company asserts that its package can be sent at the last minute or in advance. Jivebird claims that for the millions of people who send greetings and gifts every year, its portal provides a personal, cheaper, and convenient way to send greetings. Jivebird argues that it has no direct competitors. Its exit strategy is to sell the company when it achieves the growth metrics in the business plan, projected to be within five years of consumer launch.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
Withheld
GENEROUS APE is an online shopping destination for the style-led conscious shopper. The company asserts that the word 'APE' is an acronym for 'Animal, People and Environment' and is targeted towards sustainable shopping. GENEROUS APE argues that it has completed eight weeks of beta-testing with an average of 450 visitors showing interest in its website and 47.62% being returning customers. The company asserts that the average basket value was £89 with partnerships signed with 80 style-led sustainable brands. GENEROUS APE onboarded 'DHL GO GREEN' as its primary delivery associate and partnered with World Land Trust on the 'Buy an Acre' scheme to facilitate wildlife protection in perpetuity. The company will use the investment for optimising marketing, boost organic growth channels and paid media, improve the consumer experience, and develop a personalised dashboard for each customer.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£208,525
Faizpay is a financial technology entity that provides a cost-effective alternative to card payments in-store and online. The company facilitates account-to-account payments from a consumer to a merchant via 'Open Banking' as per the European Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and bespoke direct Application Programming Interface (APIs) with financial institutions, when available. It asserts that their online tool provides seamless integration with a retailer’s e-commerce system including plug-ins and Software Development Kit (SDKs) for WordPress, Android and iOS. FaizPay states it also allows merchants to offer first-time and regular discounts that automatically apply to transactions. The company has 71 fully registered merchants with 95 registered terminals. FaizPay has onboarded the nine biggest UK banks and signed notable entities like Monzo, Revolut and Starling. The company will use the investment to grow its team, hire additional tech development and sales personnel, apply for an e-money license in the UK, and seek relevant financial authorisation to provide its services in the European Union (EU).
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£536,714
easyHire is a cloud-based technology platform that deals in event and construction equipment rentals. It possesses over 3 million pieces of inventory. easyHire is operating in the £23 billion equipment rental industry in Europe and aims to be the category leader in it. The company raised £1.5 million from leading investors and built a revenue-generating Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. It is backed by renowned entrepreneurs Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Fabio Cannavale, as well as, venture capital firm Pilabs. The company owns brand exclusivity for the easyToolhire and easyEventhire franchises across 30 territories. It continued to strengthen its business during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. easyHire will use the investment to open up new markets, invest in product development, and boost its marketing initiatives.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£520,161
Strowz is an innovative, all-in-one financial lifestyle App that allows users to create multiple savings buckets earning 2% interest, link bank accounts and credit cards, invest in high growth funds, and set up customised round-ups. The Strowz App combines technology, finance, lifestyle and helps users save and invest intuitively. As of May 2020, Strowz savers have targeted over £3.6 million across 260+ savings buckets. The company also won the 'Best Programmatic Technology For Trading Award' for three consecutive years in 2017, 2018, and 2019 from WSL and Fund Technology awards. The company's growth strategy will include 'Word Of Mouth' referrals, social media & digital ads, strategic partnerships, amongst others. The company will use the investment funds to increase growth, focus on product development, and launch Strowz in Canada and the US.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£275,009
Unifi is a social community app designed by university students for university students. The app allows students to discover one another, connect, debate, find local work and interact in the campus marketplace. Unifi aims to create micro-communities across campuses. The company aims to solve the problem of isolation and lack of inclusion on university campuses, which have populations of anywhere between 20-40,000 students. The company conducted surveys amongst 1,000+ student participants where over 85% ultimately responded that they would use Unifi. They will use 40% of the investment for marketing expenses, 21.5% for paying staff, 25% for app development, 11% as working capital, and 2.5% as administrative costs.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£243,038
