Mid-Week Tech News Roundup – August 19th to August 23rd 2024
21 Aug, 20246 minutesRobiquity Co-founder Launches New AI Startup, Attracting Talent from Matillion, Deloitte, an...
Robiquity Co-founder Launches New AI Startup, Attracting Talent from Matillion, Deloitte, and Coutts
The co-founder of the £50 million automation software company Robiquity has unveiled his latest AI venture. Tom Gardner, who exited the Manchester-based RPA experts following a significant investment in 2022, has spent the past year developing Fireflai, a generative AI-based platform he envisions as a global leader.
Gardner's new B2B SaaS platform, co-founded with CTO Craig Sumner (formerly of Deloitte and Rubix), aims to help companies leverage their data more effectively through generative AI. The startup has already secured a number of clients and has attracted a strong team, including Laura Malins (ex-VP of Product at Matillion) and James Clarry (ex-COO of Coutts) as non-executive directors.
Prior to founding Fireflai, Gardner was a key figure in the growth of Robiquity. He co-founded the company in 2016 with Chris Wright and Jack Rimmer to address the rising demand for robotic process automation.
Under Gardner's leadership, Robiquity achieved significant success. The company expanded its operations to North America and the Middle East, serving high-profile clients like Virgin Media, Finastra, and Jaguar Land Rover. In 2022, Robiquity secured an investment from Growth Capital Partners to fuel its growth ambitions in the automation sector.
CultureAI's investors, Mercia Ventures, have been nominated for two prestigious awards at the Insider Media NW Dealmakers Awards
Mercia Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm, has been nominated for two awards at the Insider Media NW Dealmakers Awards. One of these nominations is for Deal of the Year (sub £10m), recognising CultureAI's successful Series A fundraising round. This round was co-led by Mercia Ventures and Smedvig Ventures, with participation from existing investors.
CultureAI, a leading cybersecurity firm based in Manchester, UK, has been recognised for its innovative approach to human risk management. Their platform empowers organisations to measure, improve, and respond to employee cyber risks and security behaviors. By leveraging data-driven insights and personalised coaching, CultureAI helps businesses create a strong security culture and reduce the risk of breaches caused by human error
This marks Mercia Ventures' third investment in the cybersecurity sector and their second cyber investment in Manchester. Notably, this is the first time they've invested alongside Smedvig Ventures.
This nomination underscores the significant impact and potential of CultureAI's work. Additionally, Mercia Ventures has been acknowledged for their exceptional contributions as a Venture Capital Team of the Year.
ebb3 Secures JOSCAR Accreditation, Reinforcing its Position as a Trusted Supplier
ebb3, a leading provider of digital workspace solutions, has achieved a major milestone by securing JOSCAR accreditation. This prestigious certification underscores the company's commitment to delivering exceptional service, quality, and security.
ebb3 is a provider of accelerated computing solutions powered by NVIDIA technologies. The company offers organisations the resources they need to optimise the performance of modern applications. By maintaining NVIDIA-certified infrastructure, ebb3 ensures that applications can operate efficiently from anywhere with an internet connection.
JOSCAR is a rigorous accreditation process recognised by major aerospace, defence, and security organisations like QinetiQ, NATS, and BAE Systems. It ensures that suppliers meet stringent standards for quality, security, and compliance, streamlining the qualification process and enhancing supply chain integrity.
By obtaining JOSCAR accreditation, ebb3 has solidified its position as a trusted and reliable supplier. This achievement offers customers in highly regulated industries peace of mind, knowing that ebb3's processes and practices align with the highest industry standards.
ebb3's solutions are particularly well-suited for organisations with graphics-intensive workloads, such as those using CAD/CAE applications like Dassault Experience 3D and Siemens NX. These applications run seamlessly within ebb3's digital workspace environments, providing engineers with the high-performance computing resources needed to excel in the aerospace, defence, and security sectors.
Compleat Software Partners with Roveel for Enhanced Reporting
Compleat Software has announced a strategic partnership with Roveel, a leading provider of financial reporting and analytics solutions. This collaboration aims to empower businesses using Sage and Xero with advanced tools to improve their financial management and decision-making.
By combining Compleat's robust purchasing and AP automation capabilities with Roveel's comprehensive reporting and dashboard features, the partnership offers customers a more holistic solution for their financial needs. Key benefits include:
- Enhanced visibility: Deeper insights into financial data through advanced reporting and analytics.
- Improved decision-making: Data-driven decision-making based on accurate and timely information.
- Streamlined operations: Increased efficiency and reduced manual tasks through automation.
This partnership underscores both companies' commitment to providing innovative solutions that help businesses succeed in today's competitive landscape.
Manchester AI-Driven Marketing Firm Secures Global Clients
Harper, a Manchester-based AI-driven lead generation service, has rapidly expanded its reach to include clients on three continents. Just months after its launch, the company has secured customers in Europe, North America, and Australia across the finance, real estate, and craft sectors.
Notable new clients include Lend Brokers (Australia), Ideal Homes (Portugal), and Sculpd (United States). These companies have chosen Harper for its ability to generate targeted leads through a combination of AI-powered outreach and dedicated follow-up.
Leveraging a database of over 265 million contacts, Harper's team crafts personalised email and LinkedIn campaigns aimed at key decision-makers. By prioritising high-value prospects, Harper ensures that each campaign is strategically aligned with the client's specific goals.
Co-founder Scott McNicol, said: “Each market presents unique opportunities and challenges, but our platform allows us to customise outreach campaigns to resonate with local audiences.
“We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve in digital outreach and have already set new industry standards through our innovative approach.
Flagstone FinTech Doubles Assets, Expands Customer Base
Flagstone, a leading FinTech savings platform, has experienced meteoric growth since early 2023. Its assets under administration have more than doubled to £13.5 billion due to consistent quarterly increases of over £1 billion.
This surge is fueled by a rapidly expanding user base that includes individuals, SMEs, and charities. In just four months (March to July 2024), the number of active customers accessing Flagstone's savings services increased by 21% to 725,000.
To support this growth, Flagstone has secured substantial funding. In March 2024, the company raised £108 million from Estancia Capital Partners, one of the largest FinTech fundraises of the year. This investment, combined with previous rounds, brings Flagstone's total funding to nearly £150 million.
Flagstone's financial performance has been consistently strong. The platform has recorded six consecutive quarters of profitability, allowing it to reinvest in operations and expand its reach through new bank and brand partnerships. Since spring 2024, the number of banks offering savings accounts on Flagstone has increased by 10% to 66, providing customers with access to over 210 savings options.
Welsh Tech Triumphs: Trigify Secures Up to £1 Million in Funding
Cardiff-based startup Trigify.io made waves in the tech world by securing up to £1 million in funding. Founded in 2023 by Max Mitcham and Hugo Millington-Drake, Trigify is a game-changer in the sales automation space.
Their innovative platform leverages AI and deep data analytics to identify the hottest sales prospects. By scouring signals across digital platforms, news feeds, and job boards, Trigify generates targeted "Triggers" for sales leaders, helping them connect with the right leads at the right time.
This funding round, backed by River Capital and Haatch Ventures, will fuel Trigify's expansion beyond its initial focus on tech sales and consultancy. With a growing arsenal of data sets and digital signals, Trigify is poised to disrupt sales optimisation across a wider range of industries.
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