RiskSmart Strengthens Board Amid Rapid Growth in RegTech Space

RiskSmart, a fast-growing RegTech company specialising in modernising risk management, has appointed Derek Steele and Jennifer Geary to its board of directors. Known for its tech-driven platform that streamlines risk, compliance, and legal processes, RiskSmart aims to help businesses transition away from manual workflows to centralised, data-led solutions.

The company has experienced significant growth over the past year, more than doubling its customer base. Clients now include notable names such as ASOS, Allica Bank, and DLA Piper. RiskSmart’s mission is to empower risk professionals to manage compliance more efficiently, offering tools that improve insights, reduce costs, and enable better decision-making.

Steele, the founder of Mobysoft, brings substantial SaaS expertise, having scaled his company to £10m+ ARR and overseen successful investment exits. Geary, with over 25 years in leadership roles spanning financial services and operations, offers deep expertise in governance and regulatory compliance.

RiskSmart founder Ryan Swann stated that their experience will be pivotal as the company scales globally and continues to develop its innovative platform. Both new board members emphasised their enthusiasm for RiskSmart’s vision, which aligns with their own experience in driving growth and transforming industries.

With these appointments, RiskSmart is reinforcing its position as a leader in RegTech, ready to meet the challenges of a shifting regulatory landscape while delivering value to its expanding client base.

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UK Start-Up 9fin Secures $50M in Series B Funding to Expand in Credit Markets

London-based fintech 9fin, a leading data provider for corporate credit investors, has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round led by Highland Europe, a prominent growth capital investor. While the company’s valuation was not disclosed, previous reports suggest it is valued at approximately $500 million, based on annual recurring revenue of $25 million.

Steven Hunter, co-founder and CEO of 9fin, believes the credit data market has the potential to support a billion-dollar revenue company. “There is at least a billion-dollar revenue business to be built in this space,” said Hunter, a former JPMorgan debt markets banker. Hunter co-founded the firm in 2016 alongside Huss El-Sheikh, a former Deutsche Bank technologist, to address a gap in reliable data on privately held and smaller debt issuers.

The funding will accelerate 9fin’s U.S. expansion, particularly in engineering and technology operations, as its American client base continues to grow rapidly. The company, which employs around 250 staff, primarily in London and Belfast, expects to achieve positive cash flow next year.

9fin distinguishes itself through its integrated approach, employing journalists, lawyers, and financial analysts to deliver news and analysis on credit deals. Competing with firms like Reorg, Fitch, and Debtwire, 9fin also emphasises its technological edge, leveraging advanced tools to process vast amounts of market data efficiently.

Highland Europe’s co-founder, Fergal Mullen, will join 9fin’s board, marking a significant endorsement for the firm, which has now raised nearly $90 million in funding. With a growing market for private credit and asset-backed lending, Hunter envisions 9fin as a key player in shaping the future of debt market data services.

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Boxphish Acquires Dark Web Intelligence Platform to Expand Cyber Risk Management Offering

Leeds-based human risk management platform Boxphish has acquired Trillion, an advanced threat intelligence service that monitors leaked credentials on the dark web. The acquisition enhances Boxphish’s ability to help organisations proactively manage cyber risks by providing visibility into compromised credentials and enabling swift action to reduce exposure.

Boxphish CEO Nick Deacon-Elliott described the move as a significant step forward for the company:
"Adding dark web monitoring to our product suite allows us to further strengthen visibility around human risk for our customers. By proactively monitoring billions of credentials on dark markets, we can pinpoint risks and notify users to act appropriately. We've seen significant appetite for dark web monitoring alongside our cyber security awareness training platform, so it’s brilliant that this is now something we can bring to market.”

Stuart Jubb, CEO of Crossword Cybersecurity, Trillion’s previous owner, expressed confidence in the deal: "We’re pleased to have found a new home for the Trillion technology and customers in Boxphish. Trillion already has several shared customers, including Leeds United FC and New College Worcester, so the service will remain undisrupted. The acquisition by a well-capitalised business like Boxphish ensures long-term security for our customers.”

Founded in 2020 by serial entrepreneurs Henry Doyle, Dan Bailey, and current CEO Nick Deacon-Elliott, Boxphish has rapidly grown its customer base and product offerings, which include customisable phishing simulations, data analytics, and an extensive library of cyber security training courses.

This acquisition builds on Boxphish’s momentum following a £3.25m investment from BGF earlier this year. The funding has enabled the company to expand its products, workforce, and partnerships, helping organisations stay ahead in the constantly evolving cyber threat landscape.

With Trillion’s integration, Boxphish strengthens its position as a leading provider of human cyber risk management solutions, delivering critical tools to a broad range of industries and organisations.

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Recruitment Automation Startup Secures £500k in Pre-Seed Funding

Vente AI, a London-based startup focused on automating business development for recruiters, has secured £500,000 in pre-seed funding just six months after its launch. The company plans to use the funds to integrate its AI-driven product with existing recruitment tools, aiming to accelerate user onboarding.

Vente AI addresses the challenge faced by recruitment agencies, which spend up to 40% of their time on lead identification and analysis. The startup’s lead analysis model automates sales processes and provides recommendations on new opportunities with high closure potential.

Co-founded by Cameron Briggs, who has over 12 years of experience in the recruitment industry, Vente AI draws on his expertise from a previous recruitment technology platform that facilitated five million job applications for companies such as Uber and HSBC. Itamar Yeshua, the company’s COO, brings a strong background in commercial strategy and operations from ventures like SeedLegals. As CTO, Octavian Neguletu contributes a decade of software engineering experience, having led projects for organisations like HMRC and Soho House.

Briggs highlighted the impact of automating traditionally manual recruitment processes, emphasising that it could reduce costs and increase productivity across the industry. Since releasing its AI product, Vente AI claims to have generated over £300,000 in additional revenue for agencies, processing 250 candidates in just two months.

The funding round was led by early-stage investor Antler VC and supported by various angel backers. 

“They are solving a critical challenge in one of the UK’s largest professional services industries” said Antler partner Jed Rose, highlighting the team's strong combination of industry expertise and technical acumen. Vente AI currently operates out of Antler’s tech space in East London.

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