Mid-Week Tech News Roundup – February 24th to February 28th 2025

OneUp Sales Secures £1.5M Investment for US Expansion

UK-based sales management platform OneUp Sales has secured £1.5 million in funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and Mercia Ventures. Founded in 2016 by former games developers Derry Holt (CEO) and James Heath, OneUp Sales leverages gaming technology to enhance sales team motivation, performance tracking, and engagement through automated competitions.

With an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of £2.7 million and a customer base exceeding 350 companies—including Hitachi Vantara, Xcede, and Premier Group—the Tamworth-based company has already gained traction in the US market. This latest investment will support further expansion in the region and continued product development.

Speaking on the funding, Derry Holt highlighted OneUp’s mission:

“We started OneUp Sales because we saw the potential to use gaming technology to make sales more motivational – to empower and inspire sales teams instead of filling them with dread. The company has come a long way in the past nine years, and we now have customers worldwide. Having achieved initial success in the US, the next step is to focus on boosting sales in this huge potential market. The funding will help us to do that.”

David Baker, Investment Manager at Mercia, noted the company’s steady growth, stating:

“OneUp Sales has been a pioneer in the field of sales management systems. Mercia supported it from the start, and it has been rewarding to watch its continued growth and development. We look forward to working with Derry, James, and the team as they continue to scale the business.”

With this latest investment, OneUp Sales’ total funding now surpasses £5 million, reinforcing its ambitions to expand globally while continuing to innovate in sales performance technology.

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Peak Brings AI to Nexus Rental’s 22,000-Vehicle Fleet

Nexus Rental, a leading UK vehicle rental provider led by CEO Scott Haddow, has partnered with Manchester-based AI platform Peak to enhance its fleet management and pricing strategies using artificial intelligence. Managing a fleet of 22,000 vehicles, the Leeds-based company is undergoing a major technology transformation as it looks to expand globally and enter new markets.

To support this shift, Nexus Rental has integrated Peak’s AI-powered pricing and quote automation solution, which leverages advanced AI models to optimise pricing strategies. The implementation is already yielding results, with Nexus benefiting from the flexibility and expertise of Peak’s team.

Peter Ennis, CTO at Nexus Rental, praised the AI-driven approach:

“I was very confident from the first time I met the team at Peak. The speed at which its solution delivers value far outpaces building an in-house team. In addition, its willingness to customise solutions, as well as its technical expertise, are unmatched.”

One of Nexus Rental’s key objectives was to upgrade its internal data science and engineering capabilities, moving beyond a basic rental allocation model that previously underutilised fleet data. The leadership team also needed to demonstrate its AI capabilities to investors as part of its long-term strategy.

Richard Potter, CEO of Peak, highlighted the partnership’s significance:

“We’re thrilled to partner with Nexus Rental on its journey to become a tech-led business and expand internationally. Nexus Rental has huge business potential through unlocking its data, delivering faster, smarter decisions at scale. This collaboration shows the transformative impact AI can have on industries like vehicle rental, and we’re looking forward to supporting Nexus in achieving its ambitious goals.”

Founded by David Leitch (CIO), Richard Potter (CEO)  & Atul Sharma (CTO), Peak’s AI platform is already optimising inventory and pricing for major global brands, including Nike, Molson Coors, Marshalls, and Eurocell. Since its founding in 2015, Peak has raised $119 million in funding, with its latest Series C round led by SoftBank’s Vision Fund II. Through partnerships with AWS, Snowflake, UiPath, and SAP, Peak continues to accelerate AI adoption across industries, demonstrating the growing role of AI in data-driven decision-making at scale.

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Fluid Commerce Launches Rapid B2B Ecommerce Accelerator

Manchester-based ecommerce agency Fluid Commerce has launched its B2B Accelerator, a new service designed to deliver fully operational ecommerce websites in just four weeks. Aimed at wholesalers, manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, the service is positioned as a faster, more efficient alternative to traditional lengthy and complex ecommerce development projects.

Unlike existing solutions on the market, the B2B Accelerator offers an out-of-the-box ecommerce platform built on Magento Open Source or Adobe Commerce, featuring Fluid’s custom PORTAL frontend theme, which leverages the Hyvä framework for high-speed performance.

Adam Hindle, Founder & Managing Director at Fluid Commerce, believes this could be a turning point for B2B companies looking to scale online:

“We want to set a new standard in the speed, flexibility, and capabilities available to B2B businesses so that they can achieve the ecommerce growth they are looking for. The B2B Accelerator reflects our deep commitment to helping B2B companies maximise their digital potential. In an environment where traditional development timelines can be a barrier, our service is a game-changer, delivering tailored ecommerce solutions in record time.”

With a starting price of £20,000, the accelerator is designed to give businesses a cost-effective and efficient way to modernise their online presence, while also delivering the advanced capabilities needed to compete in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Fluid Commerce, which exclusively serves B2B ecommerce clients, has already attracted companies like Pearson Hydraulics, Salon Business Solutions, and Fletcher Stewart, all seeking faster, more flexible ecommerce solutions. As demand for agile digital transformation grows, the B2B Accelerator positions Fluid Commerce at the forefront of B2B ecommerce innovation.

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DeliveryApp Appoints Senior Leaders to Drive Growth

DeliveryApp, the technology company revolutionizing the delivery space with support from Rio Ferdinand, has welcomed two key leaders to its senior team as part of its ongoing expansion.

First, Ryan Short steps into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the company’s push into same-day ecommerce delivery services. Short brings with him a track record of optimising supply chains and scaling operations from his time at The Modern Milkman and Boohoo Group Plc. His expertise in driving operational efficiency during periods of rapid growth will be crucial as DeliveryApp seeks to meet the increasing demand for fast, reliable delivery solutions for ecommerce retailers.

Short shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating:

“Joining DeliveryApp at such a pivotal time is exciting. Same-day delivery is essential for the future of ecommerce, and I look forward to helping shape a solution that enhances value for both businesses and consumers.”

In a complementary move, Alex Vassiliev has been appointed as Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO). Vassiliev comes with a wealth of international experience, having worked at major global players such as Alibaba, JD.com, and Yandex. His focus will be on accelerating strategic growth and forging partnerships that expand DeliveryApp’s reach across the ecommerce industry. Vassiliev will also help scale the company’s delivery management platform, which is supported by a network of over 20,000 drivers and hyperlocal micro hubs.

Vassiliev expressed his excitement about his new role:

“I’m excited to be part of a company that’s leading the way in delivery innovation. I look forward to creating partnerships that drive growth and add value for our clients and their customers.”

With these two appointments, DeliveryApp continues to evolve its technology platform, providing on-demand, scalable delivery solutions that cater to both B2B and B2C clients. The company is poised to lead the charge in redefining how goods are delivered, with a focus on sustainability, driver welfare, and customer satisfaction.

CEO Lance Jones welcomed the new leaders, saying:

“Ryan and Alex’s experience in operations and global expansion makes them ideal for driving the next phase of our growth. We’re excited about what’s to come as we continue to transform the logistics industry.”

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