Mid-Week Tech News Roundup – March 17th to March 21st 2025
18 Mar, 20256 minutesZuto Reports Record £62M Turnover as Car Finance Disruptor Continues GrowthManchester-...
Zuto Reports Record £62M Turnover as Car Finance Disruptor Continues Growth
Manchester-based car finance platform Zuto has reported record-breaking financial results for FY24, marking another year of significant growth. The company, founded by James Wilkinson and Ryan Dignan, achieved a £61.8 million turnover, reflecting a 26% year-on-year increase, alongside a £7.2 million EBITDA, up from £6.8 million in FY23.
Under the leadership of CEO James Wilkinson, Zuto is on track to achieve 35% revenue growth in the coming year, driven by its expanding partner network and a growing portfolio of over 300 finance products. The company operates as a marketplace connecting customers, lenders, and dealers, with a mission to simplify the car finance process through technology-driven solutions.
With a team of over 450 employees across its Manchester and Macclesfield offices, Zuto has built a workplace culture centered on autonomy and innovation. The company is focused on reducing the traditionally lengthy car finance process from several days to under an hour, leveraging digital-first strategies to transform customer experiences.
As Zuto continues its expansion, it remains a key player in reshaping the UK’s car finance industry, positioning itself at the forefront of fintech innovation.
Communicate on Track to Triple Turnover Following Blaze Networks Acquisition
Teesside-based cybersecurity and IT solutions firm Communicate, Led by CEO Tony Snaith, CFO Konrad Rutkowski, CTO Chris Mullen & Director of Growth James Blackburn, has announced its latest acquisition—Macclesfield-based Blaze Networks. The deal, backed by private equity firm Rockpool, marks Communicate’s fifth acquisition and its second since securing investment in June 2024.
Under the leadership of CEO Tony Snaith, the company is now on course to almost triple its turnover, growing from £6 million at the time of investment to a projected £17 million in 2025. The move strengthens Communicate’s capabilities in SD-WAN, SASE, cloud, and disaster recovery, expanding its ability to deliver secure and scalable IT infrastructure solutions.
Blaze Networks, known for its expertise in multi-site, software-defined networking, will continue to operate under Managing Director Ben Brassington, who sees the acquisition as an opportunity to accelerate growth while maintaining service excellence.
With strategic expansion and continued investment, Communicate is positioning itself as a major force in network security and cloud solutions across the UK.
Manchester’s ‘Baby Tech’ Startup Dote Bolsters Leadership Team Amid Global Expansion Plans
Manchester-based Dote, the AI-powered smart baby tech firm, has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Denise Namakando as Managing Director for the UK & Ireland. The move comes as Dote gears up for international expansion and its latest funding round.
Namakando, who has been serving as Dote’s fractional CMO, has played a key role in shaping the company’s go-to-market strategy, brand positioning, and commercial proposition. Her experience spans global brands such as Dyson, Barbie, and Unilever, as well as US-based tech startup Owlet Baby Care.
In her new role, she will work closely with Dote’s founder and CEO, Stephen Senior, to drive the company’s consumer launch in September and oversee its expansion into the US and Europe.
“2025 is a pivotal year for the brand as we gear up for a range of major milestones, including our latest funding round, our consumer launch, and our expansion into international territories,” said Senior. “Appointing Denise is a significant step for Dote as we accelerate growth and continue to disrupt the nursery category with cutting-edge technology.”
The hire is part of a broader leadership expansion, with Avril Murphy joining as COO and Nova Chow as Technical Product Manager in Q1.
Namakando added: “Dote was founded with a simple mission: to reduce the stress of modern-day parenting and bring more joy through innovative design and leading technology. As both a parent and a sector specialist, this mission resonates deeply with me, and I’m excited to help lead the next stage of Dote’s journey.”
With a bolstered leadership team, an AI-powered product ecosystem, and an active funding round, Dote is positioning itself for rapid growth and global market impact in 2025.
Housr Launches 'Roomie' and Expands Rapidly in the UK & US
Housr, the all-in-one student housing platform, is taking another step forward with the launch of Roomie, its modernised take on the spare room search. Roomie, designed to be the ultimate flatmate finder for students, will operate seamlessly within the Housr ecosystem and was officially unveiled at #MIPIM in France.
In addition to Roomie, Housr is also debuting Housr Connect, which brings direct-to-consumer utilities into the Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector, further enhancing its value proposition.
Earlier, Housr’s CEO and Co-Founder, Harry Panter, woke up to an inbox full of excitement from his US team and partners, sharing a link to local 6pm news coverage. “We are growing rapidly in the US and will be investing heavily in its expansion over the next 12 months,” said Panter, who will be heading to New York City and Nebraska to continue the push for growth.
Reflecting on the company’s origins, Panter shared how Housr was born from his personal experience as a student. Struggling with the transition from university halls to the private rental market, he recognised the need for a simple solution, leading to the creation of the Housr app, which simplifies everything from property searches to signing rental agreements.
Ben Clayton, CTO and Co-Founder of Housr, recalled his own frustrations with the student housing process and how that led to the idea of creating a mobile app to help students navigate the complexities. Clayton, who initially studied History before transitioning to software engineering, has been a key driver in Housr’s growth. “Housr has been an incredible learning curve, and I’m excited about the future we’re building,” said Clayton.
With Roomie and Housr Connect, the company continues to disrupt the outdated student housing market while expanding its reach in the UK & US. The platform’s growing community is tapping into a one-stop solution for all housing needs, bill management, discounts, and student events.
Allica’s Deputy CEO Niv Subramanian Recognised on Innovate Finance’s Women in Fintech Powerlist
Allica Bank celebrates a significant milestone as Niv Subramanian, Deputy CEO, is featured on Innovate Finance’s Women in Fintech Powerlist for 2024. The prestigious list honours exceptional women who are making a powerful impact in the fintech sector, acknowledging their dedication to fostering inclusion and driving innovation.
As Deputy CEO, Niv has been instrumental in Allica’s rapid growth alongside CEO Richard Davis, helping the bank achieve the title of the fastest-growing fintech in the UK—a journey that includes being named #1 on The Sunday Times 100 and one of LinkedIn’s Top UK Startups. Allica is also recognised as Deloitte’s fastest-growing UK fintech in its 26-year history.
Allica Bank, established in 2020 and founded by Jason Scott, is dedicated to providing personalised, reliable banking solutions for established businesses with 5 to 250 employees. The bank is on a mission to transform business banking, offering current accounts that reward owners, providing dedicated relationship managers, and equipping customers with tools and technology that simplify financial management.
Allica’s rapid success is reflected in its impressive £3 billion in loans to UK businesses and £4 billion in deposits. With offices in Milton Keynes, London, and Manchester, Allica continues to reshape the future of business banking.
Unseen Group Expands Again with Shine Interview Acquisition
In another bold move in the HR tech space, Manchester-based Unseen Group has snapped up Shine Interview, a Sunderland-based video interviewing platform. This marks Unseen’s ninth acquisition, further solidifying its position as a major player in the early careers and employability tech market.
Founded in 2016 by David Copple, Shine has worked with big names like Nissan, the Post Office, and the Royal Navy, helping companies screen high volumes of candidates remotely. The platform’s asynchronous video interviewing technology has been a game-changer for businesses looking to streamline their hiring process.
For Unseen Group, led by CEO Zac Williams, this acquisition is about scaling its product offering and reinforcing its mission to improve hiring efficiency for educators and employers. Williams commented:
“Shine is a fantastic addition to our suite of products. With the rise of high-volume recruitment, asynchronous video interviews are an essential tool for making hiring fairer and more efficient. We’re excited to enhance the platform and bring its benefits to even more employers.”
Looking ahead, Unseen Group plans to invest in Shine’s technology, focusing on candidate reporting enhancements and deeper integration with its TopScore assessment platform.
For Shine’s founder, David Copple, this deal represents the next stage of the company’s evolution.
“We’ve spent the last nine years transforming video interviewing for employers across 85 countries. Joining Unseen Group gives Shine the opportunity to scale even further, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
With this latest acquisition, Unseen Group continues to grow its presence in the HR and recruitment technology sector, reflecting a broader trend of increasing demand for digital hiring solutions.
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