Newcells Biotech – whose laboratory models help speed up drug development and reduce reliance on animal testing – has raised a further £1.2m from existing investors Mercia Ventures, Northstar Ventures and North East Finance. The funding will enable the Newcastle-based company to build its customer base and seek new partnerships with companies with complementary products
Mercia Debt – which manages part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) – has marked a key milestone, having provided over £5m in debt finance since the launch of the fund earlier this year. Mercia has provided a total of £5.5m in business loans to 17 companies covering a wide range of
Radar Healthcare, the Leeds-based healthtech company, has been acquired by global investment firm Marlin Equity Partners. The deal provides an exit for Mercia Ventures, which had backed the company since 2017 using funding from the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), and which received £7.5m, a return of 4.1x. Radar Healthcare is a leading provider
An independent Newton Aycliffe vets’ practice has raised £400,000 from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), to create a new purpose-built town centre clinic. Sore Paws Veterinary Clinic has taken on 2,800 sq ft of space at Cobbers Hall
A device developed by a Mercia-backed company to ease the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome has been recommended for use in the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the NHS spending watchdog. Neupulse’s digital wristband stimulates the median nerve in the wrist to help control the tics or involuntary movements caused by
Little Journey, the healthtech company transforming the delivery of paediatric care through personalised psychological support, has raised £6m in Series A funding round. Mercia Ventures invested alongside the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund I (NPIF I), Par Equity, Octopus Ventures, Calm/Storm Ventures, and angel investors. The funding will be used to scale Little Journey’s operations globally
A Merseyside energy and sustainability consultancy has raised £500,000 from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), to fuel its growth plans. Inteb – which boasts high-profile clients including AstraZeneca, American Golf, British Land, Bupa and the Royal Albert
Salesfire – a Middlesbrough company whose platform helps e-commerce stores to increase sales – has raised a further £2.75m from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). The funding will enable the company to incorporate its latest AI-powered technology into
A Hull company which produces laboratory furniture for leading universities and research institutes has secured a £100,000 loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). The funding will enable Lab Systems Furniture to expand its capacity by moving into
Radical Forge, a Middlesbrough-based games studio, has raised £2.6m from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). The NPIF II funding will enable the company to expand its team with the creation of 15 jobs, take on new and bigger