Mercia exits card payments specialist in sale to US company

Card Industry Professionals – the Grimsby-based card payment solutions provider – has been acquired by Shift4, a US-based company that is a global leader in payments and commerce-enabling technology, listed on the New York Stock Exchange [NYSE:FOUR]. The deal provides an exit for Mercia Ventures, which backed the company in 2022 using funding from the first

Netacea raises a further £4m to step up battle against the bots

Netacea, the cybersecurity specialist that helps companies prevent online fraud by protecting them against bot attacks, has raised a further £4m from Mercia Asset Management, which is investing from its own funds and the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF I). The latest investment will help Manchester-based Netacea to further extend its AI roadmap, expand

Further £1.2m for biotech whose models speed up drug development

 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 and NPIF achieve 4.1x return on sale of Radar Healthcare

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

Vets’ practice secures funding for new purpose-built clinic

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

Tourette’s wristband wins backing of NHS spending watchdog

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 raises £6m to transform delivery of paediatric care

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