Shopblocks, the Stockport-based business that is a pioneer in digital commerce, has raised £2m from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), Mercia’s EIS funds, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and private investors.
The latest investment comes as Shopblocks rebrands to Symphony Commerce and launches a range of new features and functionality as it hones in on the global business to business (B2B) enterprise market.
Symphony’s platform allows wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers to create tailored e-commerce sites, customer portals and product catalogues, enabling them to thrive in the demanding B2B landscape. It fills a gap in the market for a platform that can handle the scale and intricacies of B2B operations – such as managing complex customer pricing strategies, tailored discounts and personalised experiences across extensive customer bases. It integrates with leading ERP, finance and marketing software to ensure businesses can unify their operations.
Founded in 2015, the platform is now used by over 2,000 customers including Toshiba, Giacom, Daisy Telecom and Tower Housewares. The business, which employs 26 staff, has almost doubled annual recurring revenue (ARR) to £1.4m over the past 18 months and aims to triple that within the next three years. The latest funding round, which brings the total it has raised to £6m, will enable it to expand its presence in the global B2B enterprise market and further enhance its platform with new features and integrations.
Kevin Jones, founder and Chief Technology Officer of Symphony Commerce, added: “With Symphony Commerce, we’re empowering our clients to outpace their competition with agility and precision, ensuring they remain leaders in their industries. This investment allows us to scale faster, expand our team, and deliver a superior customer experience.”
Mercia Ventures and the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund initially invested in the company in 2023.
NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance can provide loans in the NPIF II area with a primary focus on the Yorkshire and Humber regions of City of Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
Robert Hornby of Mercia Ventures added: “Symphony Commerce solves a number of complex challenges for B2B companies that other platforms are unable to deal with. As a result it is rapidly building its customer base in the B2B sector and has the potential to become a leader in its field. With a new brand and fresh investment, we believe the right foundations are in place to help the business pursue this goal.”
Hill Dickinson provided legal advice to Symphony, while Browne Jacobson advised Mercia Ventures and Ward Hadaway advised GMCA.
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
The purpose of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.
Learn more about Mercia Ventures