ARTAH Nutrition raises £2.85M of growth capital from Five Seasons Ventures and Active Partners
ARTAH Nutrition, founded by Rhian Stephenson in 2021, has completed a successful fundraising round led by Five Seasons Ventures, with support from Active Partners and other consumer-focused investors. This new capital injection will drive ARTAH’s expansion across digital and retail channels, support entry into the EU market in 2025, and fuel further product development. Known for its clinical-grade supplements and nutrition programmes, ARTAH has quickly established a strong presence, already partnering with retailers like Selfridges and Whole Foods Market UK.
Inspired by Rhian’s personal health journey, ARTAH’s mission centres on addressing nutrient deficiencies in the modern diet through science-backed, bioavailable supplements. ARTAH’s products target metabolic health, digestion, cellular health, and cognitive function, with ‘Metabolic Fix’ being a flagship product that showed promising results in consumer trials. Rhian’s approach is influenced by her own transformative experience with naturopathic care, motivating her to create accessible, high-quality products that empower customers to optimise their health.
Five Seasons Ventures and Active Partners are enthusiastic about ARTAH’s potential to reshape the metabolic health category. Niccolo Manzoni of Five Seasons Ventures highlighted ARTAH's position as a pioneering brand with expertise across health categories, while Active Partners’ Courtney Sawatzke noted ARTAH’s clear, science-led approach in an increasingly crowded health landscape. With this fresh round of investment, ARTAH is poised to strengthen its presence and meet growing consumer demand for evidence-based wellness solutions.
CIBC Innovation Banking provides funding to British unicorn Beamery
Beamery, the AI-powered talent lifecycle management platform, has secured a corporate debt financing package from CIBC Innovation Banking. The funds will fuel Beamery’s growth and strategic initiatives as it pursues profitability, supporting its vision of rethinking hiring practices to increase access to employment. With its comprehensive platform, Beamery aids companies in sourcing talent, boosting retention, and upskilling employees, shifting away from traditional CV-based hiring to a skills-focused approach for efficiency and equity in recruitment.
Founded in 2013, Beamery has expanded to over 250 employees, with offices in London and the United States, and has established partnerships with numerous Fortune 500 companies. In 2022, Beamery achieved unicorn status with a valuation surpassing $1B. CEO Abakar Saidovat highlighted the importance of providing equal access to work opportunities and modernising hiring processes, especially in today’s competitive labour market, adding that the financing from CIBC will help meet rising demand for Beamery’s solutions.
CIBC Innovation Banking’s Managing Director, Sean Duffy, noted Beamery’s impressive growth and impact, emphasising its role in solving widespread challenges in talent management.
Semble closes £11.5M Series B round to advance “connected healthcare” system
Semble, a London-based healthtech company, has raised £11.5M in Series B funding led by Mercia Ventures, with Octopus Ventures, Smedvig Ventures, and Triple Point also participating. The investment will enable Semble to consolidate its leadership in the UK healthcare market and support recent expansion into France, helping to address the sector’s reliance on outdated technology by advancing automation and integration features within its platform. Semble’s all-in-one clinical system provides healthcare operators with a streamlined, AI-powered solution that integrates with external systems like hospitals and laboratories, optimising patient care delivery and improving efficiency.
Founded in 2018 by serial entrepreneurs Christoph Lippuner and Mikael Landau, Semble has rapidly expanded its footprint, now supporting over 10,000 healthcare professionals across more than 70 specialities. The platform's user-friendly automation and secure data-sharing capabilities have made it a popular choice for independent clinics and large healthcare organisations alike. The company will heavily invest in AI-driven workflows and system integration, continuing to build a connected, future-ready healthcare ecosystem.
With $27M in total funding, a team of around 80—many of whom are focused on product development—and an impressive revenue trajectory, Semble is well-equipped to capitalise on the expanding market demand in the UK, France, and beyond.
Scalpel AI raises £3.8M to transform surgical logistics with AI-powered platform
London-based Scalpel AI has raised £3.8M in a round led by Mercia Ventures, with support from Tensor Ventures and private investors. Founded by Dr. Yeshwanth Pulijala and Dr. Shahnawaz Ahmed, Scalpel AI uses computer vision to track and verify surgical tools, creating a “digital twin” of each instrument as it moves from warehouses to operating rooms. The technology helps prevent costly supply chain errors, ensuring the correct tools reach operating theatres efficiently and safely.
This funding will enable Scalpel AI to scale globally, working with hospitals, sterile services, and logistics providers like GlobalMed Logistix. Co-founder Dr. Pulijala emphasised the platform’s potential to reduce handling time by over 80% and enhance patient safety. Mercia’s Lee Lindley noted Scalpel AI’s innovation in surgical logistics, calling it transformative for global healthcare.
Vyntelligence raises milestone growth capital investment from Octopus Ventures
Vyntelligence (Vyn®), a leading AI-powered video platform for transforming frontline workflows, has raised growth capital from Octopus Ventures to drive its rapid expansion in the renewable energy, utilities, retail, and telecom sectors. With clients across the UK, EMEA, and the USA, Vyn’s technology streamlines field operations and customer interactions through video data capture and AI, eliminating the need for time-consuming tasks like form-filling. This funding will fuel the development of Vyn’s industry-focused generative AI capabilities, expand its reach in new geographies, particularly in the U.S., and support growth across the infrastructure sectors investing heavily in sustainable technologies.
Founded with the vision to reduce unnecessary field visits and enhance productivity, Vyntelligence’s platform empowers frontline workers, contractors, and customers to collaborate effectively, using video-based data capture to provide automated insights. As CEO Kapil Singhal notes, “Our next-gen, intelligent video-data-capture & collaboration platform simplifies and speeds up interactions for all players involved,” addressing a crucial need in sectors with increasing demand for resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
Bendi secures £800K to accelerate supply chain risk management with AI
Founded in 2020 by CEO Mandeep Soor, Chief Research Officer Benjamin Norsworthy, and CTO Olivier Bacs, Bendi’s Prism platform automates risk assessments across global supply chains. With real-time analysis of over 100 risk indicators in 35 languages, Prism identifies risks such as environmental hazards and human rights issues, offering companies an efficient alternative to slow, manual audits.
Mandeep Soor, inspired by her mother’s experience as a garment worker, commented, “As supply chains grow more complex, tools for transparency and resilience have become essential.” Benjamin Norsworthy noted Bendi’s value in offering both visibility and actionable insights. Midven’s Rupert Lyle added, “With tightening legislation, Bendi is well-positioned to lead the market.”
In other investment news
Resurge Growth Partners has launched a “venture equity” fund to bridge the gap between venture capital and private equity for high-potential European and Israeli scaleups. Founded by Oren Peleg, formerly of Oaktree Capital and Fitness First, and Eyal Malinger, previously with Beringea, Resurge targets “venture graduates”—companies with proven revenue streams and growth potential that have outgrown traditional venture capital but aren’t suited for private equity. Resurge plans to invest at least €120M over the next three years, with nearly half the capital already committed by its founders and a leading family office.
The venture equity model focuses on acquiring leading stakes in companies generating over €8M in revenue through buyouts, recapitalisations, or strategic partnerships, particularly in tech and tech-enabled sectors. By cleaning up cap tables, injecting capital, and offering strategic guidance, Resurge aims to transition companies from VC dependency to long-term, profit-focused growth. Peleg and Malinger highlight that Resurge’s approach frees companies from the “VC fundraising merry-go-round” and aligns them with a sustainable growth strategy.
Leveraging advanced AI tools, Resurge can rapidly identify growth opportunities, optimise decision-making, and unlock value. Peleg notes that the AI-led strategy allows the firm to operate with an unprecedented level of insight and efficiency, dedicating more resources to accelerating the growth of its portfolio companies. Resurge aims to onboard its first companies by year-end.
General Catalyst raises $8B in new capital to Venture Beyond
General Catalyst has closed its largest fund to date, raising approximately $8B to expand its global investment reach across venture capital, company creation, and ecosystem transformation. This capital will fund key strategic initiatives, including $4.5B earmarked for early-stage to growth-equity venture investments, dedicated across Ignition (early-stage), Endurance (growth-stage), and Health Assurance strategies. Additionally, $1.5B will support company creation initiatives such as venture buyouts, and $2B will go to separately managed accounts (SMAs) to enable groundbreaking technology advancements.
CEO and Managing Director Hemant Taneja emphasised General Catalyst’s evolution beyond traditional venture capital, highlighting their commitment to support founders aiming to address significant global challenges, particularly through applied AI and resilience-focused solutions. With a network of global partnerships, including La Famiglia in Europe and Venture Highway in India, General Catalyst is well-positioned to support early-stage entrepreneurs worldwide. The fund also offers innovative solutions like the Customer Value Strategy for non-dilutive capital and the GC Transformation Flywheel, which connects startups with key adopters to drive large-scale industry change.
General Catalyst’s $8M fund positions it as a key player in global innovation, supporting founders and policymakers to expand the potential of transformative ventures across sectors.
In other international investment news
Emidat raises €4M from General Catalyst to make construction emission management simple as EU deadline looms
Emidat, a Munich-based provider of environmental data solutions for the construction industry, has raised €4M in seed funding, led by General Catalyst, to support its mission of reducing the environmental footprint of the built environment. With the European Union set to implement new standards for building product declarations next month, Emidat aims to simplify the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) process. EPDs offer crucial insights into the environmental impact of building materials across their life cycles, empowering architects, project developers, and contractors to make environmentally informed choices. This funding enables Emidat to streamline EPD creation, making it faster and more accessible.
General Catalyst’s investment will fuel Emidat’s expansion and accelerate its product development, allowing the company to serve more clients in Europe’s concrete, insulation, steel, and facade industries. According to Samuel Beyer, Investor at General Catalyst, Emidat provides a "turnkey solution" for decarbonising the built environment, creating a collaborative platform for the industry to access and share material data efficiently. Emidat’s clients have already reported cutting EPD costs and generation times by over 70%, a significant advantage as the industry moves toward greater sustainability.
Maya Jama invests in Sproud the alternative dairy brand with global ambitions
Swedish plant milk company Sproud has announced that British television presenter and entrepreneur Maya Jama has joined as an investor and co-owner. Jama will serve as the brand’s face and strategic advisor, as Sproud seeks to grow its presence in the UK and beyond. With a mission to shift consumers from dairy and oat milk, Sproud is made from yellow split peas, offering a nutritional profile that’s low in sugar, high in protein, and free from allergens, positioning it as a healthier alternative in the plant milk category.
In addition to its health benefits, Sproud is noted for its sustainability, boasting one of the lowest climate impacts among milk alternatives, as verified by CarbonCloud. Jama expressed her enthusiasm about joining the brand, praising its taste, eye-catching packaging, and dedication to health and sustainability. She also highlighted her personal connection to Sweden, where her mother’s family resides and where she spent childhood summers.
Sproud’s CEO, Sara Berger, welcomed Jama’s involvement, noting that her role as co-owner, ambassador, and advisor would help raise the brand's profile and encourage plant-based choices. Sproud is available at major retailers like Waitrose and Ocado, as well as on Amazon, and is the preferred milk alternative at Joe & The Juice locations.
Neara raises €28M Series C to accelerate energy resilience
Neara, an AI-driven predictive modelling platform for critical infrastructure, has raised €28 million in Series C funding. The round was led by EQT, with participation from Partners Group, Square Peg Capital, and existing investors Skip Capital and Prosus Ventures. Neara’s technology allows utilities to create hyper-accurate digital models to simulate the effects of extreme weather on assets like power lines, identifying vulnerabilities and enabling faster, more efficient responses to outages and grid demands.
Since its inception, Neara has modelled over 12 million infrastructure assets, covering 1.5 million miles globally, enabling utilities to identify outage risks nine times faster and improve grid resilience. The company’s technology also supports increased energy loads across grids, which is vital as electricity demand grows.
This funding will support Neara’s global expansion, including a larger London HQ and entry into new sectors like telecoms and public transportation. Neara also recently started modelling broadband infrastructure in the US to connect underserved communities.
Vamo Expands seed round to help customers save money on heating and empowering a green grid
Vamo has expanded its seed funding to over €10M, following an additional €7M secured in an oversubscribed round led by Extantia Capital and GET Fund. The fresh investment will bolster Vamo’s ambition to become a market leader in sustainable heating by scaling its partner network across Germany and enhancing its digital services.
Founded in 2023, Vamo’s mission is to facilitate the transition from fossil fuel heating to high-efficiency heat pumps. Their HeatOS platform streamlines the customer experience by coordinating supply chains, installation, and long-term maintenance of heat pumps. Once installed, these heat pumps form Vamo’s “Heat Fleet™,” a network of interconnected units monitored in real time to adapt to fluctuating energy demands. This smart network not only enhances operational efficiency but also stabilises the power grid, offering potential savings by reducing infrastructure costs.
As demand for sustainable heating surges, Vamo’s growth has been remarkable, with its network expanding sixfold within a year to cover all of Germany’s 16 federal states. "We’re making it easy for homeowners to adopt cost-effective, green heating," said Dr. Jan Ossenbrink, Vamo’s CEO. The International Energy Agency estimates that widespread heat pump adoption could reduce global CO2 emissions by 500 million tonnes by 2030, underscoring Vamo’s potential impact in the energy transition.
Andium raises $21.7M led by Aramco Ventures to cut greenhouse gas emissions
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) leader Andium has closed a $21.7M Series B funding round led by Aramco Ventures, bringing the company’s total funding to over $40M. This capital will enable Andium to expand its operations in the U.S. and Middle East, reduce technology and equipment costs, support ongoing R&D, and broaden its offerings in industrial automation and emissions monitoring. Andium’s IIoT platform leverages AI-driven software, on-site sensors, and cameras to deliver real-time monitoring and verifiable emissions data, addressing methane leaks, fires, and equipment issues, helping companies like BP and ConocoPhillips achieve significant operational efficiencies and emissions reductions.
Founded by Jory Schwach, Andium’s technology has proven capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65% per site and cutting operational costs by 45%. With Aramco Ventures’ Sustainability Fund as a major backer, Andium’s expansion aligns with Aramco’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
With COP29 approaching and the rising regulatory focus on methane emissions, Andium’s solution is poised to support industries in meeting stringent reduction targets. Methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span, accounts for over one-third of human-generated emissions from energy production. Andium’s platform addresses the urgent need for continuous, accurate emissions monitoring and is positioned to play a significant role in mitigating global warming, empowering industries to operate sustainably while optimising performance.
3D animation software company Swoove Studios closes $7.5 million seed funding round
Swoove Studios, a leading provider of 3D animation software, has raised $7.5M in a seed round led by European angel investors, bringing its total funding to $11M since its launch in 2020. Swoove Studios, the developer behind the Swoove app, enables users of all experience levels to create 3D animations with ease through a real-time, AI-powered platform. The app’s accessible and sophisticated features have attracted thousands of creators across over 100 countries, making it the preferred choice for user-generated 3D animated content.
Recently launched in the US, Swoove introduced exclusive features such as a marketplace for buying and selling user-generated digital assets, from animations to digital clothing. CEO and Co-founder Rudy Verbeeck highlights Swoove’s unique position in 3D animated storytelling, noting plans to enhance monetisation options, build new partnerships, and integrate with additional services.
To support its rapid growth and increasing demand, Swoove Studios has begun a strategic review of its options, including potential growth investment or a full acquisition, led by Lazarus Consulting. Conversations are underway with potential partners to help the company achieve its scaling and market expansion goals.
