Calla Lily Secures £1M to Tackle Threatened Miscarriage with Progesterone Delivery Innovation
A game-changing device for miscarriage prevention moves towards clinical trials.
Calla Lily Clinical Care has landed £1 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through its i4i programme to trial Callavid®, a revolutionary device that enhances progesterone delivery for women facing threatened miscarriage. The tampon-shaped device features an integrated mini-liner that reduces leakage and anxiety, promising better medication absorption and patient comfort.
Led by Professor Siobhan Quenby MBE, usability and clinical feasibility studies will begin in 2025, with a pivotal bioequivalence trial set for 2026. If successful, Callavid® could be the first MHRA-approved drug-device combination for this condition, with potential applications in IVF and beyond.
Legacy Compass Raises £60K to Redesign End-of-Life Planning Through AI and Empathy
A digital-first legacy platform that blends storytelling with tech.
Legacy Compass has received £60,000 in funding from Bethnal Green Ventures’ Tech for Good programme. Founded by Natalia Pazzaglia, the startup is transforming end-of-life planning with a human-centred, AI-powered platform that stores digital memories, final wishes, and messages.
Backed by sentiment analysis and trauma-informed design, Legacy Compass aims to integrate into employee well-being programs and B2B offerings. “End-of-life conversations can be empowering,” says Pazzaglia. “We’re here to change how people connect through loss.”
Unravel Secures £5.38M Series A to Transform Travel Discovery into Bookable Video Commerce
The “TikTok of Travel” is turning creator content into seamless booking experiences.
Traveltech disruptor Unravel has raised £5.38 million in a Series A led by Nauta Capital, joined by high-profile investors like Booking.com’s former CFO Olivier Bisserier. Its platform allows users to book directly from creator-made travel videos, integrated into banking, airline, and telecom apps.
With expansion across Europe underway, the company has already seen a 10x conversion boost for enterprise clients. Unravel plans to scale its AI team in London to further revolutionise video-commerce.
Limitless Travel Closes £6.5M to Expand Accessible Holidays for Disabled Travellers
Breaking barriers in the £100B accessible travel market.
Limitless Travel, a company making travel accessible for people with disabilities, has raised £6.5M in Series A funding. Founded by Angus Drummond, who lives with Muscular Dystrophy, the startup has seen 350% growth since 2022, offering curated travel experiences for disabled individuals.
With backing from Beringea, Social Impact Enterprises, and others, the funding will be used to scale operations and expand destinations. Drummond aims to make Limitless Travel the first global travel brand for disabled travellers.
Sedna Communications Secures £7.74M from CIBC to Scale Maritime Email Automation
Streamlining global trade with AI-powered communication tools.
Sedna Communications has raised £7.74M in debt financing from CIBC Innovation Banking to boost AI innovation and expand its platform across the maritime and logistics industries. Sedna’s software extracts valuable data from emails to enhance operator productivity and decision-making.
With the recent acquisition of Nordic IT, Sedna is cementing its place as the top maritime email provider. CFO Robert Scott emphasised the strategic importance of the funding to scale quickly and maintain its competitive edge.
Phlux Technology Raises £9M to Boost Infrared Sensors for Broadband and LIDAR
Antimonide-based innovation promises to supercharge fibre optics and sensing tech.
Sheffield-based Phlux Technology has raised £9 million in Series A funding to develop its advanced infrared sensors. Its proprietary antimonide semiconductor tech can boost fibre broadband speeds by 5x and enhance LIDAR performance for autonomous vehicles.
The round, led by BGF and joined by Octopus Ventures and others, will help Phlux scale production and expand globally. CEO Ben White said the startup is ready to remove connectivity bottlenecks across industries.
Zepz Secures £127.7M in Credit Facilities to Fuel Global Payments Expansion
WorldRemit and Sendwave parent company strengthens financial flexibility.
Zepz, the global fintech behind WorldRemit and Sendwave, has secured £127.7 million in new revolving and term credit facilities led by HSBC Innovation Banking. The move replaces a previous $80M facility and aims to enhance transaction reliability and reduce fees for over 9 million users.
Despite fintech funding headwinds, Zepz remains profitable and poised for further global growth, particularly in empowering migrants with cost-effective financial tools.
POCKLA Raises £1.6M to Help Brands Win with AI-Driven Short-Form Content
AI meets creativity in the battle for attention on social feeds.
Content-tech startup POCKLA has secured £1.6 million in seed funding to build out its AI platform that helps brands create authentic, viral short-form content. The company is already backed by heavyweights like Venrex, Sidemen’s Upside Ventures, and former TikTok execs.
Co-founded by Hugo Bibby and Rupert Boddington, POCKLA helps brands find their ‘internet voice’ through LLM-powered content strategy tools, giving marketers the edge in a saturated digital landscape.
Grid Edge Raises £2.8M to Cut Energy Costs and Carbon in Commercial Buildings
AI-powered platform delivers up to 20% in energy savings.
Birmingham-based Grid Edge has raised £2.8M to expand its energy optimisation platform for commercial buildings. Already used at venues like the Bull Ring and Royal Opera House, the system uses AI to analyse building and external data to reduce energy use and emissions.
With backing from Mercia Ventures, bp Ventures, and others, the funding will help the company hire 15 new team members and scale rapidly amid rising demand for cost-effective sustainability solutions.
33N Ventures Gains Major Backing to Power Europe’s Cybersecurity and AI Growth
Multi-stage VC fund doubles down on next-gen tech investments.
Cybersecurity-focused VC 33N Ventures has received fresh investment from the European Investment Fund, Luxembourg Future Fund, and Criteria Venture Tech. With notable past investments like Panorays and DataGalaxy, the fund is scaling its support for European tech with global potential.
Carlos Moreira da Silva highlighted the confidence shown by investors despite a challenging market, positioning 33N as a key catalyst for innovation in cybersecurity, DevOps, and AI.
Startup Funding | AI Innovation | HealthTech Disruption
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