Volume Raises £4.72M to Disrupt Online Payments and Challenge Industry Giants
London-based fintech startup Volume has secured £4.72 million in funding to revolutionize online payments with its account-to-account (A2A) technology. The investment round was led by United Ventures, with participation from Fabrick, part of the Sella Group, and existing investors including Firstminute Capital, SeedX, and Haatch. This latest funding injection will propel Volume’s mission to eliminate transaction fees for businesses and consumers, directly challenging established players like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Stripe. Volume’s A2A infrastructure bypasses traditional card networks, enabling users to pay directly from their bank accounts via a seamless, one-click checkout process. This innovative approach significantly reduces costs for merchants, who typically bear the brunt of card processing fees ranging from 2% to 8%. Volume’s flat-rate pricing model offers a compelling alternative, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often disproportionately affected by high transaction fees. The company has already processed over $126 million in annualized Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) within just eight months of operation, demonstrating the significant market appetite for this disruptive technology. Volume plans to utilize the funding to expand its operations across the UK and Europe, aiming to capture a larger share of the global payments market.
Refute Secures £2.3M to Combat the Rising Threat of Commercial Disinformation
London-based cybersecurity firm Refute has raised £2.3 million in pre-seed funding to tackle the growing menace of sophisticated commercial disinformation campaigns. The funding round was led by Playfair and Episode 1, with participation from Notion Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners, and several prominent angel investors. Refute’s platform utilizes advanced technology to detect and respond to malicious disinformation campaigns in real-time, addressing a threat exacerbated by geopolitical instability and the rise of generative AI. These campaigns, often orchestrated by state-sponsored actors or opportunistic competitors, target companies, executives, and supply chains, disseminating false information through various channels, including news outlets, social media, blogs, and forums. The consequences can be devastating, causing significant reputational damage and financial losses. Refute’s quantitative approach analyzes interconnected data, tracks narratives across multiple channels, and models threat behaviours over time to enable early detection, minimize false positives, and optimize responses to these multi-channel attacks. The company, co-founded by cybersecurity veterans Tom Garnett and Vlad Galu, aims to build a robust defence ecosystem through collaboration with early adopters and address the urgent need for effective solutions against this global risk.
Ecomtent Raises £1.1M to Optimize Retail for the Age of AI-Powered Search
London-based generative AI startup Ecomtent has secured £1.1 million in funding to empower retailers to optimize their content for the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-powered search. The funding round was led by MaRS IAF, with participation from Twinpath, Techstars x eBay Ventures, and angel investors from leading retail and tech companies. Founded in 2022 by former Amazon executive Max Sinclair and machine learning expert Timur Luguev, Ecomtent’s platform generates AI-optimized written and visual content for search tools like Amazon’s RUFUS. This automation saves content teams significant time and resources, allowing them to adapt to the growing influence of AI in online shopping. The rise of AI-driven search engines and the increasing popularity of tools like ChatGPT highlight the critical importance of AI-driven discoverability for retailers. Ecomtent’s technology addresses this need by enabling businesses to create high-quality, AI-optimized content at scale, leading to improved conversion rates. The company has already demonstrated its effectiveness with major retailers, generating up to 30% increases in conversions. This latest funding will enable Ecomtent to accelerate its growth and further develop its platform to meet the evolving demands of the e-commerce landscape.
Loadar Secures £3.14M to Transform Freight Procurement for Large Enterprises
Freight procurement and management platform Loadar has raised £3.14 million in Seed funding to revolutionize how large enterprises manage their freight operations. The funding round was led by Frontline Ventures, with continued support from existing investor Techstart Ventures. The investment will fuel Loadar’s expansion into the US market and significantly expand its team. Loadar’s platform addresses the inefficiencies inherent in traditional freight management by providing advanced procurement tools, automation, and real-time visibility into freight movements. Unlike traditional third-party logistics (3PL) solutions, Loadar seamlessly integrates with existing enterprise systems, streamlining processes and reducing transport costs by up to 15%. The platform is already being utilized by several blue-chip clients and offers enhanced supply chain resilience, a critical need in today’s volatile global landscape. Loadar’s founder and CEO, Ciaran Doherty, brings years of logistics experience to the company, recognizing the significant challenges enterprises face in managing numerous carrier relationships and controlling substantial shipping expenses, which typically represent 7-8% of a company’s revenue. The new funding will enable Loadar to scale its operations and provide its innovative solution to a wider range of global enterprises.
BVNK Raises £39.4M in Series B to Lead the Stablecoin Payments Revolution
Global stablecoin payments infrastructure provider BVNK has secured £39.4 million in a Series B funding round led by Haun Ventures, with participation from prominent investors like Coinbase Ventures, Scribble Ventures, DRW VC, Avenir, and Tiger Global. This substantial investment underscores the growing recognition of stablecoins as a transformative force in global payments. BVNK’s platform enables businesses to seamlessly integrate stablecoins for various use cases, including global payroll, merchant settlements, and marketplace payouts, offering instant, reliable, and transparent transactions. Over the past two years, the company has achieved remarkable growth, processing over $10 billion in annualized payment volumes and experiencing 200% year-on-year growth. This success has been fueled by partnerships with industry leaders such as PayPal, Circle, and First Digital. The launch of BVNK’s Layer1 software further strengthens its position by empowering enterprises with tailored solutions for managing stablecoin payments. As stablecoin adoption accelerates, driven by increasing transaction volumes and growing regulatory clarity, BVNK is well-positioned to lead the charge in this rapidly evolving space. The Series B funding will enable BVNK to expand its operations in the United States, establishing a stronger presence to meet the surging demand for stablecoin solutions among US businesses.
NextSTEP Invests £490K in UK CleanTech Startups to Drive Sustainable Innovation
NextSTEP, a venture capital fund dedicated to CleanTech innovation, has invested £490,000 across five UK-based startups, furthering its mission to support environmental sustainability. As Italy’s only VC fund exclusively focused on pre-seed and seed-stage CleanTech investments, NextSTEP plays a crucial role in fostering innovation in this critical sector. The fund, headquartered in London, bridges the Italian and British markets, promoting collaboration and driving sustainable growth across Europe. The five UK startups receiving investment represent a diverse range of CleanTech solutions, including green hydrogen generation, biofuel production, EV technology, regenerative agriculture, and eco-friendly RFID tags. These investments highlight NextSTEP’s commitment to supporting promising early-stage companies that are developing innovative solutions to address global environmental challenges. The fund’s unique focus and cross-border approach position it as a key player in the CleanTech investment landscape.