Led · Equity · Jun 2025

Melius CyberSafe is a Newcastle, UK-based provider of a cybersecurity platform that monitors a company’s IT network, website and mobile apps around the clock and automates penetration testing by simulating attacks to detect weaknesses. The system helps users demonstrate monitoring required for accreditations such as Cyber Essentials and CE+. The company launched a new version of its platform earlier this year and says it will use additional funding to increase market share. It raised an additional £250K in funding from the North East Venture Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia. Named clients include Virgin Wines, Crafter’s Companion and Jules B. The platform is positioned to help businesses rapidly detect threats and maintain continuous compliance monitoring. MELIUS Cyber offers CyberSafe, a platform built for SMEs that continuously monitors an organisation’s IT network, website and mobile apps and automates vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. The platform helps customers demonstrate monitoring for accreditations such as Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 and claims to reduce average breach detection time from 277 days to one. MELIUS serves over 60 clients, including Virgin Wines, Crafters Companion and Jules B. A new version launching in the coming months will add enhanced reporting and analytics, built-in anti-ransomware, advanced email security, automated alerts and the ability to check over 250,000 vulnerabilities daily. The company says it will incorporate new AI capabilities and use the funding to accelerate product development. MELIUS plans to work towards building a full security operation centre (SOC) and a security information and event management (SIEM) solution, and to expand its team by creating six new jobs. The business is based in Newcastle and has raised a total of £1.35m to date.

Led · Equity · Apr 2025

equiwatt offers a free consumer app that works with smart meters and compatible devices (heat pumps, batteries and EV chargers) to let householders participate in schemes that reduce grid pressure and earn points redeemable for gift vouchers or charity donations. The company has developed the powerResponse SaaS platform for utility companies and low‑carbon technology manufacturers, which has already been adopted by a major UK energy supplier. powerResponse can also be rolled out by device manufacturers, housing associations or retail loyalty schemes. equiwatt plans to use new funding to roll out the SaaS platform more broadly and to continue its growth. The company raised a further £700k in funding to support those plans. Led by founder and CEO Dr Johnson Fernandes, equiwatt intends to raise a Series A round in the year ahead. equiwatt provides a mobile app that connects to smart meters and smart plugs to alert consumers to reduce appliance and EV charging energy use during periods of peak demand. The company aims to create a networked community of connected users to form a virtual power plant that helps restore balance in the national energy supply. equiwatt plans to use the new funding to scale up user acquisition through direct and partnership sign-ups and to continue enhancing its technology platform. The business was launched in 2020 and is based in Gateshead, UK. It currently employs nine staff and has thousands of households registered on its platform who collectively save energy and earn points redeemable as shopping vouchers or charity donations. equiwatt has also received R&D funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and was accepted onto the government-backed Tech Nation Net Zero 3.0 programme.

Led · Equity · Apr 2025

Aelius Biotech has developed a laboratory gut model that uniquely simulates all three stages of digestion, including the world’s first cell-compatible mucus to create a fully integrated in vitro system. The company provides testing services to consumer health, pharmaceutical and functional food customers, and counts Huel and multiple alternative-protein and lab-grown meat manufacturers among its clients. Aelius was founded in 2018 by Dr Peter Chater, Dr Matt Wilcox and Professor Jeff Pearson, based on research at the University of Newcastle. Since its 2023 funding it has grown headcount from five to 15 and doubled revenue in 2024. The business is completing a new laboratory in Blandford Square and plans to accelerate expansion into US and European markets. Leadership says the latest funding will support international growth and help the company pursue a global position in improved in vitro testing. Aelius Biotech is a biotech spinout from Newcastle University that has developed an in vitro human gut model which simulates all three stages of digestion. The model tracks substances passing through the gut, crossing the mucus layer and being absorbed, giving companies insight into product performance and absorption. By enabling non-animal trials, the technology aims to de-risk product development and improve formulations for better absorption and effectiveness. The company currently operates a five-strong team and plans to expand by creating ten new jobs over the next two years. Aelius intends to use the funds to meet demand by relocating from the university into dedicated laboratories in Newcastle. The business was founded by Dr Peter Chater, Dr Matt Wilcox and Professor Jeff Pearson.

Participated · Equity · Mar 2025

Notify Technologies offers a SHEQ management platform that enables businesses to digitally record accidents and near misses, complete audits, inspections and risk assessments, manage safety documents, and analyse safety data from one central location. Led by CEO Duncan Davies, the company serves over 250,000 users and counts clients such as Wickes, Travis Perkins and Menzies Distribution. The firm raised £1.5M in funding and plans to use the proceeds to enhance its platform with new AI-powered features and to step up sales and marketing activities. Its platform centralises safety workflows and analytics for enterprise customers. The company is UK-based and targets improvements in product capability and growth execution with the new capital. Notify Technology offers a software platform that enables businesses to improve health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace. The Newcastle-based company counts major clients including Siemens Mobility, Wickes, ThyssenKrupp and the English Football League. In March 2020 it raised £370K in funding to support growth. Backers included the North East Venture Fund (supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia), its chair Jayne Archbold, and existing management. The company plans to use the funds to hire additional customer service and sales staff, broaden its software offering and expand its client base. Notify was founded in May 2017 by Duncan Davies and Andy Dumbell and is based in Newcastle, UK. Notify Technology offers a health and safety software platform that enables individuals to record accidents and near misses on mobile devices while managers track outcomes, actions and trends via real-time dashboards. The company also provides a free near-miss reporting app, NotifyIt, which has been downloaded in 58 countries. Notify is used by clients including Travis Perkins plc, Thyssenkrupp, Bournville Village Trust, Alexandra Palace and Pinewood Studios. Founded in May 2017 by Duncan Davies and Andy Dumbell, the company plans to use new funding to step up sales and marketing to attract new customers. Management expects the investment to support growth and create significant jobs over the next five years. The article does not disclose revenue or other financial metrics beyond the fundraising amount.

Led · Equity · Jul 2024

Luminous XR builds an extended reality (XR) platform that enables developers to create metaverse-style training programs and simulate real-life scenarios, for uses such as health and safety training. The company is particularly popular with clients in the energy, manufacturing and industrial sectors. It has developed a virtual reality content authoring tool, FLOW, due to launch in late summer to make content creation faster and remove the need to write code. Luminous XR intends to use the latest funding to target overseas markets, particularly the US, and has recently established a presence in Texas. Founded in 2006 and led by CEO Ben Bennett, the company employs 30 staff and maintains offices in Newcastle and Bahrain. Financially, the firm recently won a seven-figure contract from a major Middle East oil provider and has raised £3.55m to date. Founded in 1988 by former mining surveyor Peter Bennett, Luminous Group develops mixed reality software and is launching a new platform called traXR to reduce hygiene risks in food processing plants. traXR uses artificial intelligence to identify high-risk areas where bacteria such as salmonella and listeria could be present and presents information in real time through a mixed reality headset. The headset allows users to track and add information while walking the factory floor. The company is headquartered in Newcastle and also has offices in London and Seattle. It employs 14 staff and is led by Managing Director Ben Bennett and Operations Director Henry Bennett. Luminous intends to use the new funding to expand its management and technical teams and create 28 new jobs over the next three years. Luminous Group, founded in 1988 by former mining surveyor Peter Bennett, provides digital surveys using laser scanning to capture every surface of a building or structure and produce detailed 3D models. Its core products include laser-scan surveys and RIVO, a software package that combines 3D data with mixed-reality holographic hardware accessed via the Microsoft HoloLens using Microsoft’s ‘Inside Out’ tracking. RIVO targets asset management in sectors such as offshore energy, marine shipping and military installations, and has potential applications in fire safety surveys by presenting critical information in real time. The company plans to use the £250k funding from Mercia Fund Managers to further develop its VR software. Luminous operates from offices in Newcastle and London and employs 10 staff, led by Managing Director Ben Bennett and Operations Director Henry Bennett, with Peter Bennett as chairman.