Participated · Equity · Feb 2017

Simba Sleep sells the SIMBA Hybrid® mattress, a dual spring and memory foam product that features four layers of proprietary cooling foams supported by 2,500 patented conical pocket springs. The company was founded in 2015 and operates from London, UK, and now employs 54 staff. To date it has sold 45,000 mattresses, holds an exclusive deal with John Lewis, and offers mattresses across standard UK and European sizes with a 10-year guarantee. Simba has launched in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, North America and the Middle East, and plans to roll out in 34 countries over the next 18 months. The company says it will use the new funds to scale growth and accelerate new sleep-innovation product development across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Simba is a UK mattress retailer that specialises in selling mattresses packaged in a box. The company opened for business in August 2015 and was described as a year-old business at the time of the article. Its product positions it against rivals such as US company Casper and UK start-up eve Sleep. Simba focuses on direct-to-consumer mattress sales through its specialist online retail model. The latest funding is intended to support overseas expansion. Financially, the company has raised a total of £8.5m to date following the most recent round.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2015

Crowdcube is a UK-based crowdfunding platform that enables private-company capital raising by retail and institutional investors. The company has signalled intent to be the first platform to hold both UK and EU licences as it prepares for pan‑European market entry. It reported record activity with £200 million invested (up 21% year-over-year), over 208,000 investments, 174,000 new members and a total community of 1.2 million. Its valuation has risen 57% to £140 million since its last funding round in 2018, and it has raised around £30 million in total from institutional and retail investors. Crowdcube is considering a crowd round to give its investor community the opportunity to participate alongside strategic backers as it expands in Europe. Crowdcube operates an equity crowdfunding platform that enables startup, early- and growth-stage businesses to raise capital from investors. Led by CEO Darren Westlake, the platform has facilitated over £355m invested into more than 600 businesses since 2011 and, through its UK and Spain operations and a partnership with US crowdfunder SeedInvest, has helped over 90 overseas businesses raise. The company plans to use its new funding to accelerate growth and continue its push toward profitability in 2019. Crowdcube is also launching a crowdfunding campaign on 14 November to supplement the institutional investment. The business reported a record quarter with revenue of £1.6m for Q3 2018, a 60% increase year-over-year. Crowdcube is an equity crowdfunding platform co-founded by Darren Westlake (CEO) and Luke Lang (CMO) and is based in Exeter and London, UK. Launched in 2011, the platform has raised over £160m for more than 350 businesses. It enables retail and professional investors to invest alongside venture capital backers via crowdfunded equity campaigns conducted on its platform. Crowdcube is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (No. 650205). Following its recent campaign, the company plans to advance secondary liquidity for investors, focus more on later-stage businesses with potential for faster returns, and develop new software products to help businesses manage investors and improve transparency. Crowdcube is a UK-based crowd equity platform that enables retail investors to invest in startups, bonds, funds and VC rounds. The company says over 200,000 people have made investments on the platform, totalling £100 million since 2011, though critics argue genuinely active investors may be closer to 15,000–20,000. Crowdcube has raised £6 million ($9.3 million) from stockbroker Numis, investor Tim Draper (and his London-based VC firm Draper Esprit) and existing backer Balderton Capital, valuing the company at £51 million. The funding will support adding IPO investment opportunities to the platform, allowing access to companies about to go public alongside its existing offerings. CEO Darren Westlake said the move is intended to 'put the public back into IPO.' The article places the raise in context with competitor Seedrs, which recently raised £10 million and was valued at £30 million. Crowdcube operates an online investment crowdfunding platform that enables equity investments in startups, early-stage and growth businesses. The company was co-founded in 2011 by Darren Westlake (CEO) and Luke Lang (CMO). It has crowdfunded previous rounds on its own site (£320k in 2011 and £1.5m in 2013) and has helped raise over £30m for more than 130 companies. In 2014 it launched the first managed venture fund for crowdfunded equity investments and a Mini Bond product. Crowdcube plans to use the new funds to expand operations in the UK and internationally, double its team to about 50 people, open offices in London and Scotland, and expand its Exeter head office. Tim Bunting from Balderton Capital will join Crowdcube’s board in conjunction with the investment.