News

We’re thrilled to announce that CybaVerse has secured over £1.1 million in funding, fueling our bold vision for growth and innovation in the cyber security space. This investment marks a significant milestone in our journey to advance, expand our capabilities and allow us to continue delivering our top-tier cyber security solutions.

Backed by FSE Group, Haatch, Founder & Lightning, including FSE angel investors and the University of Sussex Business Angels group, this milestone highlights our momentum as it redefines the future of cyber security with the SaaS platform, CybaVerse AI. The funding will drive team expansion and accelerate development of the platform, with the company recently appointing three senior leaders to spearhead this exciting next chapter.

The new hires include esteemed technology industry veteran, Andreas Wuchner, who joins as Chairman. With over 26 years of cyber security experience, Andreas has held senior roles at global giants like Deutsche Bank, UBS, and HP. His remarkable track record at some of the world’s leading organisations brings a wealth of knowledge and insight that will be invaluable as CybaVerse continues to grow and push boundaries in the industry. Andreas’s leadership will play a key role in helping CybaVerse achieve its goals and further grow the company.

“I’m delighted to be a part of the CybaVerse team. I have been completely drawn to Ollie’s ambitions and goals and the company’s innovation and creativity, which I believe will significantly benefit the security community at large. Cyber security is the most critical challenge in the digital world and we must support SMEs with a more efficient way to defend against the threats they face, otherwise we will always be on the backfoot to adversaries. I believe CybaVerse is making strides in tackling this important issue and I am delighted I will be playing a part in helping them reach this goal with my skills, experience and network,” said Andreas Wuchner.

The CybaVerse team have also welcomed Juliette Hudson as CTO. Juliette brings invaluable technical knowledge and experience to the role, with previous positions including SOC regional manager at Kroll, plus previous technical roles at Bupa and Symantec. Additionally, Nicola Hartland also joins the team as a Non-Executive Director and Board Advisor. Nicola has worked in cyber and technology for over 20 years and she will use her vast experience to enhance relationships with clients and scale the company.

These new hires have been involved in the technology industry, each with a proven track record of driving growth, fostering innovation, and ensuring success for the businesses they’ve worked with. Now, CybaVerse is poised to leverage their expertise to elevate its customer experience, accelerate the evolution of CybaVerse AI with the help of Founder & Lightening, and propel the company’s growth to the next level.

“We love the fact that CybaVerse has significant traction and very impressive founders and board. They are the perfect fit for us as they already have product-market fit nailed and the love of their customer base. We will now support them to reach their next goals with tech and investment. We were very impressed with their ultimate vision to build a comprehensive SaaS-based cyber security management system tailored for SMEs. Cybersecurity is vital to the functioning of all companies and particularly poignant at the moment with the evolution of AI. It's really great to be working with Gemma, Oliver and the team. We're very excited for the journey ahead.” Says Matt Jonns, Ceo & Founder of Founder & Lightning.

CybaVerse has evolved from a boutique consultancy into an innovative and highly skilled cyber security managed services provider with CybaVerse AI leading the way for all industry types. With a team of experts skilled at solving the high-stakes and complex challenges faced by its clients, CybaVerse is redefining how cyber security is managed. The recent launch of its cutting-edge platform, CybaVerse AI, marks a major leap forward. Designed to simplify cyber security management for SMEs, the platform provides a unified view across their entire cyber landscape, boosting efficiency, enhancing project management, and lightening the load on in-house IT and security teams.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Andreas, Nicola and Juliette to our growing team. With their rich technical experience and deep expertise in operations and leadership, they will be invaluable assets to CybaVerse. As we continue to develop CybaVerse and our platform offerings, I believe they each have the necessary skills and experience to help us realise, and surpass, our ambitions,” said Oliver Spence, CEO of CybaVerse.

We can’t wait to see where the next chapter of our journey takes CybaVerse, as we continue pushing the boundaries of cyber security innovation and helping our clients to thrive in a secure digital world with the use of CybaVerse AI.

Revolution-ZERO has secured £1 million equity from the South West Investment Fund via appointed fund manager, The FSE Group. The initial £1.6 million round, which includes funding from private angels, will help create 20 new jobs while supporting the overall growth of the business, which is based in Truro in Cornwall.

Founded in 2020, Revolution-ZERO is a medical textile solutions provider, with a strong emphasis on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Initially focused on reusable masks, the company has since expanded to include surgical textile solutions and decontamination/sterilisation units equipped with an RFID tracking system.

Operating as a circular economy system, Revolution-ZERO significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with single-use medical textiles, including emissions, waste, water, and toxicity, while also lowering costs for healthcare providers.

Founder and CEO, Tom Dawson, said: "We are thrilled to receive this South West Investment Fund investment via FSE, which will not only accelerate our growth but also further our mission to provide sustainable and effective medical textile solutions. Our end-to-end service model has already shown significant potential in reducing single-use item dependency in healthcare settings and this funding will help us scale these solutions more rapidly."

The BCorp certified company secured accreditations required to supply the NHS in 2021 and has since experienced rapid growth, expanding to 23 staff and more than tripling turnover. With ambitious plans to achieve six operational medical textile processing units by 2026, rising to 24 by 2028, Revolution-ZERO aims to become a £25 million turnover business within the next three years.

Anna Staevska, FSE Investment Manager, commented, "Revolution-ZERO's innovative approach to medical textiles is a game-changer for the healthcare industry. By addressing critical issues related to supply chain vulnerabilities and environmental impact, they are setting new standards for sustainability in the sector. We are excited to support their continued growth and success."

In the UK alone, approximately 53,000 tons of single-use regulated medical textiles are consumed annually, costing the NHS more than £400 million. Revolution-ZERO aims to disrupt this market, which is valued at £405 million annually in the UK and £4 billion across Europe.

Paul Jones from the British Business Bank added: “Revolution-ZERO is transforming the medical textile industry, offering reusable solutions that significantly reduce environmental impact and cut healthcare costs. We’re pleased that the South West Investment Fund has supported the company at this pivotal time to help them scale up and grow.

The purpose of the South West Investment Fund is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West. The South West Investment Fund is increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for South West smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and helping to break down barriers in access to finance.

There are a number of options available to fund business growth but many factors, including not wanting to give away part of your business in equity, not having several years of trading under your belt, wanting to invest in a new product, or not having enough security to satisfy a lender, can leave many businesses unable to access the finance they need in order to grow.

As appointed Fund Manager for a number of funds in the East and South East of England that exist to promote business growth, FSE is helping ambitious SMEs (small and medium enterprises) overcome such hurdles, providing loans from £100,000 to £500,000.

FSE’s Head of Funds for the South East and East, Cheryl Weeks, explains how FSE is debunking lending stereotypes to provide more than money and help high-growth businesses reach their potential.

Lenders want to see at least three years strong trading history…

As a provider of finance for business expansion, we’re more interested in your forecasts than your historic trading performance. As long as you can show that your business is growing and has gained commercial traction such as some sales, confirmed orders etc, we don’t mind if it is early stage, resurgent, recently changed ownership, or pivoting in a new direction.

Where mainstream finance providers will look for evidence that past performance can service your borrowings, we’re interested in the opportunity you are seeking to take tomorrow and not yesterday’s profit. We’re open to taking the time to explore the opportunity so, even if you’ve been unable to access funding before, come and talk to us.

The computer says no…

We aren’t about ticking boxes for a computer algorithm to make a lending decision. We want to get to know you; we’re interested in the challenges you’ve overcome, the bumps in the road, and your ambitions. We want to hear your business story to date and understand the opportunity you are seeking to fund. Yes, we undertake desktop research to complement the information you provide to us but fundamentally our appraisal process is personal; no computer-generated responses.

Bank managers are a thing of the past…

We’ll provide you with a dedicated Investment Manager who will work with you to present the best possible case to get your funding over the line. Complexity in the transaction is likely to be a given in many of our deals and our team are well-qualified to deal with this. They’ll meet with you as much as it takes to fully understand the proposal and will help ensure it’s in the best shape possible before being reviewed by independent experts.  

Our relationship-led approach doesn’t end with the money landing in your bank account - we don’t lend to you and then forget about you. You will be supported by a FSE Manager to contact throughout your time with us. Many of our customers come back to us for further funding, sometimes because the original plan needs additional finance and sometimes to fund an entirely new strategy. We will always try and support you on your growth journey; we’re with you for the long term.  

You need extensive assets to get a business loan…

Our funds exist to break down barriers to accessing finance, which means you don’t need assets as collateral. Unlike many mainstream lenders, we don’t rely on charges over property to be able to support you. We take a debenture (a charge over company assets) and a limited personal guarantee from the shareholding directors to underwrite their confidence in the growth forecasts of the business. We are transparent from day one with our security requirements.

Applying for a business loan is too much red tape and you might not even get the funding…

Of course we will need to gain all the information needed to decide whether your business is one we can invest in. These are not grants; they are commercial funds providing loans that need to be repaid. Our industry professionals will be looking to support you while lending responsibly so we are thorough in getting to know you and your business; our due diligence is robust. That said, we’ll ensure this is clear and straightforward and if you’re not suitable for these funds, we’ll let you know quickly, steering you to alternative funding sources where appropriate.

Lenders are only interested in financing teams that fit a high-growth stereoptype…

At FSE we’re really proud of the work we do to engage with businesses from diverse backgrounds and from across the whole of an area where we operate. This includes less-experienced teams, those operating in hard-to-reach geographical areas, those with female leaders and people from ethnic minority backgrounds. We have really strong female representation amongst our leadership at FSE and we are committed to ensuring that diversity is reflected across the range of businesses we work with.

In the South East and East of England, The FSE Group manages the Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator, the Coast to Capital Funding Escalator, The East of England Regional Loan Schemes and the CPCA Business Growth and Social Impact Investment Fund, for a number of fund operators. These funds operate as commercial funds with commercial returns required. Investment decisions are made by The FSE Group, not the fund operator.

Business leaders, social enterprises, and Third Sector organisations from across the Cambridgeshire region gathered in Peterborough (19 September) to hear about two new local government initiatives worth nearly £9.5 million, aimed at supporting growth, innovation and regional economic and social prosperity.

The launch event, led by Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and Cllr Anna Smith, Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, provided an opportunity for attendees to explore how they can access loans, digital resources, and strategic support funded by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and the UK Government.

The Combined Authority Business Growth and Social Impact Investment Fund represent a key part of the region’s economic recovery and transition towards Net Zero, building business growth, developing new infrastructure and increasing capacity within the Third Sector.

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: ‘By offering targeted support to local businesses and the Third Sector, we’re not just driving economic growth and creating new jobs, but empowering our communities to thrive and prosper. The resources we are putting in place today will fuel innovation and create lasting benefits for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.’

Small-to-medium sized businesses within the region who successfully apply for the programme will be able to access loans and equity investments between £100,000 and £500,000 over the next three years, with a focus on key sectors such as IT, Life Sciences, Agri-Tech, Advanced Manufacturing, and Green-Tech. This investment is expected to create or retain around five hundred jobs and contribute to reducing the regions CO2 emissions.

Third sector, community interest and social enterprise organisations who are eligible for the programme will be able to access up to £100,000, with funding aimed at helping to create or safeguard eighty-five jobs, while delivering wider benefits for local communities through enhanced social impact and sustainability. Funding applications will be administered by Allia and FSE on behalf of the CPCA.

Cheryl Weeks, Head of Funds South East and East of England at The FSE Group, said, ‘We are delighted to be working alongside Allia to deliver the CPCA Business Growth and Social Impact Investment Fund. We look forward to working with the wider business support ecosystem and the SMEs to help support their growth ambitions.’

Martin Clark, Allia Chief Executive. ‘As a long-standing member of the local third sector, Allia knows the challenges of growth and works to help those in the sector to start, grow, thrive and survive. Having the right forms of grant and loan funding is a critical component of this and we are confident there will be strong interest in the fund, which we hope will achieve some great growth and impact stories over the coming years.’

Deputy Mayor Cllr Anna Smith spoke at the launch and stated ‘This is such an important initiative which will help break down barriers to growth and allow more businesses to scale up. I’m excited that it also allows social enterprises, those businesses that operate for the good of the community, to grow and increase their impact.’

Article from: https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/

Find out more about the CPCA Business Growth and Social Impact Investment Fund.

Your Beans Ltd, trading as Beans Coffee Club, has secured a £100,000 expansion loan from the Thames Valley Berkshire (TVB) Funding Escalator via appointed Fund Manager, The FSE Group. The funding will be used to drive business growth, with a particular focus on expanding sales and marketing activity.

Beans Coffee Club is an online platform connecting coffee enthusiasts with over 20 independent UK roasters, offering a curated subscription service that personalises coffee selections based on individual preferences. Unlike single-roaster subscriptions, Beans Coffee Club provides access to 130 different coffees, ensuring a unique and tailored experience for every customer.

The TVB loan will enable Beans Coffee Club to hire a new marketing expert and engage the services of a marketing agency. This strategic investment aims to scale the business, enhance brand visibility, and capitalise on the growing trend of home-brewed, café-quality coffee.

Fiona Jones, Co-founder of Beans Coffee Club, said: "As a relatively early-stage business there are limited options to raise funding from mainstream finance providers but The FSE Group fills this gap with their funding for newer companies that are looking to expand. We’re delighted to be working with them as we enter the next phase of our growth journey; their support will be instrumental in helping us reach new customers and continue to promote the incredible work of independent UK roasters."

Paul Smith, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: "Beans Coffee Club has demonstrated a proven and scalable business model with impressive year-on-year growth. The professional input from new hires and marketing partnerships, funded by this loan, will be critical to delivering their ambitious growth plans. We are excited to support such a driven and innovative team."

Beans Coffee Club has shown strong growth since its inception; annual sales have almost tripled since 2022 and the company is looking to achieve five times this over the next three years. By leveraging its proprietary coffee matching technology, strong environmental commitments, and partnerships with leading brands DeLonghi and Espresso Solutions, the business is looking to continue its upward trajectory.

With over 80% of the UK population drink coffee daily, and the direct-to-consumer freshly roasted coffee market valued at £500m, this is a booming market. Beans Coffee Club’s focus on sustainability, fair pricing for roasters and farmers, and recyclable packaging resonates with the growing consumer demand for ethical and high-quality products.

TVB Funding Escalator is an £11.3m initiative funded by Berkshire LEP. The escalator, which includes an Expansion Loan Scheme and a Trade Finance Loan Scheme, provides eligible companies with loans between £50,000 and £500,000 for activities that will deliver high-growth and employment opportunities.