Raising Finance

Raising Finance 3 min read

Former Barclays banker swaps pounds for ounces in marijuana venture investment

There was previously no such thing as a mainstream marijuana entrepreneur or investor. How things have changed.

Raising Finance 2 min read

New financial technology offering sees industry heavyweights unite

A new venture aimed at “re-shaping” the mortgage sector has brought together a team with experience including roles at Santander, Experian, Morgan Stanley and Thomas Cook.

Interviews 5 min read

What the banks have to say about the wave-making CMA investigation

As a piece of research designed to weaken the stranglehold the UK's "big four" banks have over the retail and business banking space, Real Business finds out what the incumbent high street lenders and new challengers on the block made of the "Making banks work harder for you" document.

Raising Finance 3 min read

David Haye provides recruitment app a fighting chance with 2.65m seed round

Heavyweight boxer David Haye has used his platform to champion British business, contributing to a £2.65m seed investment round for recruitment app Syft alongside David Cameron’s former enterprise advisor Lord Young.

Raising Finance 4 min read

What firms are most likely to gain investment on Dragons Den

It often pays to know what firms have previously garnered investment before you pitch your business – so if you’re thinking of going on Dragons’ Den, here are a few stats that will make you celebrate… or not.

Raising Finance 3 min read

UK’s alternative lenders are eyeing international expansion

Platforms such as Crowdcube, Seedrs and MarketInvoice are defying the Brexit fallout with European expansion plans in the near future.

Raising Finance 2 min read

The company that slashed its valuation in half after a scandal

In just two years, health benefits broker Zenefits’ valuation shot up to $4.5bn – and it was a darling of Silicon Valley until a scandal broke loose. Now the company is trying to clean itself up by cutting its valuation by 50 per cent.

Interviews 5 min read

Solving social and environmental problems while being a successful business

Wanting to solve hunger and food waste at the same time is an admirable goal, and it’s the reason why Iseult Ward launched an app called FoodCloud – and is vying for the winning spot at the £1m VOOM competition finale from Virgin Media Business.

Raising Finance 5 min read

Beyond the bank: How equity investment can unlock a company’s potential

With just three per cent of UK small businesses having turned to equity to fund growth, there is both a mountain of debt being relied on, and a great many growth opportunities passing by.