News

Leeds based digital education specialist AXOL plans to grow its client portfolio with investment from Finance Yorkshire.

Entrepreneur Sam Jordan launched his business three years ago in response to the increasing demand for e-learning post the Covid pandemic.

Independent education providers are using Merve developed by AXOL to launch their own online learning platforms to deliver courses. Businesses are also looking to Merve for their internal training needs.

A £65,000 investment from Finance Yorkshire’s loan fund is supporting AXOL’S marketing strategy to attract new clients. The investment has also enabled the business to recruit another web developer.

Sam started his career as a web developer when he was 16. He went on to provide consultancy and IT support to businesses in Australia before returning to the UK, working in software development and digital translation services for the NHS and MoD.

Sam said: “Throughout my years of experience consulting with EdTech start-ups and scale-ups, we've undertaken third party research to validate the efficacy of our education technology and seen a substantial benefit for students.

“Digital learning enables students to learn at their own pace, providing educators with valuable insights and time to mentor those who need it. We work with clients to build or enhance their online courses and the overall e-learning experience of their students.

“The Merve platform takes all our learnings and experience, offering the ability for anyone to host their own online learning platform for a small monthly fee.”

AXOL’S e-learning platform brings several education technology tools under one umbrella – course content management, user management and compliance with regulations such as GDPR.

Sam added: “Finance Yorkshire saw the potential in what we are trying to achieve. With it’s backing, I’m confident we will succeed.”

Alex McWhirter, Finance Yorkshire’s CEO, said: “Sam has considerable experience in the digital sector which has led him to develop an innovative e-learning platform for students.

“The digital sector is thriving at both regional and national level and will contribute to the increase in growth and wealth in the Yorkshire region.

“Finance Yorkshire is supporting AXOL’S ambitions to attract more clients and grow the business from its Yorkshire base.”

Stage School Software, developer of a custom-built platform designed to manage all aspects of theatre and dance school administration, has secured a £200,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund via appointed fund manager, The FSE Group.  

This funding will accelerate the company’s growth by supporting further software development, marketing initiatives, and staff hires. 

Stage School Software’s Enrolio app offers a comprehensive solution that streamlines theatre and dance school management by handling tasks such as signing up students for trial classes, converting them to regular clients, and processing fees automatically. The platform also simplifies communication with students and parents through its unified messaging system. 

Chris Witham, the founder and CEO of Stage School Software, is also the owner of the well-established Swish of the Curtain Theatre School, which has been operating in Christchurch in Dorset since 1991 and now has several franchises across the south of England.  

Chris set up Stage School Software in 2023 to create an app that would meet the needs of Swish’s franchisees, while also serving as an effective resource for the wider performing arts sector. 

"This support is instrumental," said Chris Witham. "As an early-stage business with a limited track record, Stage School Software is not currently in a position to obtain high-street funding. FSE was able to see the potential of the business across the franchise base and beyond, agreeing to the South West Investment Fund loan and completing the deal just seven days later. I look forward to working with FSE in the future." 

The Enrolio platform is evolving from its initial Swish franchisee app into a white-labelled offering, allowing both Swish and non-Swish schools to create branded environments with custom domains, flexible payment setups, multi-parent support, and scalable infrastructure. 

Rob Ward, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, stated: "This is a great opportunity to fund a business that has emerged from a well-established company. Chris knows the sector so well, and his experience and connections are invaluable. He knows how to create an offering that is both wanted and needed by the performing arts sector and is providing these businesses with the tools they need to succeed." 

Paul Jones, Senior Investment Manager from the British Business Bank added: “Chris has come a long way from collecting pound coins from stage students in chilly parish halls in the 1990s to a well established performing arts franchise today. Stage School Software is a natural extension of that, applying digital innovation to remove administrative chores for theatre and dance schools across the UK. We hope support from the South West Investment Fund raises the curtain on the next stage of growth.” 

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. It offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5 million. 

The 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. 

Devon-based AI powered sales outreach platform, Sendr, has secured a £250,000 equity investment from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund via appointed fund manager, The FSE Group. The investment forms part of a wider funding round aimed at accelerating further product development and market expansion.

Founded in 2023 by Dave Cannell and John Bromley, Sendr is a cutting-edge platform that transforms traditional mass email marketing. Head-quartered in Exeter, Sendr creates personalised, short-form video content powered by advanced AI tools, allowing businesses to engage clients more effectively. The company has quickly gained traction, securing partnerships with prestigious organisations including the Financial Times.

The investment will support the company in achieving the interim growth needed to unlock further funding opportunities. With these resources, Sendr plans to enhance its technological offerings and solidify its position in the rapidly growing market of personalised AI sales experiences.

Sendr’s solution to the inefficiencies of traditional mass marketing uses AI for voice matching and lip-syncing, delivering videos that feel personally tailored for each viewer. This approach not only increases engagement but the platform also integrates seamlessly with CRM systems, allowing for automated, large-scale video personalisation.

Dave Cannell, Sendr co-founder and CEO, said: “This funding is a pivotal step in our journey to redefine client engagement through innovative technology. The backing from FSE and the South West Investment Fund provides not just finance but also strategic support that will help propel Sendr forward. We look forward to working with Matt and the FSE team on this journey.”

Matt Browning, Investment Manager at The FSE Group added: “Sendr presents a compelling investment opportunity with its innovative approach to digital marketing. We are excited to work with this dynamic business as it continues to grow and disrupt the market with its personalised video solutions.”

Paul Jones, Senior Investment Manager from the British Business Bank said: “Sendr is among a growing number of South West businesses that are embracing the power of AI to transform their client offer. Their platform is a good example of the kind of innovation the South West Investment Fund is designed to support, as they scale and accelerate their growth journey.”

Research suggest the digital advertising market is currently valued at $700 billion globally, with the segment of personalised AI sales experiences expected to grow at an annual rate of 25% over the next five years. As businesses shift towards more engaging and effective marketing strategies, Sendr says it is well-positioned to capitalise on this trend, offering a solution that meets the increasing demand for personalised and dynamic content.

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. It offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5 million.

The 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.

With over £335 million under management across 19 separate funds and loan schemes, The FSE Group is in a unique position to bring exceptional deal opportunities to its network of business angel investors.

With all potential investees having been through FSE’s thorough vetting process and already successfully secured equity or growth debt funding via FSE, investors can be confident in the quality of deals on the table.

FSE Business Angels have recently co-invested in the following companies from within FSE’s wider portfolio:

• Inyanga Marine Energy Group provides specialist services for the delivery of offshore renewable energy projects and is a world leader in the development of tidal energy technology. To date the business has received over £1.75million of funding from the FSE managed Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund.
• Easology has developed software that transforms the user screens of phones and tablets, making them easy to use for older persons or those with visual or dexterity impairment, helping to ensure the digital revolution is accessible to everyone. To date the business has received £300,000 from the Enterprise M3 Funding Escalator.

These businesses are using the latest technology to drive innovation in their fields of operation and all are making significant strides with the funding and wider support provided by FSE.

FSE’s Investor Network Manager, Trevor Jones, commented: "As entertaining as a dragon’s den style event may be, we know that our investors are busy individuals focused on high-quality deals. The opportunities we bring them have already been through FSEs robust due diligence process and come with the extensive support and expertise of FSE’s dedicated Investment Managers, helping to maximise the potential for a successful future exit.”

The FSE Investor Network remains an exclusive platform for active angel investors. Spanning all sectors, the network offers investment opportunities in high-growth businesses that, importantly, are backed by FSE-managed funds. Our angels share a breadth of entrepreneurial, professional, and business experience and typically invest between £10,000 and £50,000 in each company, sometimes more.

Angel Investor Kevin Maguire, said: “The FSE Investor Network regularly brings forward high quality businesses with an ‘edge’, giving FSE members the opportunity to co-invest alongside an established and reputable funder who supports their portfolio companies beyond funding, to flourish and grow.”

For more information on investment opportunities or to join the FSE Investor Network, contact Trevor Jones.

BuyingStation, a leading procurement solutions company, has secured a £500,000 investment from the Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator, via fund manager The FSE Group. 

Having identified a gap in procurement technology in 2016, BuyingStation developed a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to address this. Quickly becoming a much needed tool for over 1500 users to enhance clarity, control and confidence within a business’s portfolio of supplier spend.  

Following this success, a decision was made to build a proprietary cloud based procuretech solution - BuyingStation - a unified platform for contract and supplier management, eTendering, project pipelines and spend tracking, promoting best procurement practices and helping high growth businesses work with suppliers to achieve their sustainability goals. BuyingStation will use the funding to accelerate platform advancement and drive subscription sales. 

Kavita Cooper, BuyingStation founder and CEO, said: “We are excited to secure this funding, which is supporting our mission to promote purposeful procurement; helping more businesses have a positive impact on people, the planet and increasing profits. In FSE we have found a funder able to invest in our growth potential, we look forward to working with Cheryl and the team.”  

Cheryl Weeks, Head of Funds, South East at The FSE Group added: “With its targeted approach and dedication to tech innovation, BuyingStation is poised to drive sustained success in the world of procuretech. A future equity raise will accelerate the technology roadmap and position the Company as the leading tech-led procurement solution for high growth mid-size businesses in the UK and beyond. We are delighted to provide the finance they need to be in the strongest position to accelerate growth.” 

Mike Reeves, Partner at EY in the South East, who introduced BuyingStation to The FSE Group, commented: “While working with BuyingStation on their upcoming equity raise, we advised that introducing debt funding to accelerate platform development could position them to secure equity investment at a higher valuation later in their journey. We were pleased to have made the introduction to FSE who are a strong funder for deals where traditional high-street lending criteria may not be a match.” 

TVB Funding Escalator is an £11.3m initiative funded by The Skills and Business Hub. 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.