The past 12 months has seen technology-enabled start-ups and early-stage businesses raise record amounts of capital, as investors look to exploit digital trends that have been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. From the rise and rise of ecommerce to a sea-change in the way people work, the impact of the crisis has been profound, requiring organisations of all shapes and sizes to rethink their business models and operating practices.
With new investment at their disposal, some of the world’s fastest-growing businesses are in a strong position to expand at an even more rapid rate over the year ahead. Here are five businesses that have raised money over the past 12 months and which now look set for an exciting year in 2022.
Blink
Blink bills itself as the world’s first enterprise app specifically designed for frontline workers, a group that has been often overlooked in favour of white-collar staff. At a time when healthcare staff are once again feeling the strain of the pandemic, Blink has built a one-stop-shop app for frontline workers with an intranet, enterprise social network and a secure messaging platform that seeks to boost organisational communication and engagement. Last month, the company closed a $20m fundraise led by Next47.
Attest
Attest aims to significantly reduce the cost, time and complexity of conducting consumer research. Through its self-service consumer research platform, brands can access an audience of 110 million people across 49 countries, meaning that every business decision can be based on reliable and reputable data. Founded in 2015 in London by Jeremy King, the company recently secured a $64m Series B funding round with investors including Schroders, GR Capital, NEA and Kismet, to fuel its global growth into 2022.
Beacon
Beacon is a digital platform that uses artificial intelligence tools to help companies to make their international supply chains more efficient. With supply chains disrupted by the pandemic currently struggling to keep up with demand, it enables companies to manage all their needs within the platform, from booking freight to handling customs paperwork and insurance. Beacon was launched in 2018 by former Uber executives Fraser Robinson and Dmitri Izmailov, and raised $50m in Series B funding earlier this year, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos among the company’s backers.
Blink promises to help businesses overcome supply chain issues
Fresha
Fresha has built a beauty and wellness marketplace platform that enables consumers to discover, book and pay for appointments with local businesses, including salons, barber shops and fitness centres. It also operates a free business software service enabling these companies to manage and streamline their operations. The company, founded by Nick Miller and William Zeqiri in 2015, closed a $100m Series C funding round over the summer to help its expansion into new markets.
Updraft
Updraft is a financial wellness app built on open banking technology that uses machine learning to provide tailored advice on the customer’s loans, debts and overdrafts. By using its technology to build a complete financial profile, it aims to empower its users to make more informed and better financial decisions and to change their long-term habits in a positive manner. It raised $95m earlier this year in a funding round led by NatWest.
