Arctic Shores joins the portfolio
Praetura Ventures has kicked the year off by welcoming our 33rd portfolio company in Arctic Shores, having led a £5.75m Series B round into the business. Founded in 2014, Manchester-based Arctic Shores specialises in recruitment-specific psychometric assessments to prevent unconscious biases during the job hiring process. Arctic Shores also helps businesses identify talent based on soft skills aptitude. In Arctic Shores’ own words, CVs simply don’t tell the full story when it comes to businesses knowing who to hire. “Companies are being squeezed by a lack of specific skills which is driving up salaries and recruitment costs,” said founder Robert Newry.
Illuma’s Yu Liu maps out the future of AI for businesses
Illuma’s Head of Data and Technology Yu Liu has weighed in on Google’s decision to end support for cookies by 2024 and predicts that AI will be valuable in removing pain points around contextual advertising. Rather than looking at a customer’s data, specialist ad targeting solutions, including those provided by Illuma, assess content and serve ads on a more contextual basis. You can read the TechRound 2023 round up here.
Futr helping to solve digital challenges for the UK Home Office
Futr has been working closely with the UK Home Office to help the government department as it adapts and navigates the changing digital world. The team have been supporting the Home Office’s Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE), which solves public safety and national security technological challenges. As covered in their annual report, the Home Office has been using Futr’s next generation chat bots to capture information in the early stages of investigations to deliver more accurate crime reports.
Maxwellia’s Anna Maxwell shortlisted for disruptor award
The CEO of Maxwellia, Anna Maxwell, has been nominated for another prestigious award after being shortlisted in the ‘Disruptor for Good’ category at the Northern Power Women Awards. The Disruptor for Good award will this year go to “an individual who is unafraid to crack on and make a real impact in terms of inclusion.” Anna, who also founded the Alderley Park-based business, will find out if she has won when the awards take place in March.
Modern Milkman names new Chief Growth & Commercial Officer
Modern Milkman has appointed Anwar Sultan as its new Chief Growth & Commercial Officer, as the business looks to bolster its UK growth and global ambitions. Anwar had previously worked at Ello Group and The Hut Group and brings with him plenty of ecommerce experience. The appointment also follows the ethical digital grocer coming fourth on the Startups 100 index for 2023 – the UK’s ‘longest-running’ list of disruptive and innovative small businesses.
RapidSpike turns 8!
RapidSpike has officially celebrated its eighth birthday. The Leeds-based company, which specialises in website monitoring, supports businesses such as William Hill, JD, Tesco as well as local authorities, including Leicester City Council. Congratulations to CEO Gav Winter and the wider RapidSpike team.
