Bite-size news in business & technology, from big breaking stories to funding, appointments & deals
Published: October 10, 2025 at 9:08 am
Valereum Plc has announced a £600,000 fundraise through the issue of 12 million new shares at £0.05 each — a 33% premium to the market price.
The raise includes £225,000 investments from both chairman James Bannon and group CEO Gary Cottle, alongside £150,000 from an unconnected party.
The funds will support the scale-up of VLRM Markets, strengthening its regulated footprint, partnerships and GATE Token utility.
Published: October 10, 2025 at 8:00 am
A groundbreaking mental health platform from Psyomics is now available to nearly one in ten Britons to speed up access to mental health care.
beseen, the new platform from Psyomics, has been taken up by five NHS mental health trusts and the UK’s largest private mental health provider the Priory Group, famous for treating celebrities such as Kate Moss and Robbie Williams.
Psyomics is now raising £7.5 million in pre series A funding. The funding round comes on the back of rapid growth since the commercial launch of the platform in 2023 to continue to scale operations to support mental health services worldwide.
Published: October 10, 2025 at 7:49 am
Princes Group has confirmed that it will float on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
The £2.1 billion revenue food and drinks firm includes the brands Princes, Napolina, ‘Branston, Batchelors, Flora, Crisp ‘N Dry, Delverde, Naked Noodle and Vier Diamanten.
The Liverpool-headquartered group exports its products to more than 60 countries and has more than 8,000 customers globally across large food retailers, B2B partners and the foodservice industry.
The offer price will be determined by a bookbuilding process. It is currently expected that trading will commence by the end of October.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 9:02 pm
See previous investments made by Meaden throughout her career in the Den here; and made by Bartlett here.
And with that the Symcox boys have arrived to watch Celebrity Traitors.
Send us your thoughts on tonight’s pitchers in the Den using the link at the top!
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:59 pm
“We did come in here with two Dragons in mind… Deborah and Steven.”
They want half of the money from each for 6% combined.
Bartlett is sticking with his original offer. Or £50k for 5%. He’s offering office space in his London HQ.
They do a combined deal.
“They’re a force!” says Jones.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Davies loves it. But she wants 2% for £25,000. “I’m best-placed to help you as an ambassador for Smart Works.”
Meaden offers £75,000 for 5% of the business.
Bartlett offers £75,000 for 7.5% and says his tech background will have the difference for them.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:52 pm
Bartlett is “talking himself out of it” says Wicks. Steven stalls.
Wicks goes for it. He offers £75k for 5% of the business. “You probably don’t want me because I’m a fitness guy!”
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:50 pm
They aim to hit profitability within 4-5 years – Suleyman laughs at that timescale. “Too long… for a minute return,” he says. He’s OUT.
“The issue is scale over valuation,” says Jones. “You’re going to need more like £5-10m to make a success of this.” He’s OUT.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:48 pm
They recently quit their jobs – they have backgrounds in psychology, corporate finance and a health startup – and have now begun trading.
The Dragons are very complimentary of their pitch.
“But you have to chew glass,” says Bartlett.
They have raised at a valuation of £2m. They will raise again next year, maybe £1.5-2m. “You’ll need to raise a lot more than that,” says Bartlett.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:44 pm
The biggest problem women face when returning to work is confidence, they say. “We are not just a jobs board.”
They team up with companies who are signed up to providing the pathway back into careers.
“Music to my ears,” says Meaden.
They are still in the testing phase.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:42 pm
They are asking for £75,000 for 3% to grow their platform and help more women access flexible, meaningful employment.
They use “behavioural nudge theory” to encourage people to return to work on the platform, where returners can find jobs with flexibility and other similar factors.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:40 pm
Sisters Lydia and Amelia from London are last to enter the Den with Ivee Jobs, an app connecting women returning to work with flexible, pre-vetted employers.
Inspired by their mother’s struggle to re-enter the workforce, the pair have built a community-driven marketplace with a back-to-work bootcamp, online courses and upskilling resources.
Is this the one the Dragons will invest in?
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:39 pm
Jones says their business is “asking people to come out and play”.
Wicks loves the outdoors aspect, having run classes in local parks, but he – and all the other dragons – are OUT.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:37 pm
A bit of a weird obstacle course to start with Meaden dodging sticks held by Wicks.
The duo are asking for £40,000 for 5% equity to grow their reach and encourage people to rediscover the joy of natural movement.
The numbers are low and they are part-time in the business.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:35 pm
Married couple Andrew Telfer and Gill Erksine present Wildstrong next, an outdoor fitness movement that champions ‘real-world strength’ over gym-based workouts.
Born from a group of friends training outdoors, Wildstrong has evolved into a structured program focused on skill, adaptability and community.
It offers in-person and online classes.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Bartlett is OUT.
Wicks likes the Gen-Z style branding and likes the idea of investing from an emotional perspective, but can’t see a path forward to profitability. He’s OUT.
Jones says they will have learned a lot about their branding today and praises where they have got to so far. But he’s OUT.
Suleyman advises them: “Don’t give up your day job. This is not investable. I’m OUT.”
Davies “invests in the entrepreneur, not the business… the product is great, but I won’t be investing in you”. She’s OUT.
Meaden says the product is muddled. She’s also OUT.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:30 pm
She always has a tub of nutritional yeast to hand, she says.
She points out the packaging on the ‘cheesy seasoning’ and ‘smoky bacon’ seasoning packets. “Where does it say it’s plant-based?” she asks.
A small logo in the corner. “That’s your main selling point – I’m your customer and I can’t see it.”
What do you guys think? Leave a comment by clicking above.
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:27 pm
“The branding is terrible,” says Jones.
He asks them to do a 30-second advert.
“Where is the call to action?” he asks. “Where is the ‘why’? Why should I buy it?”
Vegans need B12 in their diet, they counter.
Meaden is a vegan…
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:24 pm
They also have a design agency with 15 staff and £1.5m turnover.
“This is a side project,” says Bartlett. “Are we investing in your hobby?”
Published: October 9, 2025 at 8:22 pm
“It’s just seasoning,” says Mrs Symcox. “Am I missing something?”
Wicks concurs and likens the product type to something on the surface in a fish tank. “What is nutritional yeast?”
The duo are asking for £100k for 20% of the business.
Have Your Say