Connectd, a growth network for the early-stage business ecosystem, has secured a further £1.2 million in seed funding to expand into the European market.
The London firm helps startups, investors and advisors make and manage meaningful connections.
Founded by serial entrepreneur Roei Samuel and launched in February 2020, it has expanded its operation with a new office in Stockholm, Sweden.
It has brought together more than 1,000 startups and over 1,000 investors and business advisors fostering more than 20,000 connections in over 10 countries.
Connectd operates through a subscription-based model and has grown on average 16% every month since its launch. In the space of just over a year, its team has grown to 40 personnel working across the UK, India, Sweden and Poland.
“This investment takes us another step forward in becoming the leading community-driven platform that provides founders, investors, and advisors with the holistic tools they need,” said CEO Samuel.
“Our new legal tool is designed to benefit founders and investors by helping them establish their essential legal documentation without incurring expensive fees.
“Also, our new portfolio solution enables angel investors to see everything in one place thanks to our intelligent dashboard.”
Joining the round were Rob Wilmot, TEDx Speaker and founding executive of Freeserve; Jonas Anker, CEO of Anker Capital; Business Angel, Gareth Hawkins; serial entrepreneur brothers Aleks and Dejan Subosic of Deep North; and Steve Scruton, former head of Equity Research at HSBC.
Subosic said: “We see huge global application for Connectd’s technology, and having built, exited and invested into companies across Europe and beyond, we’re excited to help launch Connectd in Stockholm in Q2 and build a broader European footprint from there.”
The launch of ConnectdLegal provides members with a hub to easily access documents including SEIS/EIS registration, advisory agreements for NEDs and board advisors, NDAs and employment contracts. Advisors and investors will be able to share the tool with their portfolio companies.
‘You wouldn’t cut corners on a plastic surgeon so invest in tech’
The new ConnectdPortfolio tool acts in the same way as a consumable dashboard for a crypto-wallet or for public shares, but tailored to the early-stage investment ecosystem. It allows investors to manage all their angel investments in one place, and it is not limited to investments made through the Connectd platform.
“Connectd has proven to deliver consistent month-on-month growth, and the trajectory for the business is looking very strong. I feel I can add value beyond my investment to Roei and his team, which is why I’m pleased to go on this journey with them,” said Paul Redbourn, former head of Equity at UBS and investor in Connectd.