Manchester start-ups secure near £500k investment

Originally featured in Business Live

A group of three Manchester start-ups have secured almost £500,000 from a residential investment vehicle.

Solid Bond Venture Builder has invested £250,000 in PixelMax, a 3D events and conferencing software company, £150,000 in Veo World, an online marketplace, and £40,000 in Mapmate, an app for discovering new friends nearby and exploring local areas.

Led by Shaz Sulaman, Solid Bond Venture Builder plans to fast-track the early-stage businesses to the next phase of their business journey.

It will provide them with smart investment, giving the founders access to one-to-one mentorship from the venture builder business heads who have previously created and worked within some of the UK’s most successful start-ups.

Sulaman said: "We’re thrilled to have invested in these three exciting start-ups, and hope to help them fulfil their full potential. 

"The North is often overlooked when it comes to start-up talent, however it is a hotbed for aptitude and innovation. Enterprise City and its Exchange programme have amplified the tech and digital businesses in the area, and given them the opportunity to come together, collaborate and share notes."

Co-founder Gordon Bateman added: “It’s not just about the money – investment isn’t everything for new businesses, and insight into how to run the operational side of the business, as well as deliver outstanding work is invaluable.

"Start-up founders also need help anticipating the hurdles they will encounter in the first few years of business, and support in reaching the milestones needed in order to scale and raise further investment.

"We often see a number of common mistakes among new businesses, despite them having huge potential, which if corrected will result in them being wildly successful.

"The work and mentoring we provide will help PixelMax, Veo World and Mapmate excel in their respective industries on a national and global scale."

Tanya Grady, head of partnerships at Enterprise City, said: "Having our own dedicated in-house investment vehicle is a huge bonus for the businesses on our programme.

Not only do they have access to some fantastic strategic partners in Tech Nation, Microsoft Advertising and RMS, the businesses also have direct access to potential investment and invaluable expertise from people that have held senior positions at companies that have achieved the things they dream of.

"Solid Bonded Venture Builder brings the expertise of Shaz, Gordon and their team to the doorstep of our start-up businesses at Exchange.

"I have no doubt that the insight and advice Solid Bond will add will boost the progress and potential of these businesses to become Britain’s next big tech, digital and media companies."

Find out more about Solid Bond Venture Builder here