Ascension

Why We Invested in Heatio: An Energy Market Disruptor! Read this article to discover how their mission to democratise access to low-carbon technologies and their innovative use of IoT for optimal energy savings are set to revolutionise the energy market. 🚀

📣 Ascension's Latest Newsletter, a few highlights include: ➡ We are UKBAA finalists for Seed VC of the Year and Emma Steele for Best Woman-Led Investment in Innovation ➡ Ascension Fund III deal number 3, Heatio ➡ Interview with Charlotte Bax, Founder of Captur ➡ Saltroad.com - Speech & Language Therapy, Ascension S/EIS Fund 23-24 investment ➡ Juniver is looking for clinical trial participants 🔗 Excited about what we're doing at Ascension? Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter here - https://zcmp.eu/u5FE #founders #venturecapital #investment

First exit alert!! We are delighted to announce our first exit from the Ascension Life Fund! Aparito, a company that provides digital technology solutions to improve clinical trials for rare diseases, has recently been acquired by Eli Lilly and Company. Aparito's Atom5™ platform enables clinical trials to be conducted in patients' homes using disease-specific smartphone apps, video assessments, and wearable technology to collect electronic clinical outcome assessments (eCOAs) and digital biomarkers. This acquisition allows Lilly to incorporate Aparito's technology into its clinical trials, enhancing data collection and improving the experience for patients participating in studies, especially those with rare diseases. The acquisition, in May 2024, comes less than 6 months after the Fund’s investment and represents a significant uplift in valuation. Congratulations to Elin Haf Davies and the whole Aparito team, it was a pleasure working with you!

We need your help! 🚗 🙏 We're experiencing a surge in demand for The Electric Car Scheme and need talented individuals to join us! If you know someone interested, please share the link below with them or reach out to me directly here on LinkedIn. We ensure everyone has what they need to succeed, fostering a supportive team environment. This includes rewards, opportunities for development, and being a valued part of our journey together. You can learn more about working with us here: https://lnkd.in/eqXWTar8 (No external recruiters please) #TheElectricCarScheme #SalarySacrifice

📣 Ascension's Latest Newsletter, a few highlights include: ➡ Ascension Fund III deal number 2, Juniver ➡ Emma Steele on the importance of financial inclusion  ➡ Interview with Portman Wills, Co-Founder of Wagestream ➡ Freya Wordsworth at the Founder’s Social event ➡ Zen Educate, Series B raise ➡ Ascension Partners at Super Venture 🔗 Excited about what we're doing at Ascension? Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter here - https://zcmp.eu/u5FE #founders #venturecapital #investment

🚀 Exciting News: We recently launched the Ascension Syndicate; where angel investors and family offices can co-invest with Ascension into hand-picked, high-potential businesses! The Syndicate provides curated dealflow based on individual investors’ profiles in terms of sector, stage, traction, and tax structure (SEIS/EIS if applicable). [Capital at risk] 🤝 Why Join?  1) Access to exclusive and curated deal flow (opportunities include both Ascension portfolio companies as well as entirely new investments) 2) Opportunity to share investment opportunities with the Ascension network (both Ascension’s internal funds as well as its wider investment network of angels and family offices) 3) Benefit from SEIS/EIS eligible investments which can offer significant tax benefits 4) Flexible investment sizes ranging from £5,000 to £300,000+ (average investment size is £25,000) 5) Networking events with leading angels, family offices and founders 👉 Join Our Angel Investment Community via our simple registration form! https://lnkd.in/dEcySsmy 📅 Register for our upcoming event on 4th June to learn more about the Ascension Syndicate and network with potential co-investors (link in comments) 📌 Note: By signing up, you declare that you are a certified high net worth investor, self-certified sophisticated investor, or certified sophisticated investor as per the FCA’s definitions. Regarding SEIS/EIS, tax treatment is subject to individual circumstances and may be subject to change. 🚨Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take two minutes to learn more (link in comments). Chris Wheatcroft Alex Heerema Remy Minute Jean de Fougerolles

🚀 The Future of AI: Will OpenAI Make a Deal with Apple? Read Rakesh Murria's latest blog post where he dives deep into the most exciting developments in AI. From OpenAI’s groundbreaking ambitions to the potential game-changing collaboration with Apple, there’s a lot to unpack! Are we on the brink of a new era in how we interact with technology? Your phone, watch, and iPad could soon work together with a unified AI assistant, providing personalised assistance around the clock. Read the full article to explore these exciting developments and what they mean for the future of AI 💡 #AI #OpenAI #Innovation #Technology

Something no one has ever seen before: The world's first net-zero industrial laundry plant, Big Blue I, is in the making, and it's a game-changer. Located just outside Swindon, UK, this project is a testament to the power of innovation and sustainability. Big Blue I boasts some impressive features, including one of the world's largest washing machines, the biggest heat pump tumble dryers, and novel water reclamation systems. It's exciting to see these components come together to create a plant that will revolutionise the laundry industry. With true planet positive process at its core, Big Blue I is a shining example of how businesses can take the lead in reducing our carbon footprint, even at the gigabit scale. The project is a source of inspiration for anyone who wants to make a positive impact on the environment and if you’d like to come visit please let me know so we can add you to our grand opening invite list. Stay tuned for updates on this groundbreaking project. Big things are happening, and we can't wait to share them with you 🫧

What a way to start the week, announcing Juniver, Ascension Fund III’s deal number 2! 🌟 🚀Juniver's vision is to transform the $66bn eating disorder market through an innovative, first-of-its-kind digital solution. With its AI-powered assistant providing on-demand help through urges, personalised insights from health data, peer support, and telemedicine care, it aims to reduce eating disorder symptoms, lower relapse rates, and maintain healthy eating habits for all. 🚀 🔍 Why Juniver stands out Superstar founder: Emilie Faure has impressed us from day one with her visionary approach and unwavering dedication to addressing the challenges of eating disorders through technology. Broad & smart routes to market: including primary care practitioners, university distribution, paediatrics, and step-down therapy/triage for residential treatment centres. Unique value propositions: by providing a low-cost app with a personalised AI-powered assistant, Juniver can offer accessible and effective care, particularly for lower-income individuals who are disproportionately affected by the costs associated with eating disorders. 📚 Juniver's Impact Theory of Change Juniver’s research indicates that economic hardship can exacerbate eating disorders. Barriers to accessing care, including costs, stigma, and the complexity of navigating health systems delay treatment, impacting outcomes.  Juniver’s affordable, accessible, and empowering solution helps people get help early, in a way that fits with their lives. Juniver’s commitment to improving access to care and supporting long-term health and wellbeing, particularly for lower-income consumers, aligns perfectly with our investment thesis. We are excited to be on this journey and support Juniver in its US expansion. #VentureCapital #Innovation #HealthTech #EatingDisorders #Juniver

⭐ FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING! ⭐ Are you looking for a world class co-founder? Pre-seed funding? Time to develop your idea? The right introductions? All of the above? We are curating a world-class group of innovators and entrepreneurs - and this is your opportunity to join them! Our next venture building cohort, dedicated to building businesses that tackle a critical challenge facing the health people or the planet, kicks off in June - and applications will close on Wednesday 15th May. We invest in👇 🌍 Domain experts in climate & health 🌍  Entrepreneurial people with deep insight into an important problem in health or the environment, and ideas for the solution they plan to build to solve it. 📈 Business & technical leaders 📈  People who are ready to apply their commercial, product, engineering or technical expertise to build and scale a mission-led startup in health or environment. 🥼 Entrepreneurial scientists 🥼 People who have already developed innovative deep tech or science with the potential for high impact in health or the environment, and are now ready to think about commercialisation. Why build your venture at Zinc? ✅ Capital - up to £300k as the first investor in your business ✅ Team building - access to world-class co-founders and hires ✅ Expertise - access to hundreds of curated expert fellows and advisors ✅ Community - office space and a network of hundreds of like-minded innovators ✅ Venture Building Platform - venture building resources and hands-on support ✅ Coaching - personal and team development ✅ Partnerships - access to innovation partnerships and grant funding ✅ Fundraising - strategy, support and introductions ✅ Technical support - R&D, scientific and IP advisory ✅ Cash - a six month stipend while you experiment and build Are you ready to take the next step and join world-class innovators building their businesses at Zinc? 👇 Don't delay, submit your application ahead of the deadline at midnight on 15th May - https://www.zinc.vc/ Ella Goldner (Levy) | Paul Kirby | Eleanor Ford | Shelley Brown | Luke Charbonnier-Bevan, PhD | Rosie Webster | Caitlin Scheybeler | Kate Hyslop | Hannah Abdel-Hadi