London Brief #30: Internet companies struggling with terror and politics, new opportunities and business as usual.
Google has submitted plans for its new HQ in King’s Cross. The building will be longer than the Shard is tall. Read more in this issue.
People
Theresa May, in her speech on Downing Street following Saturday’s terror attack on London Bridge, once again targeted Internet firms for providing a “safe space” for terrorist ideologies. The industry responds, and slowly moves to Paris with a warm welcome from Emmanuel Macron.
Michael Sackler, a film producer known for the Witch, brings $28m to London with his new VC, Rooks Nest Ventures.
Priya Guha, the former British consul general in San Francisco, will run London’s RocketSpace campus.
In the news
Netguru (our mothership) and Level39 are working on a comprehensive report on the state of London tech, unconventionally called State of London Tech. Complete the survey to help them out.
Intu Accelerate is recruiting for a 10-week incubator programme. You can apply here.
Draper Esprit has raised £160m in new funding to invest in high-growth digital tech businesses across Europe.
Upcoming Events
Only one week left until The London Lean Startup Summit, one of the most exciting London events in 2017! Join us during the London Tech Week on June 13 & 14 at the London Stock Exchange and Here East. If you have not registered yet, here is a Netguru discount for you.
Business as usual
- Zopa, a P2P lending platform, has raised £32m in a round co-led by Wadhawan Global Capital and Northzone.
- RateSetter, Zopa’s direct competitor, has raised £13m in equity funding from its existing investors.
- Panaseer, a big-data cyber-security analytics platform, has raised $3.25m from its existing investors.
- CrowdJustice, a crowdfunding platform for legal cases, has completed a $2m seed round.
- ZZish, a startup that brings e-learning apps to schools has closed a £1.5m funding round via Crowdcube.
- Hubble, a short-term office space marketplace, has landed £1.2m in an investment round led by Firestartr platform.
- Ebb3, a provider of 3D graphics for business applications, has raised £1m from Maven Capital Partners.
Number of the day
990.279 sq ft: the amount of office space in Google’s new HQ to be built in King’s Cross
Idea
London Brief is a weekly selection of essential information about startups, technology and the business scene in London. Got news? Give us a shout at londonbrief@netguru.co.
Aleksandra Prejs
On behalf of the London Brief Team
