Ascension vs British Business Bank

Ascension to acquire QVentures, bringing together two leading UK early-stage investment funds

QVentures has agreed to be acquired by Ascension, combining QVentures' First Cheque strategy and portfolio with Ascension's 150+ company portfolio and 10-year track record.

Microbiotica lands €42M Series C for microbiome therapy

Microbiotica, a British clinical-stage biopharma company, has announced the first close of a €42 million (£36 million) Series C financing round. The round was led by British Business Bank, with participation from Tencent, IP Group, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Flerie Invest, and Seventure Partners, and included all existing Series B investors. The funds will be used to advance MB310, its precision microbiome therapy for ulcerative colitis, into Phase 2 clinical development, following positive Phase 1b results. Microbiotica's platform, spun out of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, identifies bacterial strains linked to favorable clinical outcomes. The company also partners with MSD, Cancer Research UK, and Genentech. This funding round is part of a broader trend of European biotech investments in microbiome and related therapies.

• Microbiotica announced a €42 million Series C financing round.
• The financing was led by British Business Bank with participation from Tencent, IP Group, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Flerie Invest, and Seventure Partners.
• The funds will support the Phase 2 clinical development of MB310 for ulcerative colitis.

British Business Bank Invests £180M Across AI and Deeptech Funds

The British Business Bank, a state-owned investor, has announced a £180 million investment across six AI and deeptech venture capital funds. The investments include £35 million in Crane Ventures Partners' Crane III fund, £20 million in Connect Ventures' Connect V fund, £22 million in Entrepreneurs First's early-stage fund, £55 million in Intrepid Growth Partners' Fund I, £26 million in Headline's EU VIII fund, and £22 million in Evantic Fund I. This move follows a government review that increased the bank's spending power, aiming to strengthen the UK's funding landscape for AI and deeptech startups. The bank has also previously invested directly in companies like Wayve, Kraken Technologies, and PolyAI. Chief Investment Officer Leandros Kalisperas stated the strategy aims to create deeper pools of funding at all stages of growth, helping companies access greater capital domestically.

• British Business Bank invests £180M across six AI and deeptech VC funds.
• Investments include £35M in Crane Ventures Partners' Crane III, £20M in Connect Ventures' Connect V, £22M in Entrepreneurs First, £55M in Intrepid Growth Partners' Fund I, £26M in Headline's EU VIII, and £22M in Evantic Fund I.
• The bank has previously invested directly in Wayve, Kraken Technologies, and PolyAI.

Nauta closes €60M first close for sixth fund

Nauta, a London-based pan-European VC, announced the first close of its sixth fund at €60 million. The British Business Bank anchored the fund with a €30 million commitment, marking its fourth consecutive participation in a Nauta fund. Other LPs include SETT, Merifin Capital, and Institut Català de Finances. The fund targets a total size between €150 million and €200 million, with a final close expected in H2 2027. Nauta invests in B2B software and DeepTech startups from pre-Seed to Series A, with a focus on high-performance computing, AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, industrial automation, digital health, and energy frontier technology. The firm has backed over 200 founders across 100 companies and generated nearly €3 billion in exit value.

• Nauta announced the first close of its sixth fund at €60 million.
• British Business Bank committed €30 million as anchor investor.
• Other LPs include SETT, Merifin Capital, and Institut Català de Finances.