We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings we’ll assume you are happy with this. You can find out more about how we use cookies and how to change your settings here.
 

Latest news

Octopus Ventures invests £1.9m in Semafone Ltd

24 June 2010

Octopus Ventures (Octopus), a division of Octopus Investments, has announced an investment of £1.9 million into Semafone Ltd (the Company). Investment in Semafone represents the twelfth deal concluded by Octopus Ventures this year.

Based in London, Semafone Ltd was founded in 2009 by a consortium of call centre professionals, who were instrumental in the development of ‘Semafone'; a fraud prevention software for use in call centres. 

Semafone aims to secure sensitive data passed over the phone, including bank details, personal identification data and credit/debit card transactions.  Without interrupting caller and agent dialogue, customers input their card details via the telephone keypad, eliminating the need to read out the card number and three digit security number to the phone operator, removing the risk of operator fraud.

In the last 12 months Semafone has secured valued customers such as the John Lewis Partnership, Argos, Specsavers and the Manchester Airports Group.  The new investment from Octopus will accelerate the Company's growth in the UK and abroad, through investment in sales and marketing.

Alliott Cole, Investment Director at Octopus, commented:  "We were impressed with the progress CEO Tim Critchley and his team have made in the relatively short period of time since the Company devised and marketed Semafone. The combination of a growing pipeline of sales, a passionate and committed management team, and a large addressable market, makes Semafone an exciting business to partner. We look forward to working with the team in the months to come."

Tim Critchley, MD, Semafone Ltd: "'We selected Octopus Ventures as our investment partner because of their track record of supporting businesses like us, and their reputation for doing so in a way that is constructive, consultative and collaborative. We wanted to work closely with a company that would genuinely add value to the development of our business, above and beyond simply providing us with the funding we needed.''

Alliott Cole led the deal on behalf of Octopus. Funds were provided from the Octopus Titan VCT funds, the Eureka EIS Portfolio Service and the Octopus Venture Partners.

Octopus was advised by Shoosmiths (Legal), Data Point Research (Commercial Due Diligence) and Mayfield Consulting (Financial Due Diligence).

Semafone Ltd was advised by HMT Corporate Finance.

Octopus Investments Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Terms and Conditions of use. ©2013 Octopus Investments Ltd. All rights reserved.