Investor Meetings Now Being Scheduled during J.P. Morgan 42^nd Annual Healthcare Conference

SANTA FE, N.M., Dec. 20, 2023 — Mercury Bio, (www.mercurybio.com) a Santa Fe, NM–based biotech company commercializing an innovative and highly disruptive drug delivery platform, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Bruce McCormick and Chief Science Officer Richard Sayre, Ph.D., will be presenting at the 2024 Biotech Showcase investors and corporate development conference at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 8, 2024, at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Also attending are Dana Barnard, Chairman of the board of directors, and life sciences tools veteran Mike Rice, a recently added board member, who is assisting the Company’s funding activity to close a Series A round.

Bruce McCormick says, “Mercury Bio has created a drug delivery platform that’s demonstrated successful oral and IV delivery of nucleic acids, which can reach all organs of the body, including the brain. We are entering joint development agreements with biotech companies to speed up the evaluation and development of new drug candidates.

“Our proprietary, non-animal, non-human drug delivery platform—an alternative to lipid nanoparticles (LNP)—is based on the bioengineering and production of yeast-derived extracellular vesicles (yEVs). We created an extensive IP portfolio before coming out of stealth mode and continue to file additional patent applications. As we enter the commercial growth phase, we’re seeking investments from aligned investment firms focused on disruptive early-stage, high-growth biotech opportunities.”

About Biotech Showcase

Biotech Showcase is a premier investor conference committed to creating a platform for private and micro-mid-cap biotechnology companies. It offers them a unique opportunity to showcase their innovations and engage one-to-one with investors and biopharmaceutical executives. For more information, please visit https://informaconnect.com/biotech-showcase/.

To schedule a meeting in San Francisco with Mercury Bio executives between January 8–11, please use this link: https://calendly.com/mercury-bio/2024-biotech-showcase.

About Mercury Bio

Sparked by scientific breakthroughs in genomic research, Mercury Bio has developed a next-generation biomolecular drug delivery platform. The technology enhances drug efficacy while reducing side effects by employing cell-specific targeting using a novel system for drug encapsulation in natural (non-human/non-animal) vesicles. The result is an advanced drug delivery system in a scalable, low-cost production platform that will unlock the potential of RNA therapeutics and small-molecule drugs.

Contact: Kaelie Barnard | Director of Marketing, Barson Corp.
[email protected] | +1 (516) 712–6050

SOURCE Mercury Bio Inc.

LONDON, Dec. 20, 2023 — Hakluyt Capital is delighted to announce three of its first investments – in Interos, CalypsoAI and Viz.ai.

Interos’ AI-powered platform is helping the world’s leading multinational corporations, governments, and other organisations map, monitor and pre-empt emerging and systemic risks hidden deep in manufacturing and cyber supply chains to protect brand, reputation and profitability.

CalypsoAI is a leading AI Security company empowering international organisations to leverage generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) safely and confidently. The company’s platform is designed to mitigate the risks posed by generative AI models, providing industry-leading safeguards that prevent the leakage of sensitive data and block malicious attacks.

Viz.ai’s software platform harnesses AI to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses. Its algorithms, which have been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), analyse medical imaging data such as CT scans and electrocardiograms to support medical professionals with real-time insights and assessments.

Hakluyt Capital invests alongside leading venture capital funds, and targets Series B to D companies with international ambitions and high growth potential. Hakluyt Capital is a value-added investor: the firm’s in-house team across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia works closely with the leadership teams of its portfolio companies to identify and introduce potential customers, to navigate policy and regulatory issues around the world, and to make connections to senior individuals with geographic or sectoral expertise.

Speaking about Hakluyt Capital’s first investments, Varun Chandra, Hakluyt Capital’s chairman and Hakluyt’s managing partner, said: “Our ambition in building Hakluyt Capital is to partner with the world’s most dynamic and ambitious young companies, and accelerate their growth. We are delighted to be using Hakluyt’s in-house expertise and connectivity to advise these brilliant businesses on how best to navigate their toughest challenges and seize their greatest opportunities.”

On Hakluyt Capital’s investment in Interos, founder and CEO Jennifer Bisceglie commented: “Hakluyt Capital offers a tremendous opportunity for high-growth businesses like Interos, and they are aligned to our vision for proactive resilience. We have already felt the benefits of the firm’s outstanding network and insights, and are thrilled to continue innovating alongside them as we scale further.”

Neil Serebryany, founder and CEO of CalypsoAI, said: “To scale a start-up in today’s environment, you need more than just investment. Hakluyt’s unique expertise will be crucial for the next stages in CalypsoAI’s journey.”

Dr Chris Mansi, co-founder and CEO of Viz.ai, added: “We operate in a very complex regulatory environment, and Hakluyt’s advice has already been extremely valuable to us. We greatly look forward to continuing our partnership with them.”

Notes to editors
Hakluyt Capital, which was founded in 2023, invests alongside leading venture capital funds, targeting Series B to D companies with high growth potential and international ambitions. Its parent company, Hakluyt, is a strategic advisory firm that works with corporate leaders and investors around the world on their most important commercial issues.

For more information on the fund, please visit www.hakluytcapital.com. 
For more information on Hakluyt, please visit www.hakluytandco.com. 

SOURCE Hakluyt

LONDON, Dec. 20, 2023 — Peach Worlds, the Squarespace for 3D Immersive Websites, recently secured a pre-seed investment of USD$540,000. Blockchain Founders Fund co-invested in this round alongside former Multimedia Director of Apple, Antonio Rallo’s ID345 fund and several angel investors. This funding enables Peach Worlds to launch their no-code builder with top designers and establish a first-mover advantage in the 3D Web industry.

Since 2019, the company has led the 3D Web Software field, creating 3D websites for high profile clients such as Warner Brothers and T&B Media Global. They have since evolved to become the market leader in the 3D Web industry by enabling designers to create 3D websites easily without any coding.

According to Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, “Peach Worlds is at the forefront of a new era of immersive websites and experiences and we’re excited to be a part of their journey.”

Grega Trobec, CEO and Founder of Peach Worlds, emphasizes the need for web technology to evolve to solve the growing issue of people not caring about websites anymore by making immersive 3D Websites that are exciting destinations for visitors.

Peach Worlds’ Private Beta has been released to world-class designers to create 3D Website Templates for their Public Launch in February 2024.

About Peach Worlds

Peach Worlds is the Squarespace for 3D immersive websites. It’s the first no-code builder powered by AI, enabling designers to effortlessly create 3D websites without any coding. Since the web’s inception, technology has largely remained stagnant with static and flat pages. Peach Worlds is pushing the boundaries of the 3D Immersive Web to make it an exciting and easy-to-use destination for visitors.

About Blockchain Founders Fund

Blockchain Founders Fund (BFF) is a leading early stage (seed and pre-seed) Web3 Venture Capital fund which invests in top-tier founders globally. Our backers include a strategic mix of the leading firms in the crypto and traditional finance world. We invest in highly-promising startups taking a go-to-market focus and a hands-on approach to drive value. BFF helps curate strategic partnerships, hire talent, accelerate growth and ensure portfolio founders are well capitalized. Our team is comprised of builders and operators that have scaled many of the leading Blockchain startups and are on a mission to support all-star teams shaping the Web3 industry.

Press Contact
Name Lucas Poelman
Company Peach Worlds
Contact number: +447717857931
Email: [email protected] 

SOURCE Peach Worlds

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 20, 2023 — Boomerang Ventures, a leading venture capital and studio firm, has strategically invested in Xploro Inc., a pioneer in pediatric digital health. Leading the $1.7M Series Seed round, Boomerang Ventures underscores its dedication to fostering innovation in connected health technologies.

Established in the UK in 2019 and relocated to Cleveland, Ohio in 2022, Xploro Inc. is revolutionizing healthcare for children and families. The platform employs augmented reality, gaming, and AI to offer comprehensive health information, reducing stress, improving health literacy, and enhancing outcomes. Addressing critical healthcare gaps, Xploro provides age-appropriate, disease-agnostic, clinically-validated patient education. Utilizing games, AR, a cutting-edge chatbot, and customizable content across healthcare disciplines, it engages and informs young patients, available in multiple languages for diverse healthcare settings, ultimately enhancing resilience during treatments.

“My daughter’s Ewing’s Sarcoma diagnosis at age 13 in 2011 highlighted the lack of information that left her scared, anxious, and reluctant to engage with health services. Drawing on my entrepreneurial and tech disruptor background, I founded Xploro to change this. Boomerang’s investment provides essential support for our mission to empower young patients with the knowledge they need,” said Dominic Raban, Co-Founder & CEO, Xploro Inc.

Xploro Inc. initially focused on pediatric patients aged 7-15 and plans to expand to all ages and conditions, targeting the $12.53 billion global pediatric healthcare market and entering the adult healthcare sector by 2025. The company collaborates with respected organizations like World Child Cancer and partners with renowned healthcare providers, including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University Hospitals Cleveland, and several NHS Trusts. Boomerang Ventures’ investment supports Xploro’s vision of expanding into new treatment areas, enhancing sales and customer success functions, and securing runway through 2025, including broadening health condition coverage and involving third-party content creators.

“We’re impressed by Xploro’s EdTech platform and its impact on pediatric patient education and anxiety alleviation. Boomerang values Xploro’s clinically validated technology, seeing its potential to revolutionize medical education across ages. Xploro’s move to the Midwest U.S. highlights the thriving healthcare and entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Oscar Moralez, Founder & Managing Partner, Boomerang Ventures.

About Boomerang Ventures

Founded in 2019, Boomerang Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on early growth-stage connected health technology companies. Leveraging a combination studio and venture fund established in 2020 and 2022, respectively, Boomerang provides the collaborative direction, deep industry expertise, and continuum of support founders need to take their innovations from ideation to market. Visit boomerang.vc.

About Xploro Inc.

Xploro Inc. utilizes an avatar conversational agent, 3D augmented reality models, and games to ease young patients’ anxiety and enhance procedural efficiency for providers. Founded by Dom Raban in response to his daughter’s cancer treatment experience, Xploro serves customers across the USA, UK, Europe, and Africa, with a vision to become a global patient education platform for all ages and conditions. Visit xploro.health.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Audra Wait
[email protected]

SOURCE Boomerang Ventures

A meaningful rise in revenue comes as a result of continued innovation, velocity of customer acquisition, and proving ROI capability for a diverse set of Healthcare providers and partners.

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2023 — Adonis, a leading Revenue Intelligence and Automation platform, announced today a year of meaningful revenue growth and significant company milestones. These include a substantial investment round, prominent features, partnership announcements, and the launching of two new products – all helping to further Adonis’s mission to deliver critical revenue outcomes that enable healthcare providers to deliver the highest form of clinical outcomes and care.

Powered by data science and automation, Adonis helps providers seek to address the common issues and areas of susceptibility within RCM to work toward creating better, more reliable revenue outcomes. This is made possible by automating the holistic payment collection process, analyzing revenue trends, validating patient insurance data at scale, and bridging the system-of-record gaps between healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients. In 2023, Adonis recorded an impressive ninefold growth in annual revenue, compared to 2022.

“Adonis’s rapid revenue growth underscores the importance of putting healthcare providers back in a position of operational strength,” said Aman Magoon, Adonis’s CPO and Co-founder. “Our vision is to empower billing and revenue teams across healthcare with our cutting-edge products so they can recover the revenue they deserve – and this is only the beginning. We believe a dynamic specialty specific AI-driven payment collection process is integral to building an agile and innovative company like Adonis.”

Adonis released two game-changing products in 2023 – Prior Authorization and Revenue Intelligence. Automated Prior Authorizations identifies scheduled patient visits that require authorizations by utilizing existing stored payer rules. Billing teams are notified when authorizations are complete, denied, or require additional information not readily available within their system of record. Mitigating denials and saving teams meaningful time chasing authorization outcomes is at the heart of this solution.

The Revenue Intelligence platform delivers predictive analytics and alerting to drive better financial and operational outcomes by leveraging AI to detect anomalies and identify corrective courses of action. Billing teams not only struggle to identify trends across the many services, providers, facilities and geographies due to the disparate nature of their systems and data, but they lack the insight as to where the most pressing issues exist. Revenue Intelligence automatically generates tactical recommendations and courses of actions that can relate to updating claims scrubbing logic, payer contract negotiations, and more.

The past year also marked a year of other important financial milestones and increased recognition. Co-founded in 2022 by Akash Magoon, CEO, and Aman Magoon, CPO, Adonis raised $17.3M in Series A financing in May, led by General Catalyst and joined by Bling Capital, Max Ventures, and Homebrew. Moreover, partnership announcements with ApolloMD, US Dermatology, and Baptist Health South Florida amplified the scale and diversity of the Adonis platform.

Adonis was also featured as one of the most promising healthcare startups of 2023 by Business Insider, and the company was featured on the Synaptic’s Digital Health Top 50 list.

“Since launching Adonis, we’ve experienced tremendous growth in nearly every facet of the business – and we’re poised to capitalize on even bigger opportunities in 2024,” said Akash Magoon, CEO and Co-founder. “Adonis’s success to date is not an accident: challenges in revenue cycle management are both universal and well documented. By going richer and deeper than any other technology or service provider in RCM, we’re in a position to push the boundaries of what’s possible on behalf of Healthcare providers within their respective specialties, operating models, and commercial complexion.”

To learn more about Adonis, please visit adonis.io.

About Adonis
Adonis is a Revenue Intelligence and Automation Platform, built for Healthcare, solving for operational challenges that impact the integrity of revenue cycle management. On average, Healthcare providers are unable to collect 15% or more of the revenue it’s owed. This is a result of compounding fractures in traditional RCM; a series of people, processes, systems, and tools are collectively responsible for this dilemma. Powered by data science and automation, Adonis provides solutions to address the common issues and areas of susceptibility within RCM to create better, more reliable revenue outcomes. No matter where you are in your revenue cycle journey, we can help you take a step in the right direction to achieve your revenue potential. Learn more at adonis.io.

Contact:
Dan Murdoch 
+1-203-970-1127 
[email protected]

SOURCE Adonis

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 20, 2023 — Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Hillhurst”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing liquid drug products containing therapeutic gases, announced today the completion of a financing that, together with non-dilutive sources, funds Phase 2a clinical studies in sickle cell disease and in a second clinical indication.  The financing was led by Friedman Bioventure Fund with participation from new and existing investors.

“The Hillhurst team has uncovered novel means of delivery that enable new uses of known therapeutic gases, overcoming challenges associated with inhaled delivery,” said Andrew Gomperts, chief executive officer of Hillhurst Bio. “These funds will allow us to bring our lead drug product into patients in therapeutic areas with substantial unmet medical needs, with readouts expected in 2024.”

The planned Phase 2a clinical trial in subjects with sickle cell disease is an ascending multiple dose study with 14 days of daily dosing to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and proof of concept efficacy of HBI-002. 

There is substantial literature, both clinical and preclinical, supporting a potential therapeutic role for low dose CO treatment of SCD.  This treatment has a unique dual mechanism of action,  including reduction of inflammation and cell death, as well as blocking the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin. 

About Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease is a rare genetic disorder that causes severe vaso-occlusive pain crises and is associated with serious clinical consequences including stroke, heart disease, kidney disease as well as premature death.  The average life expectancy of SCD patients in the US is only 45 years, reflecting the substantial unmet medical need.

About HBI-002
Hillhurst Bio’s lead product, HBI-002, is an oral drug product candidate of low dose CO, with an administration route designed to enable chronic use in a home setting for patients suffering from sickle cell disease. Other potential disease targets are conditions associated with inflammation and cell death such as Parkinson’s disease. 

About Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals
Hillhurst Bio is a clinical stage company focused on its proprietary GLASS^™ platform, which enables novel drug products based on therapeutic gases that, up until now, have been limited by inhaled delivery, including a unique pipeline of novel liquid therapeutic candidates intended to treat patients with sickle cell disease, Parkinson’s disease, and acute pain.

To learn more about Hillhurst Bio, please visit www.hillhurstbio.com.

SOURCE Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Boston-based firm focuses exclusively on software and technology investments

BOSTON, Dec. 20, 2023 — Clearhaven Partners LP (“Clearhaven”), a Boston-based software private equity firm, today announced the closing of its sophomore fund, Clearhaven Fund II, L.P. (“Fund II”) at more than $580 million of capital commitments. Fund II closed above target and at its hard cap. Clearhaven closed Fund II approximately two years following the closing of its debut fund. Clearhaven pursues investments in growing lower middle market software and technology companies with revenues of approximately $20 million to $100 million.

Fund II’s limited partner commitments come predominantly from continuing investors from the firm’s inaugural first fund as well as several new investor relationships. Investors in Clearhaven’s funds come from a diversified institutional investor base including leading endowments and foundations, pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, funds-of-funds, and industry executives, including software executives of companies with which Clearhaven professionals were previously involved.

Clearhaven was launched in 2019 by Michelle Noon, Founder and Managing Partner, following nearly 20 years of experience as a software private equity investor. Clearhaven closed on its inaugural fund at $312 million in 2021 amid the pandemic. The firm pursues a proactive, thematic approach to identifying attractive investments and backs management teams and companies who seek a true partner to help scale their businesses. The investment team is co-led by Michelle Noon and Chris Ryan, a Managing Partner and experienced technology investor. Clearhaven’s Boston-based team is comprised of experienced technology investors and operators, including Operating Partner and Co-Founder Kevin Wood.

“We are truly grateful for the conviction and support exhibited by our continuing and new limited partners through their commitments to Clearhaven’s Fund II. Our firm was founded with principles of focus, humility, and the integrity to do what we say we will do through calm or turbulent waters. Our investors recognize the values that drive our firm as we seek to deliver exceptional returns,” said Michelle Noon, Founder and Managing Partner, “Our mission has been clear and consistent since day one – to invest exclusively in growing software businesses who seek an operationally oriented partnership with our team, and to do so while maintaining an uncompromising set of shared values. This mission carries directly into Fund II.”

Clearhaven has completed 11 transactions since inception, all of which fit squarely into the firm’s thematic areas of focus and intended active partnership with company management. Clearhaven’s current portfolio companies include customer engagement software company Engageware, mission critical video infrastructure software company Wowza, digital asset management software provider, PhotoShelter, personalized video communications SaaS provider SundaySky and cloud voice communications software company Avoxi, and digital signage and workplace experience software provider Korbyt. Managing Partner Chris Ryan added, “Our Fund I portfolio represents the bullseye of Clearhaven’s software investment strategy. In Fund II, we look forward to continuing to identify similarly attractive companies who seek to partner with Clearhaven to achieve best in class software results.”

M₂O Private Fund Advisors acted as placement agent to Clearhaven for Fund II and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel.

About Clearhaven Partners LP

Clearhaven Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm focused exclusively on software- and technology-focused investments. Clearhaven was founded by an investor-operator team to partner with growing, differentiated companies with at least $20 million in recurring revenue. Clearhaven brings a collective 50+ years of software investing and operating experience to its portfolio companies through its partnership approach with management and its value creation playbook to help companies scale profitably. Visit us at www.clearhavenpartners.com.

SOURCE Clearhaven Partners LP

ZURICH, Dec. 20, 2023 — Centi is proud to announce the successful completion of its seed financing round led by Archblock and Bloomhaus Ventures with continued investments from existing shareholders and founders. Recognized for its proficiency in processing transactions as small as a cent, Centi is poised for the global expansion of its blockchain-based micropayment solutions and an increased footprint in promoting financial inclusion. The funds secured in this financing round will fuel Centi’s mission to revolutionize digital transactions on a global scale.

Archblock and Bloomhaus: Supporting Centi’s Vision for Change

Archblock and Bloomhaus Ventures have not only invested in Centi but have become steadfast champions of its vision: “Our investment signifies our belief in Centi’s potential to innovate in the fintech landscape”, says Alex de Lorraine CEO of Archblock, who spearheaded the financing round. “Our expertise in blockchain and digital currencies perfectly aligns with Centi’s approach. Centi presents a highly intelligent solution to the global challenges posed by micropayments today“, says Pascal Stürchler, Co-Founder and CEO of Bloomhaus Ventures. “Leveraging our extensive global network, we are poised to offer valuable support in enabling Centi to extend its transformative solutions beyond Switzerland and into other international markets.”

Founder’s Insight

“We founded Centi driven by the potential of blockchain for micropayments and financial inclusion,” states Bernhard Müller, Co-Founder of Centi. “The name ‘Centi’ itself, derived from our capability to process transactions as small as one cent, encapsulates this focus. The success of our financing round is a testament to being on the right trajectory and receiving support for our mission to revolutionize current payment processes with the Centi stablecoin.”

Centi: Addressing Payment Industry Shortcomings with Proprietary Stablecoin Technology

Centi is redefining the payment industry by introducing real-world applications of blockchain technology, specifically addressing two of its most significant shortcomings: the inefficiency of micropayments and the lack of financial inclusion. Through its proprietary stablecoin technology, Centi not only achieves compatibility with existing payment infrastructures but also pioneers innovative solutions in these critical areas.

• Micropayments (B2B): Centi confronts the inefficiency in processing micropayments, enabling transactions as minimal as a cent, and unlocking new opportunities for digital content monetization.
• Financial Inclusion (B2C): Centi offers a direct-to-consumer stablecoin that can be purchased with physical cash, providing a crucial gateway for the unbanked into the world of digital payments and credit cards.

A Bold Step Forward in Fintech

Centi’s approach demonstrates the practical and transformative impact of blockchain technology, moving beyond theoretical possibilities to deliver applications that enhance and complement the existing payment landscape.

About Centi

Centi leverages blockchain technology to provide innovative, accessible, and efficient financial solutions. Centi focuses on micropayments and financial inclusivity and directly addresses the shortcomings of the current financial system, establishing Centi as pioneers in the practical application of blockchain technology.

https://centi.ch

About Archblock

Since 2017, Archblock has been a leader in building and managing institutional-grade stablecoins and enabling open access to financial opportunities and global trade. Archblock created, launched, and managed TUSD, a leading USD-backed stablecoin. Archblock Stablecoins owns and operates a portfolio of three fiat-backed stablecoins and offers the technical and operational foundation to build white-label stablecoins for others. Additionally, the Archblock team developed and launched TrueFi in November 2020. TrueFi was DeFi‘s first credit-based lending protocol, providing on-chain infrastructure for capital formation and deployment. The protocol has facilitated over +$1.8B in on-chain investments since inception.

About Bloomhaus

Bloomhaus is a Swiss venture capital firm focused on empowering game-changing tech startups in Central Europe to flourish globally and to create a more sustainable tomorrow. Drawing on their expertise as entrepreneurs, technologists and investors Bloomhaus nurtures pioneers bringing them together with the resources and expertise they need for lasting success.

SOURCE Centi

• Category-defining pet-sitting marketplace community available in over 140 countries
• Pet and travel tech innovator delivered 158% year-on-year growth in 2022
• Mayfair to support product and technology innovation and marketing initiatives
• Pet and travel sectors expected to grow to $369 billion by 2030 and $1,016 billion by 2027, respectively^[1]    

LONDON, Dec. 20, 2023 — Mayfair Equity Partners, a dedicated technology and consumer investor with over £2 billion in assets under management, is backing a management buyout of TrustedHousesitters, a category-defining, subscription-based pet-sitting and travel community. Mayfair will hold a majority stake in the business alongside the management team. Rockpool will exit their stake in TrustedHousesitters and reinvest alongside Mayfair. The transaction values the business at over $100 million. Additional deal terms have not been disclosed.

TrustedHousesitters is the leading travel solution for pet people which connects pet owners with pet sitters around the world. Pet owners can find verified sitters to look after their pets while they’re away from home and, in return, sitters are able to visit destinations across the globe for a unique and rewarding travel experience. Since its founding in 2010, the company has facilitated over 10 million nights of pet sitting, has grown its operations to more than 140 countries and saves pet owners and travellers thousands of pounds annually in accommodation and pet care costs. The pet care and travel sectors are expected to grow to $369 billion by 2030 and $1,016 billion by 2027, respectively.^[1]

Mayfair is partnering with Mathew Prior, TrustedHousesitters’ CEO, and the management team to accelerate growth and support product innovation across its core markets in the US, the UK, Europe, and Australia. Mathew joined TrustedHousesitters in 2019, bringing over 30 years of experience in the travel industry to the company, following managing director roles at Travelopia, Specialist Holidays Group, First Choice Holidays, and The First Resort. Under Mathew’s leadership, the company has undergone significant growth while improving balance sheet management and profitability.

TrustedHousesitters recorded 158% year-on-year growth in 2022, supported by a rising pet population, the accelerated digitisation of pet services and a return to historical rates of travel. TrustedHousesitters’ unique combination of a pet-loving community, reliability, and adventure delivers a memorable experience every time for pet owners and sitters. This leads to exceptional customer satisfaction scores which in turn drive recommendations, with more than 60% of customers hearing about TrustedHousesitters from word of mouth.

Mathew Prior, CEO, said: “Pet parents know that pets are more comfortable at home than in kennels, boarding facilities or even with friends and family. At the same time, there are millions of pet lovers throughout the world who seek authentic, sustainable, and cost-effective travel experiences. I’m proud of our platform’s growth over the past few years and the wonderfully positive feedback we receive from our members. We see a huge opportunity for continued expansion and believe that Mayfair is the right partner to help us achieve our global growth ambitions.”

Kunal Dasgupta, Partner at Mayfair Equity Partners, commented: “TrustedHousesitters is a unique pet-care and travel solution with off-the-chart customer satisfaction scores. The company is creating a category by disrupting conventional pet-sitting services and offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional holiday accommodation. We’re excited to back a genuine innovator at the intersection of travel and pet care and believe that pet sitting services are an untapped opportunity in the pet care sector. TrustedHousesitters is ideally placed to succeed and we’re excited to partner with Mathew and his team on the next stage of their journey.”

Advisors to Mayfair on the transaction included Torch Partners (corporate finance), OC&C (commercial), PwC (financial and tax), Goodwin Proctor (legal counsel), and Palladium (digital and technology).

TrustedHousesitters shareholders were advised by Clearwater International and KeyBanc Capital Markets (M&A), Taylor Wessing (legal), PwC Strategy& (commercial), Claritas (tax) and Fox Williams (insurance).

Management were advised by Liberty Corporate Finance (M&A), Mishcon De Reya (legal) and Cooper Parry (tax).

^[1] Sources: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/pet-care-market-104749; https://www.statista.com/outlook/mmo/travel-tourism/worldwide 

About TrustedHousesitters

TrustedHousesitters is the leading travel solution for pet people; a global community whose love of pets and travel enables home sharing and pet caring all over the world. The service was founded in Brighton, UK in 2010 and has over 200,000 members in more than 140 countries, responsible for 10 million nights of pet sitting. A subscription gives unlimited access to short and long-term sits with no further money changing hands. Sitters explore the world while staying in real homes and enjoying the companionship of pets. Meanwhile, owners enjoy freedom and peace of mind by prioritising their pets’ well-being at home with a trusted companion. 

About Mayfair Equity Partners

Mayfair Equity Partners is a dedicated technology and consumer investor, with assets under management of over £2 billion. Mayfair’s investment philosophy centres on backing people and their ideas, working with founders and management teams to help them realise their ambitions. Mayfair’s model of Active Partnership includes a senior team of dedicated functional Specialists who support portfolio companies with business process improvement initiatives that help unlock their full potential.

Mayfair has an established track record of supporting fast-growing, sector-defining companies, including Ovo, a digital challenger which has scaled to become the third largest provider in the UK retail energy sector; LoopMe, a leading brand-focused mobile advertising platform; and Tangle Teezer, the category defining British haircare brand. For more information, please visit www.mayfairequity.com.

Contact Mayfair Equity Partners
Charlie Harrison
The One Nine Three Group
[email protected] 
+44-788-4136-143

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2304656/Mayfair_Equity_Partners_Logo.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2304439/TrustedHousesitters_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Mayfair Equity Partners