Lion Herald Newsroom updates on Monday September 7th 2026

Molten Ventures has reached a £175 million first close for its Growth Fund, which is targeting £350 million. The British Business Bank is the cornerstone investor with £75 million, while Molten has supplied £100 million.

The fund will back British and European technology companies from Series B onward. Its target sectors include artificial intelligence, space, fintech, quantum computing, deep technology and hardware. Molten plans to invest more in its strongest portfolio businesses as they grow.

The company says it has invested over £700 million across more than 40 growth-stage deals in the past decade, producing top-quartile returns.

The British Business Bank has been a cornerstone investor in at least six venture funds over the past two years. Its commitment continues a long relationship with Molten. The firm must now attract another £175 million from outside investors to reach the fund’s full target, as private financing for European technology remains limited.

London-based AI cloud provider Nscale is reportedly seeking up to $3.5 billion before a planned US stock listing. The financing could include $1.5 billion in convertible notes and about $2 billion from Nvidia.

Third Point is expected to lead the note sale, with Goldman Sachs advising. The notes would convert at a discount to the IPO price, but only up to a $30 billion valuation.

Nscale says its contracted deals are worth about $103 billion, almost double the $51 billion reported a month earlier. The increase includes a six-year, $45 billion computing agreement with Anthropic.

The figures show the scale of Nscale’s ambitions, but also the gap between future contracts and current income. Revenue was about $33 million in 2025 and topped $100 million in the second quarter of 2026. Nscale raised $2 billion in March at a $14.6 billion valuation and added roughly $3 billion in debt in August.

Sheffield-based Tickets for Good has raised £3.9 million to expand its low-cost live events platform. The round was backed by NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, Shaping Impact Group, Finance Yorkshire, Leansquare and private investors.

The company distributes tickets donated by event partners to NHS workers, teachers, charity staff and people receiving Cost of Living support. Membership is free, with users paying a transaction fee for each ticket. Venues benefit by filling empty seats, increasing spending and reaching new audiences.

Tickets for Good began trading in 2022. It has almost 750,000 verified members worldwide and has distributed more than 1.25 million tickets. Its ambassadors include Robbie Williams and footballer Edwin van der Sar.

The platform operates in Britain, the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Revenue doubled in 2025. The business aims to grow fivefold over three years, enter more overseas markets and create 10 new jobs in Sheffield.

t Capital Partners has closed Fund IV at £500 million, beating its £450 million target. The total includes £380 million in Fund IV commitments and £120 million in related discretionary mandates.

The fund will provide flexible, low-dilution loans to growth-stage companies in Europe’s technology, life sciences and impact sectors. Businesses can use the funding for overseas expansion, acquisitions and product development.

Claret has committed 32% of the capital to 27 companies. They include payments platform Billie, drug developers Cinclus Pharma and Inventiva, property software company PRODA, medtech business SIS Medical, sales platform Surfe and energy technology provider VIOTAS.

Investors include pension plans, insurers, family offices, public institutions and private wealth clients. Claret says it has raised £1.1 billion since launch and deployed more than £1.3 billion across over 210 companies, including recycled capital. The firm now plans to expand its European team, with staff in Paris and soon in Berlin.

Chinese neurotechnology company Jialiang Brain Science has raised Series D funding to support its work in brain science and neurosurgery. The investment size was not disclosed.

The round was backed by Ningbo state-owned assets, Kuanqiao Hengsong and Saizhi Bole Investment. Their support gives the company funding as it moves beyond research and works to bring medical technology into wider use.

Jialiang Brain Science has developed two platforms. One focuses on brain-machine modulation, while the other uses medical lasers. The company combines them to create devices for a range of neurological diseases.

The deal points to growing investor interest in later-stage neurotechnology companies in China. Series D rounds often support businesses that have passed earlier funding stages and are preparing for growth. The involvement of Ningbo state-owned assets is also notable. It shows how government-backed funds are playing a larger role in financing Chinese medical device companies and advanced healthcare technology.