Mid-Week Tech News Roundup – January 6th to January 10th 2025

Zoe Reduces Pricing to Tackle the UK’s Health Crisis

Science and nutrition company Zoe, co-founded by Professor Tim Spector of King’s College London and CEO Jonathan Wolf, has announced a significant price reduction for its health monitoring app. The app, which integrates a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and personalised dietary recommendations, aims to promote healthier eating habits and improve overall wellbeing.

Previously priced at £24.99 per month, a Zoe membership will now start at £9.99 per month — a 60% decrease. However, users must commit to either a four-month up-front subscription to cover initial testing costs or a 12-month plan.

The price cut comes in response to what Zoe’s founders describe as a growing “health crisis” in the UK, fuelled by poor nutrition and the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods. CEO Jonathan Wolf stated, “The UK’s health crisis is getting worse, while the government seems stuck in the waiting room. We need to get serious about the terrible ultra-processed food we are feeding ourselves and our kids. Without immediate action, the future of our nation’s health is at serious risk.”

Wolf added that the price reduction is part of Zoe’s mission to make health improvement tools more accessible, empowering individuals to take charge of their health. By addressing cost barriers, the company hopes to drive wider adoption and contribute to reversing the nation’s declining health trends.

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UrbanChain Partners with KPMG for £50m+ Series B to Drive Global Growth

UrbanChain, the Manchester-based innovator in peer-to-peer energy exchange, has enlisted KPMG to spearhead its £50m+ Series B fundraising. With a mission to reshape energy markets and advance clean energy accessibility, the company is leveraging its rapid growth to expand its reach internationally.

Over the past year, UrbanChain has seen its revenue multiply tenfold, climbing from £2.5m to £25m. CEO Somayeh Taheri describes this as “just the beginning,” with the new funding set to accelerate growth into Europe and the US, refine its AI and blockchain-driven energy platform, and scale its customer base.

UrbanChain’s unique model, which decouples energy buyers and sellers from wholesale market fluctuations, has proven resilient during global crises such as the war in Ukraine. The company’s local energy markets stabilise prices and foster sustainable, community-driven solutions. Now operating as UC Energy after receiving its electricity supply license from Ofgem, UrbanChain is doubling down on its commitment to sustainability and affordability, aiming to alleviate fuel poverty and support underserved communities.

The company’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. Recently ranked third in Deloitte’s UK Technology Fast 50, UrbanChain also took home awards for CleanTech innovation, regional leadership, and Women in Leadership. As it scales, UrbanChain is expanding its team, growing from 10 to 65 employees this year, with further plans to hit 75 by year-end.

UrbanChain’s global ambitions are already taking shape. Energy industry veteran Graeme Cooper is leading the US expansion, engaging with regulators and partners across key states. Meanwhile, KPMG reports strong investor interest, with the focus now on aligning with backers who share the company’s vision for a decentralised, carbon-neutral energy future.

KPMG’s Patrick Molyneux highlighted UrbanChain’s potential, calling it a “compelling investment opportunity” and a testament to Manchester’s role as a hub for innovation. He added, “UrbanChain is driving a fundamental shift in energy markets, and we are proud to support their groundbreaking work.”

With its technology and vision validated by rapid growth and industry recognition, UrbanChain’s Series B round is poised to fuel the next stage of its journey, transforming energy markets on a global scale.

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Implement AI Secures £250k Seed Investment from SFC Capital

London-based Implement AI, a company specialising in AI-agent workforces, has announced a £250,000 seed investment from SFC Capital, the UK’s leading seed-stage investor. This funding marks a significant step in the company’s mission to empower businesses, particularly SMEs, to increase productivity using AI without expanding their workforce.

Founded by technology entrepreneur Piers Linney and AI expert Aalok Y. Shukla, Implement AI aims to make advanced AI agents accessible to businesses of all sizes and sectors. The company’s AI digital workers provide 24/7 operational support, allowing businesses to enhance efficiency and streamline operations.

“Our vision is for every business to have an AI agent team working alongside human colleagues, enabling leaders to grow without limits. This investment brings us closer to equipping every business with its own 24/7/365 AI workforce, as we believe one of the greatest opportunities lies in bringing AI workforces to traditionally non-tech, everyday
 businesses, empowering them to leverage cutting-edge innovation to grow, streamline operations, and thrive in an AI-driven world.” - Dr Aalok Y Shukla, CEO of Implement AI

As a partner of Microsoft and NVIDIA, Implement AI has already demonstrated its impact through successful industry engagements, delivering measurable results. The company’s vision is to become the top provider of AI agent teams for SMEs, offering solutions that augment human potential and deliver clear returns on investment.

The seed investment will accelerate Implement AI’s efforts to scale its technology and expand its reach, bringing cutting-edge AI capabilities to more businesses across the UK.

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ClearScore Acquires Aro Finance to Expand into Embedded Finance

Fintech company ClearScore is venturing into embedded finance and secured lending by acquiring Manchester-based Aro Finance. Known for its credit rating services and financial product referrals, ClearScore plans to expand into business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) channels, leveraging Aro’s embedded finance capabilities.

Aro Finance specialises in enabling retailers like Argos, Asda, and Very.co.uk to offer credit products directly to their customers. Its platform also connects businesses with a diverse network of lenders through a dedicated marketplace. The acquisition aligns with ClearScore’s strategy to broaden its offerings, including enhancing its debt consolidation technology, ‘Clearer,’ which will facilitate direct consumer debt settlements.

Justin Basini, ClearScore’s CEO, highlighted the importance of diversifying channels and products, citing growth opportunities in areas like second charge mortgages. The acquisition also adds Aro’s Manchester-based team of over 90 staff to ClearScore’s operations in London and Edinburgh. 

Aro Finance CEO Emma Steely described the acquisition as an opportunity for growth and collaboration, emphasising the alignment of the companies’ approaches.

The transaction, subject to FCA approval, follows ClearScore’s 2022 acquisition of Money Dashboard, which enhanced its data analytics capabilities.

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