Month: January 2021

By Beckley Psytech

Beckley Psytech, a private company dedicated to addressing neurological and psychiatric disorders through psychedelic medicine, has received Clinical Trial Authorisation (CTA) from the UK Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to explore the effects of psychedelic agent psilocybin for treating short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks (SUNHA), a rare and debilitating headache condition.

The upcoming Phase 1B study plans to enrol up to 12 patients suffering from SUNHA, a disease belonging to a group of headache disorders called the Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias (TACs), considered one of the most painful disorders known to mankind and estimated to affect approximately 46,000 patients in the US, Canada and the G5 from Europe. There are currently no approved treatments for SUNHA, which is characterized by short-lasting headaches that range from severe to excruciating and may occur over 100 times a day.

This landmark clinical trial, the first researching the effect of psilocybin on SUNHA patients, will evaluate the potential therapeutic benefits of the psychedelic compound in treating this disabling condition. Beckley Psytech is also evaluating the use of wearables for data capture in this clinical trial.

Approval of Beckley Psytech’s psilocybin clinical trial is the latest achievement in its mission to develop a fully licensed psychedelic medicine pipeline, following the company’s successful private fund raising of £14m in December 2020. The company is also developing synthetic 5-MeO-DMT, a unique psychedelic agent with a short duration of action, in the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases, expected to enter the clinic in 2021.

Original Article

By Staff Reporter (uktech.news)

Investors including Force Over Mass Capital, the FCA regulated venture capital firm focused on early stage technology investments across the UK and Europe, Simon Franks one of the co-founders of LoveFilm, Eric Salama former CEO of Kantar and Innovate UK have recently came together to back a new London-based startup Glimpse Protocol.

The tech startup was founded by Mark Stoter OBE, a former British Army Intelligence officer, and his cyberwarfare colleagues. They’re taking a stand to protect people’s privacy by developing new tech that delivers accurate digital ads without the need for consumer data.

Raised £1.3 million

Glimpse Protocol has secured a £1.3 million seed investment round which the company plans to use to grow its engineering team and capitalise on the success of pilots completed across 2020.

Mark Stoter OBE, CEO, and co-founder said, “Our vision for Glimpse Protocol is to set new standards for privacy in advertising, becoming the kitemark that consumers can trust. This investment will enable us to roll out our technology that delivers valuable, effective advertising while respecting consumer privacy. With consumers, regulators, and tech giants taking action on data privacy, the digital advertising industry is seeking a solution that can weather technical changes and increasingly stringent privacy requirements. Unlike our competitors, who offer partial stopgaps, Glimpse Protocol provides a uniquely clear vision of how the problem can and must be tackled.”

He launched the company in 2019 along with Tim Holmes-Mitra MBE, and Alasdair Macdonald to tackle digital advertising’s biggest challenge: ensuring brands can reach their customers without breaching their privacy or the law.

Basically, Glimpse Protocol uses a unique combination of edge processing and novel cryptography to ensure consumers can never be traced or de-anonymised.

By guaranteeing privacy and cutting out 3rd party data sources, the UK company offers +30% ROI to brands and can extend reach to previously closed-off audiences.

Simon Franks, the investor, said: “Digital advertising needs to be re-shaped both for the good of the public and also for advertisers. Glimpse Protocol’s approach is exciting and timely and has the potential to disrupt an industry by allowing advertisers to reach the audiences they need but in an ethical way that respects consumer privacy and pays publishers a fair price. It’s a real breakthrough and I’m convinced that they will be both a commercial success but also a champion for the consumer. I am very proud to be a part of their journey.”

Eric Salama, investor and former CEO of Kantar, said: “I’m delighted to participate in Glimpse’s seed round. Consumer Privacy is becoming a more and more central issue by the day and Glimpse is one of the few platforms combining effective advertising tools with complete respect for consumer privacy. It allows the ad industry to serve brands and publishers in an ethical way.”

Glimpse Protocol has already developed an exciting partnership with Iconic Labs Plc giving access to premium platforms including JOE Media. Commenting on the collaboration, Iconic Labs COO Samuel Regan Asante commented, “We are excited by our partnership with Glimpse Protocol who are leading the way in cookie-less technologies in the Adtech industry. Iconic Labs is aiming to establish itself as a leader in both the tech and media fields and Glimpse Protocol’s technology presents the perfect balance of the two.”

Further, Glimpse Protocol is a Tech Nation Rising Star regional 2020 winner and a participant in the Founders Factory accelerator programme.

Original Article

By Alec Mattinson (thegrocer.co.uk)

UK-based fast grocery delivery app Weezy is planning to roll out its services across London and further afield after raising $20m (£14.7m) in growth funds.

The app-based supermarket, which promises groceries within 15 minutes of ordering began to deliver in London during the summer after securing £1m pre-seed investment.

Now it is looking to scale up operations after raising $20m in Series A funding, led by New York-based venture capital fund Left Lane Capital.

Also participating are UK-based fund DN Capital, earlier investors Heartcore Capital and angel investors, notably Groupon founder Chris Muhr.

The funding will help expand the company’s London-based team by 50 employees over the next four months, in addition to extra fulfilment centre staff.

Weezy is opening two fulfilment centres in Lambeth and London Fields this month, adding to its existing locations covering Battersea, Clapham, Fulham and Chelsea.

It plans to open 40 more UK sites by the end of 2021.

Since its launch in July 2020, Weezy has delivered fresh produce and household items to thousands of customers, using pedal cycles or electric mopeds, in less than 15 minutes on average charging £2.95 per delivery.

Weezy helps busy householders to shop for groceries quickly and says it “has proved to be a lifeline for all age groups during the coronavirus pandemic”.

Kristof Van Beveren, co-founder and CEO of Weezy, commented: “People are no longer happy to wait around for deliveries, and there is strong demand for a more efficient service. Weezy customers love the friendliness of our team, the quality of our produce, and our quick, accurate delivery times. This new funding round will allow us to expand the team and our footprint to bring Weezy to more customers across the UK.”

Harley Miller, managing partner of Left Lane Capital, added: “Weezy’s founding team have the right balance of drive, experience and temperament to lead in e-commerce innovation and convenience within the UK grocery market and beyond. It is an honour to partner with them on this journey and help them solidify their first-mover advantage in London.”

Seed investors in the business include former Ocado head of retail Jon Rudoe, who as digital and technology director at Sainsbury’s founded Chop Chop and SmartShop; and Onefinestay co-founder Greg Marsh, an early backer of Deliveroo.

Original Article