London-listed fintech fund leads £4.5m RetailBook investment – UKTN

London-listed investment fund Augmentum Fintech has led a £4.5m funding round for the Peel Hunt-backed startup RetailBook.

Founded in 2022, RetailBook gives individual investors greater access to primary capital markets through its platform for participation. Users can access investment opportunities such as IPOs, follow-on placings and bond offerings with the same terms as institutional investors.

Already backed by Peel Hunt, Jefferies, Rothschild and Co and Hargreaves Lansdown, Augmentum Fintech has joined the startup’s cap table as it looks to expand its product across new asset classes and forge new partnerships with retail brokerage platforms.

Augmentum Fintech chief executive Tim Levene, who will join the RetailBook board, said: “We have had a relationship with the RetailBook team for some time, and their work to democratise investment access directly reflects Augmentum’s core mantra.

“With recent market reforms focused on enhancing UK market liquidity and the government’s emphasis on unlocking diverse capital pools, RetailBook is poised to play a crucial role.”

Earlier this year, RetailBook poached as many as nine senior managers from rival investor platform PrimaryBid, including its co-founder James Deal, now serving as RetailBook’s co-CEO.

“We are delighted to welcome Augmentum and look forward to utilising their extensive expertise and network in the fintech sector,” said Deal.

“Our goal remains the delivery of comprehensive public inclusion. Retail investors are a crucial component of vibrant capital markets and we are excited by the pipeline of truly exceptional companies that are considering London as their listing venue.”

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