This week we’re bringing your week in tech from Aviva’s Digital Garage.
Investments
P2P mortgage lender, LendInvest has raised £17m. The raise brings the company’s total funding to over £200m.
E-lending platform EZBob Ltd has raised £20m in Series C funding in a round led by Leumi Partners and Oaktree Capital Management. Scottish startup eeGeo has raised $5 million from a range of investors, including NetSol Technologies, as it looks to continue growing its 3D mapping platform globally.
In other news, Innovate UK’s IC tomorrow programme has launched a competition that will see £180,000 awarded to a number of sharing economy startups. Six small businesses will be awarded up to £30,000 each to encourage development in the peer-to-peer revolution.
The Budget
Chancellor George Osborne delivered his Spring Budget this week.
There was some good news for tech companies, there will be increases in funding for smaller UK businesses, including regional support for high-growth companies.
Osborne promised sharing economy support with two new tax-free allowances worth £1,000 a year – one for selling goods or providing services and one for income from property you own, such as renting a driveway. A 5G strategy is to be created, plus an extra £4.5m is to be spent on broadband in the South West.
Improvements for FinTech included promoting the authorisation of more new banks.
Download of the week
Our Download of the Week is My Aviva. The app for Aviva customers lets you find offers, renew your policies and manage your insurance from one place.
And finally
And finally, are you worried about air pollution? An army of pigeons are about to save us. The pigeons carry tiny backpacks and measure the air pollution, tweeting about their findings.