Exeter-based web team win £1m backing

CBarnes
Authored by CBarnes
Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 6:49am

Angel investors have given £1 million backing to an innovative website which helps the bereaved.

Exeter-based Funeral Zone predicts that it will double in size within the next six months as a result of the seven-figure windfall, creating new technology jobs in the city.

Funeral Zone, launched by childhood friends Ed Gallois and Kevin Homeyard in 2013, is an online resource which provides everything you need when somebody dies.

Besides supporting the bereaved with practical help and resources www.funeralzone.co.uk also features a nationwide directory of funeral directors. As well as search for a funeral home in their local area, members of the public can read TripAdvisor-like reviews of the service other families have received.

Ed Gallois explained: “A friend of ours passed away and it made us realise how little help there was out there for the bereaved when a loved one dies. There are so many websites which help you at other major life moments. We decided to create an online funeral resource where you could get all the information you need, at the press of a button.”

With a background in website management for major companies, Ed and IT expert Kevin have grown the company from a two-man show to a 12-strong team, which they anticipate will double in the coming months, thanks to the funding win. Having outgrown its current base in Dix’s Field, Exeter, it is set to relocate to a larger city-centre office next month.

“Kevin and I both grew up in Exeter and were determined that’s where our headquarters would be,” said Ed. “Funeral Zone already operates in Australia and South Africa, as well as the UK, and our plan is to launch in other countries soon. It just shows you don’t have to be located in London or Silicon Valley to run a global operation. We’re confident that there is a wealth of talent to tap in the Westcountry, as we create new jobs and expand our team over the coming months.”

Funeral Zone secured its £1 million funding through a number of angel investors, including The Minerva Business Angels, based at the University of Warwick. The cash will support Funeral Zone’s aim to become an internationally recognised platform, helping the bereaved around the world.

Angel investors typically contribute to start-up companies, run by entrepreneurs seeking funds to continue growing their business. As well as provide working capital in return for a stake in the business, angels often share their expertise with the companies they invest in.
 

Pictured, from left, are Funeral Zone co-founders Kevin Homeyard and Ed Gallois

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