Business

A fast growing mobile app that combines loyalty with payments is one of the first companies in the UK to return to Crowdcube to achieve its aim of being in 20 cities by the end of 2016.

Droplet, which launched in Exeter last year, will look to secure more than £450,000 of funding in a second round bid that went live this week.

The decision comes after the company achieved its 12-month business plan of setting up and rolling out in 10 major cities, including Birmingham, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Norwich.

It has also gained further commercial...

Companies across Devon are being offered the chance to take part in the county’s first Fast Track to Growth Programme to help them develop and implement plans for growth in 2016 – for free. Apply by 19 February, 5pm.

They will receive on-going advice from a range of specialists, and take part in workshops to develop their growth plans ready to then implement. All shortlisted applicants will also have the chance to pitch to a panel of judges, with one company securing a year’s worth of free financial strategy, marketing and PR support, worth £15,000.

Ambitious firms seeking...

A geo-tagging video technology firm has moved into the Exeter Science Park Centre following incubation in the Innovation Centre at the University of Exeter.

RouteShoot, founded in September 2012, specialises in the production of geo-referenced video and route tracking for public and private sector organisations as well as a wide range of consumers.

The firm works with customers across the world including The World Bank, Premier Utility Services, Mouchel and Worcestershire and Dorset County Councils in the UK. Their move to the purpose-built Exeter Science Park Centre comes...

The government has announced it will protect the ‘green purpose’ of the Green Investment Bank after privatisation, using an approach modelled on Regen SW’s constitution. A ‘special share’ in the bank will be held by a separate company independent of both the bank and the government.

The bank would not be able to make changes to its green mission unless this ‘Special Shareholder’ gives its consent. The measure was introduced in the House of Lords as part of the bill to privatise the bank by Lord Robin Teverson. The approach is based on Regen SW’s constitution which has a similar ‘...