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In recent weeks unregulated platforms have come under severe scrutiny from the UK regulator which has caused great concern for the private market investment space. From day one, Floww has been building regulated rails for this market to ensure both companies and investors have the appropriate protection and support. At a time where investor confidence in this space is eroding, we believe it is very important to highlight that appropriately regulated and safe solutions do exist in this market. Floww’s mission is to create a professionalised infrastructure that strives to raise industry standards and better reflect regulatory compliance and investor protections.
Private markets have grown to a total of $13trn but still lack infrastructure, with transactions still taking place on email and pdf predominantly. As the industry professionalises, we envisage a future with more intuitive infrastructure akin to investing in listed securities. But we also believe that private markets are private. In light of recent commentary that no party holds the necessary license to facilitate certain types of investments into private companies, we want to reiterate our vision.

It is our mission to create a professionalised infrastructure that strives to raise industry standards and better reflect regulatory compliance and investor protections.  

Our journey has led us to building a patented data solution, a network infrastructure built on state-of-the-art tech stack with the latest AI integrations – securing data privacy, and ease of use technology where compliance is a seamless part of every client journey.
The road to building regulatory compliant technology is materially more complex. However, in a market where historically investors have felt less protected and safe, it was important for us to take this longer and more difficult road. Backed by the London Stock Exchange and working in collaboration with Latham &amp; Watkins and Kroll, we successfully sought the necessary and relevant permissions, which included going through a thorough assessment as part of the FCA authorisation process, to facilitate private company capital raising and investments.
Yes, it is the case that very few firms in the UK have the necessary permissions to conduct this activity – and we cannot comment on how others are managing their activities without the necessary approvals. At Floww, we have a suite of regulated solutions that allow us to serve companies and investors, starting with the UK market and soon to launch in the US (FINRA application in progress). We provide services to eligible counterparties, professional investors and retail investors that meet eligibility criteria in order to view our regulated financial promotions for our issuer companies.  We also hold the relevant client money permission to be able to offer custody services through our regulated Jersey solution.
Regulation is often deemed a necessary evil, but regulated rails are the foundations of our vision as they ultimately instil confidence of those providing capital and those seeking capital. If allocation to this asset class from institutional and non-institutional investors is to increase, we have to build trust – and that only comes from the right level of transparency and appropriate industry and investor safeguards through regulatory checks. But we need to balance this with the control and privacy required by private markets. It is this balance that continues to shape Floww’s activity and strategy into the future.

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Martijn-de-Wever

Martijn de Wever

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Startup Spotlight

In a world where sedentary lifestyles are increasingly common among children, the surge in obesity at an earlier age and its complications is a serious concern. Working alongside the industry’s leading game developers and publishers, mobile entertainment company, Luna Blast, combines the power of sport with the rising wellness wave to create mobile games that inspire, educate, and entertain. The company aims to redefine the landscape of traditional sports by immersing players in dynamic, highly interactive narrative worlds with strong characters and inspiring stories. In doing so, its game titles promote healthy habits and positive lifestyle choices by integrating smart technology into its games, while fostering a vibrant sense of community through social and multiplayer features. 
<h2>Industry overview and challenges </h2>
Between 2019 and 2020, an estimated 23% of children aged four to five in England were overweight or living with obesity, showing a 21.9% increase from five years prior [1]. Research also indicates that almost one in four children in the UK aged 10 and 11 are obese [1]. Parallel trends are evident in the US, where approximately one-third of children grapple with the challenges of being overweight or obese [2]. In the UK, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns further exacerbated these concerns as obesity rates increased by 45% in four-to-five-year-olds and by 21% in 10-to-11-year-olds. In addition, the proportion of children leaving primary school overweight, obese or severely obese remains much higher than before the pandemic [3]. The gravity of this issue is compounded by the fact that children are not only experiencing obesity at an earlier age but are also struggling with its implications for more extended periods. This is a problem that is increasingly prevalent across the world [4].  
While the gaming industry has historically been considered synonymous with a lethargic, unhealthy lifestyle, Luna Blast believes that the sector possesses untapped potential to influence active lifestyles and positive lifestyle choices. Interactive video games, often called exergames, offer gamers an exciting alternative to traditional exercise [5]. One of the best-known examples is Pokémon Go. The Pokémon Go phenomenon demonstrated the positive impact that gaming could have on both physical activity levels and social and psychological wellbeing [6]. For at-home exercise in a gamified setting, the tremendous success of the Just Dance series is also worth noting. The first edition was released in 2009, and a new version has been released every year since [7]. Studies have indicated that using digital devices with exercise-related games may increase a user’s physical activity [6]. Other positive side-effects include a lower level of psychological distress, increased life satisfaction, and improved social interactions with friends and family [6].  
Despite such successes, the fusion of gaming with health and wellness remains largely unexplored. Luna Blast has identified this unique market opportunity, and its games are focused on closing the gap between the stereotypical gaming lifestyle with health and wellness by harnessing the full potential of smart technology, including step counts and fitness trackers that are already integrated into smart phones. According to Skyquest, the gaming market was valued at $118.3bn in 2023 and is projected to grow to value of $138.6bn by 2031, increasing at a CAGR of 17.1% in the forecast period 2024 to 2031 [8]. The mobile gaming industry is highly lucrative and fast-growing, and increased government support has accelerated advancements in the local gaming sector. According to Luna Blast, the number of active gamers is set to reach 3.6bn by 2025 as a result of new technology, such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, further elevating the market offering.  
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6287 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Luna-Blast--800x449.png" alt="Kids Playing Video Games " width="800" height="449" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Luna-Blast--800x449.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Luna-Blast--1600x898.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Luna-Blast--768x431.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Luna-Blast--1536x862.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Luna-Blast-.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
<h2>Introducing Luna Blast </h2>
Luna Blast, which is the trading name of Planet Entertainment Limited, believes that its games possess the transformative power to educate young audiences about the profound positive effects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle on performance, as well as mental and physical well-being.  
According to the company, Luna Blast achieves this by blending highly immersive narrative worlds and compelling characters with smart technology that tracks and rewards real-life fitness, promoting healthy habits and positive lifestyle choices for young gamers, while creating a sense of community and belonging.  
The company has received interim certification from the British Film Institute for promoting British culture and values, which allows it to apply for Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR). VGTR is a valuable incentive that allows game studios to claim a cash repayment or tax relief from the government after they have spent money on game development [9].  
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5965 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pocs_5char_lineup_3_stadia_colour-2-800x375.jpg" alt="Game art of Planet of Champions Soccer, a free-to-play online multiplayer series" width="800" height="375" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pocs_5char_lineup_3_stadia_colour-2-800x375.jpg 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pocs_5char_lineup_3_stadia_colour-2-1600x750.jpg 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pocs_5char_lineup_3_stadia_colour-2-768x360.jpg 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pocs_5char_lineup_3_stadia_colour-2-1536x720.jpg 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pocs_5char_lineup_3_stadia_colour-2-2048x960.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
<h2>How does Luna Blast work? </h2>
Luna Blast’s inaugural mobile game, Planet of Champions Soccer, is a free-to-play online multiplayer series that challenges users from around the world to go head-to-head in dynamic, fun and addictive soccer matches. Currently available on Google Play in limited markets, the game integrates with smart technology and offers a story-rich environment where players can create and manage their own soccer team. The abilities of their team will depend on both in-game mechanics and real-life fitness that will keep players engaged in the game while rewarding them for making positive lifestyle choices. 
 Luna Blast reports it has created unique features such as the Training Trail, which acts as a source and measure of energy that mirrors the real-world benefits of embracing healthy lifestyles. Player progression along the Training Trail directly correlates with the enhanced competitiveness of their in-game experience.  
To bring the Training Trail to life, the company reports that Luna Blast’s games can monitor real-world fitness metrics, including step counts and exercise movements, to encourage players to actively engage in physical activities and, in turn, unlock valuable in-game bonuses. Planet of Champions Soccer includes other features, such as daily targets and dietary and training goals that look to instil a sense of consistency and discipline among its players.

Sam Tamiz

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SAM headshot

Sam has a background in early&#8211;stage business development, with over a decade of experience in startup and scale-up companies in the UK and the US. He has been involved in every step of the business lifecycle from fundraising and teambuilding to business strategy in industries including fintech and plastics manufacturing. Sam was drawn to the mobile game industry because of its huge scale and ability to completely rewrite the experience of growing up as a child in the modern world. By creating a game that incorporates an immersive experience with the promotion of positive lifestyle choices, Sam aims to prove that gaming can be a force for good.

The founders' story

<h2>What’s next for Luna Blast? </h2>
The company has chosen to use Floww’s innovative infrastructure to facilitate its funding efforts as it pursues its future goals.  
Luna Blast plans to launch further game titles over the next three years. According to the company, these titles will share a cutting-edge architecture that will streamline both the development process and the in-game experience. 
 Luna Blast aims to create a world of sport-based games where users can take their customised avatars from one world to the next. The company reports that its inaugural release, Game of Champions Soccer, is the result of a collaborative effort with Playerthree, a renowned BAFTA award-winning gaming studio [10], as well as strategic partnerships with leading experts in the industry. Luna Blast claims that its partners include character design and game economy experts such as Ravegan and Naavik. 
*Floww Markets Limited is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 980098. 
 The information and imagery contained within this article does not represent the opinions of Floww. Floww does not have a view on opinions provided by Planet Entertainment Limited in this article and elsewhere where they may be expressed, and is not responsible or liable for the information within this article.

<h3>Sources:</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/diet-and-exercise/overweight-children/latest/">https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/diet-and-exercise/overweight-children/latest/</a>  </li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5550333/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5550333/</a>  </li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/24/child-obesity-in-england-still-above-pre-pandemic-levels-study-finds">https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/24/child-obesity-in-england-still-above-pre-pandemic-levels-study-finds</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/2/e2021053708/188480/Changes-in-the-Incidence-of-Childhood-Obesity?autologincheck=redirected">https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/2/e2021053708/188480/Changes-in-the-Incidence-of-Childhood-Obesity?autologincheck=redirected</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773087/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773087/</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8326949/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20the%20increase,building%20(22%2C23">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8326949/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://fhsphoenix.org/just-dance-has-many-health-benefits-for-players/">https://fhsphoenix.org/just-dance-has-many-health-benefits-for-players/</a>  </li>
<li><a href="https://www.skyquestt.com/report/mobile-gaming-market#:~:text=Mobile%20Gaming%20Market%20size%20was,in%20the%20local%20gaming%20sector">https://www.skyquestt.com/report/mobile-gaming-market</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ukie.org.uk/tax-reliefs">https://ukie.org.uk/tax-reliefs</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://playerthree.com/about">https://playerthree.com/about</a> </li>
</ol>

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Luna Blast

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According to Boston Consulting Group, products are often built to break in the modern world. If it is difficult to fix something, it is more likely that consumers will simply replace the item, generating more profit for manufacturers [1]. Offering embedded insurance solutions can revolutionise a retailer’s approach to customer care and generate additional revenue. 
Bolt Cover aims to offer product protection through efficient, effective integrations wherever products are sold. It is on a mission to provide comprehensive, customer-friendly cover at the point of sale, and one that is at minimal disruption to consumers when something goes wrong. Bolt Cover also aims to empower retailers of any size to offer product protection and extend the useful life of products. 
<h2>Industry overview and challenges </h2>
Annually, £93bn of repairable goods are sold in the UK, which equates to one quarter of all retail sales. However, 75% of all repairable products are uninsured, ending up in landfills rather than being repaired or resold [2]. Point-of-sale protection is currently only being offered by large retailers. In the UK, approximately 13,500 SME retailers are unable to offer product protection to consumers without losing money [3]. This is especially true in online retail in the UK, which is underserved despite being the largest European online market [4]. 
Many of today’s primary consumers, which are from the Millennial and Gen Z generations, are digital natives. Older generations are also becoming active digital customers [5]. Increasingly, the relationship between brands and consumers is shifting to become more personal and experience oriented. In 2023, the Society of Actuaries Research Institute conducted a study on younger generations’ perception of insurance. It showed that 61% of younger consumers intend to purchase one or more types of insurance within the next year, and that roughly half of these people would prefer to buy it online — regardless of the type of insurance [6].  
 Similarly, the UK Retail Protection Report shows that 71% of consumers want to purchase product protection directly from retailers, manufacturers and payment apps during or after checkout. Additionally, of those surveyed, 54% of customers preferred the convenience of adding protection either at checkout or post-purchase [7].  
It is also reported that the embedded insurance market is showing a CAGR of 25% between 2024 and 2030 [8]. For retailers, this can represent a potential jump in revenue, with research showing that offering embedded insurance can increase website conversions by 11% [9]. 
 Bolt Cover believes that it is the only tech-driven solution targeting both in-store and e-commerce channels across multiple categories that can rapidly scale across the SME market. The company aims to revolutionise product protection by helping retailers and manufacturers to embed insurance at the point of sale. It enables consumers to add insurance to their online or in-store purchases easily and conveniently. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6175 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bolt-Cover-800x449.png" alt="Image of retail clerk demonstrating insurance product protection company at point-of-sale" width="800" height="449" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bolt-Cover-800x449.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bolt-Cover-1600x898.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bolt-Cover-768x431.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bolt-Cover-1536x862.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bolt-Cover.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
<h2>Introducing Bolt Cover</h2>
Bolt Cover unlocks opportunities for any business to capitalise on the growing product protection market. It has created a series of apps and APIs which allows it to connect with any online or in&#8211;store retail system, allowing retailers and manufacturers to effectively distribute insurance. It is initially focusing on the UK but aims to offer product protection wherever repairable products are sold. 
The company is partnered with three leading insurers, which collectively write over $10bn of global business annually. It will offer cover for various items, such as furniture, bikes, eyewear, electronics, home appliances, jewellery and watches, fine art and collectibles. Within these categories, the company estimates an insurance value worth $990m. <span class="EOP TrackedChange SCXW249111633 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
<h2>How does Bolt Cover work? </h2>
For each insurance policy distributed through Bolt Cover, the company receives a commission, which it states is typically 20% of the insurance premium paid. The rest of the premium will go to a distribution partner, for providing the introduction to the customer, and the insurer who underwrites the risk for between 50% and 55% of the revenue. 
 The products are distributed to consumers on a non-advised basis as a complementary purchase to their repairable product item via connected retailer or manufacturer distribution partners. These businesses are generally not regulated by the FCA and partner with Bolt Cover under a ToBA that, according to the company, allows them to either distribute insurance products under the ‘Connected Contracts’ exemption [10] or introduce the insurance under the ‘incidental to business’ exclusion [11]. 
 As stated by the company, the proprietary Bolt Cover System can be quickly set up for online and in-store purchases of physical products. Each route is fast to integrate and offers full free technical support. For online stores, the company has developed a suite of e-commerce plugins that are intended for retailers to integrate the offering for insurable items. The secure software is designed to auto-generate insurance premium pricing for consumers when adding product protection to their purchase at point of sale. For physical retail outlets, the Bolt Cover System is described as free, simple and secure to access. The company also provides training videos and helpful guides regarding the conduct requirements when distributing a regulated product. 
 Additionally, Bolt Cover works with manufacturers to distribute insurance. This is done via co-branded marketing materials included in the packaging of insurable products shipped to the UK. Once consumers have unwrapped their items at home, they can scan a QR code to access the Bolt Cover System and purchase product protection. Following purchase, the policyholder receives their policy documents electronically via email. Easy access is also available via the Bolt Cover System Portal, which the company describes as a fully operational policy administration system. 
 For claims handling, Bolt Cover targets the best-rated claims administrators in each product category to give the policyholder the best experience possible.  
 Retailers and manufacturers can offer product protection to their customers, allowing them to open a new revenue stream by adding recurring income through commissions. The company claims that it can help retailers increase their revenue by up to 5%. Additionally, the solution can also help them boost customer satisfaction and loyalty and reduce returns, repairs and customer service costs. For manufacturers, Bolt Cover reports it offers customer insights to help them better understand the purchasing behaviour of their clients, improve their product and service, as well as enhance their marketing efforts.

Jamie Hamer

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Jamie Harmer1708949550717

Tori Hutchinson

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Tori

Richard Smith

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Richard Smith 1709035977162

Tori and Jamie first worked together at Jamie&#8217;s previous startup, React News, which is now Europe&#8217;s largest paid real estate news service, and was acquired by Green Street [12]. The venture went exceptionally well, selling after 20 months of trading, with Tori as an account lead and Jamie as commercial co-founder. The pair then resolved to create Bolt Cover; an ambitious new venture focused on embedded insurance at POS.  
Prior to founding React News, Jamie was a commercial leader at Procter &amp; Gamble, Southwestern Advantage and Gartner. He holds a master’s degree in philosophy and English literature from The University of Edinburgh.  
Prior to founding Bolt Cover, Tori held senior partnership and project management positions at React News, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Monica Vinader. 
Richard is a serial founder and tech leader with over 20 years of experience in building and marketing high-performance technology. He is concurrently the CEO of Formulate Digital and a managing director at Remarkable Dynamics. Richard joined Bolt Cover as a co-founder, investor, and CTO in June 2023, after having originally being a tech supplier to the venture. Formulate Digital provides engineering solutions to the company.

<h2>What’s next for Bolt Cover? </h2>
The company has chosen to use Floww’s innovative infrastructure to facilitate its funding efforts as it achieves its future goals. Bolt Cover is looking to raise funding to unlock its go-to-market plan.  
The company was launched in March 2024. As of May 2024, Bolt Cover reported it had 76 retailers and 14 manufacturers committed to its platform. Its insurance partners are Acasta Europe, Collinson Group and the Great American Insurance Group. According to the company, it has written over 950 policies and established twelve online integrations. 
As of mid-2024, the company has launched insurance solutions for two categories, bikes and furniture. Additionally, the company reports It has a further six categories in its 2024 pipeline. Bolt Cover also has an agreement with SharkNinja to integrate with their D2C online platforms by the end of July 2024. 
In 2025, the company plans to launch its mobile app to consumers for insurance upsell and claims handling. It also aims to expand internationally to the EU with its partners. 
*Floww Markets Limited is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 980098. 
 The information and imagery contained within this article does not represent the opinions of Floww. Floww does not have a view on opinions provided by Bolt Warranty Limited in this article and elsewhere where they may be expressed, and is not responsible or liable for the information within this article.

<h3>Sources:</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/what-happens-when-every-company-is-an-insurer">https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/what-happens-when-every-company-is-an-insurer</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.statista.com/study/23858/business-enterprises-in-the-uk/">https://www.statista.com/study/23858/business-enterprises-in-the-uk/</a>    </li>
<li><a href="https://www.eubusinessnews.com/2019-broken-britain-75-of-us-don-t-fix-repairable-household-appliances/">https://www.eubusinessnews.com/2019-broken-britain-75-of-us-don-t-fix-repairable-household-appliances/</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.retailresearch.org/online-retail.html#:~:text=Britain%20had%20the%20largest%20online,14.9%25%20over%20the%20same%20period">https://www.retailresearch.org/online-retail.html#</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.chubb.com/uk-en/businesses/resources/what-is-embedded-insurance.html">https://www.chubb.com/uk-en/businesses/resources/what-is-embedded-insurance.html</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.soa.org/resources/announcements/press-releases/2023/young-customers-insurance/">https://www.soa.org/resources/announcements/press-releases/2023/young-customers-insurance/</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://covergenius.com/retail-protection-report-uk/">https://covergenius.com/retail-protection-report-uk/</a>  </li>
<li><a href="https://www.munichre.com/en/solutions/reinsurance-property-casualty/global-consulting/embedded-insurance.html">https://www.munichre.com/en/solutions/reinsurance-property-casualty/global-consulting/embedded-insurance.html</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.extend.com/merchant-case-studies/blendjet">https://www.extend.com/merchant-case-studies/blendjet</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/544/article/72B">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/544/article/72B</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/544/article/72C">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/544/article/72C</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.greenstreet.com/insights/press-releases/green-street-acquires-react-news-leading-provider-of-exclusive-european-property-news-and-insights?region=EU">https://www.greenstreet.com/insights/press-releases/green-street-acquires-react-news-leading-provider-of-exclusive-european-property-news-and-insights?region=EU</a>  </li>
</ol>

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Bolt Cover

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Raising capital is hard and telling your company&#8217;s story to capture investors is integral to this. Floww founder and CEO Martijn de Wever shares how scaling companies can use Floww’s innovative enhancement to virtual Data Rooms to ease the challenge of telling your company’s story.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBzGKaKkM1g?si=RK9hjrEaZthnguJc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h2>From outdated to dynamic Data Rooms</h2>
Floww founder Martijn de Wever says:
<blockquote>“Traditionally the Data Room is a folder of files that people dump into for a prospective investor to do due diligence on your company. But we wanted to take this concept a bit further and allow a more digestible kind of storytelling.”</blockquote>
In addition to the traditional VDR enabling secure file sharing with approved parties, Floww’s Data Room helps create an interactive narrative around a company’s journey to capture investor interest. De Wever stresses that, “It’s not only about files and text but combining these with visual assets, interactive charts and ‘callouts’ in a drag-and-drop ‘feed’. The Floww Data Room is not only dynamic to use and edit but also helps you articulate the dynamism of your business &#8211; bringing your equity story to life.”
<h2>Highlighting critical information</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6123 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article02-1-800x632.png" alt="" width="800" height="632" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article02-1-800x632.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article02-1-1600x1263.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article02-1-768x606.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article02-1-1536x1213.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article02-1-2048x1617.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
One of the key advantages of Floww&#8217;s dynamic Data Room is its ability to highlight critical information, ensuring that crucial data doesn&#8217;t get lost in a sea of information. As de Wever points out, &#8220;You can provide context around key aspects of your business, add call out numbers to highlight the most salient numbers and points for prospective investors to focus on.&#8221;
<h2>Addressing common VDR frustrations</h2>
The dynamic nature of the Data Room also addresses a common frustration with traditional VDRs. De Wever notes that not only do they “pack a lot of things that you don’t need” but the “usability just isn’t there”. With Floww’s dynamic Data Room, the ease of accessing the right data at the right time is both user friendly and engaging.
Founders have the ability to build a multimedia feed in a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, which empowers them to take investors on a clear, focused journey through the company data.
For investors, the headache of navigating through disparate folders and files is gone and replaced with relevant information and context provided by founders to make it easy to understand and act.
<h2>An integrated fundraising solution</h2>
Our dynamic Data Room is part of a larger, integrated solution. &#8220;What we are doing is bringing all these things that are necessary for raising capital into an all-in-one experience,&#8221; de Wever explains. This integration eliminates the need for multiple logins and separate tools, streamlining the fundraising process for all parties &#8211; companies, investors and any intermediaries.
<h2>The two dimensions of &#8220;Dynamic Data Rooms&#8221;</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6125 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article03-800x632.png" alt="" width="800" height="632" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article03-800x632.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article03-1600x1263.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article03-768x606.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article03-1536x1213.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article03-2048x1617.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
There are two dimensions to the ‘dynamic’ aspect of Floww’s Data Room. Firstly, as de Wever describes, &#8220;It can always be updated and keeps telling your story &#8211; almost like a feed in many ways.&#8221; This continuous update capability ensures that investors always have access to the most current information.
Secondly, the dynamic aspect relates to the evolving relationship between founders and investors. &#8220;Your investor base is dynamically changing from the stage and type that they are,&#8221; de Wever says. As that relationship develops, so too does the depth and variety of information unlocked. Founders can, with the flick of a switch, give engaged investors access to new Data Rooms, with new data points and greater levels of detail. This dynamic access ensures that all parties see the right information, at the right time, with ease.
<h2>Best practices for founders</h2>
For companies using the dynamic Data Room, de Wever recommends focusing on visual design and breaking up information into digestible chunks. &#8220;Nobody wants to read a whole life story,&#8221; he advises. &#8220;Really thinking about what will capture attention in a way that people are used to these days and really thinking about breaking the page to share key aspects of your growth story.&#8221;
<h2>The investor perspective</h2>
From an investor&#8217;s perspective, the dynamic Data Room offers a comprehensive view of a startup without requiring constant interaction with the founder. De Wever explains, &#8220;By providing tooling for maybe a thousand people to get to know you without having to be in the room is something we expect today.&#8221;
<h2>Tracking investor engagement</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6126 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article04-800x632.png" alt="" width="800" height="632" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article04-800x632.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article04-1600x1263.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article04-768x606.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article04-1536x1213.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Article04-2048x1617.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
By inviting investors to your Data Room, you build an understanding of how investors are engaging with your information. Floww makes this simple by providing clear reporting on the Data Room views and clicks, as well as the viewing parties. This information can be used proactively by founders to identify their highly engaged investors and nudge those who are less engaged, to prioritise and tailor investor outreach.
<h2>The future of investor relations</h2>
By offering a more engaging, flexible, and integrated approach to presenting company information, the Floww dynamic Data Room empowers founders to tell their stories more effectively and enables investors to make informed decisions more efficiently. From creating and using the Data Room, founders seamlessly progress to managing their fundraise on Floww.
As the fundraising landscape continues to evolve, tools like this will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of investor relations.
<a href="https://signup.floww.io/startup/email?_gl=1*32c16z*_gcl_au*MjA2ODA2MjIxNy4xNzIxNzIzNDU0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6167 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Data-Rooms-Thought-Piece-CTA-800x255.png" alt="" width="800" height="255" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Data-Rooms-Thought-Piece-CTA-800x255.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Data-Rooms-Thought-Piece-CTA-1600x511.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Data-Rooms-Thought-Piece-CTA-768x245.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Data-Rooms-Thought-Piece-CTA-1536x490.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Data-Rooms-Thought-Piece-CTA.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></a>

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Property impacts everyone, whether you are a landlord, tenant or a homeowner. Nestopia aims to simplify life for renters and property owners by eliminating the need for an agent. The company has developed a digital platform that claims to streamline the rental process, providing immediate value to both landlords and tenants.
<h2>Industry overview and challenges </h2>
Over the past 20 years, the residential rental market has tripled, and it is suggested that rents will continue to rise until 2026. With many people unable to afford to buy a home, demand for rental housing is expected to remain strong [1]. The UK has the world’s fourth largest rental market by total volume of privately rented homes. There are 29.5 million homes within the current UK property market, of which 30% are privately rented [2]. Nearly half of tenancies in the UK are owned by landlords with five or more properties. In addition, almost half (46%) of all landlords in the UK use an agent for letting services, up from 34% in 2018 [3].
With over two-fifths of both landlords and tenants experiencing issues when renting, the industry needs a change [4]. Many tenants report feeling ignored by their letting agents, with a delayed response time being the most reported issue [5]. Research shows that 30% of people would actively seek an alternative solution after a negative first experience with a letting agency [5]. UK tenants, particularly those in London, are facing growing frustrations with letting agents. Londoners contact their letting agent more than tenants elsewhere and receive the worst service [5].
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) claims that there are too many unethical letting agents allowed to practice in the UK, leading renters have come to expect a low level of service [6]. Tenants report that, when dealing with letting agents, they encounter a multitude of problems, including lost deposits, broken agreements, and excessive charges [6]. Furthermore, 89% of tenants report that they have been the victim of unfair and unethical practices perpetrated by letting agents, and 80% demand an improvement in the level of service they provide [7]. Additionally, 16% of tenants and 34% of landlords also stated that letting agents do not follow up on their promises surrounding issues with the other party [4].
Property owners face difficulties maintaining consistency amid rapidly changing market conditions. According to Nestopia, letting agent fees are costly. The basic service of finding tenants for properties typically costs between 80% and 100% of the first month’s rent, and in many cases 20-50% of the second month&#8217;s rent. Rent collection services vary from 8% to 12% of the monthly rent, and full property management can cost between 12% and 15% of the monthly rent. In London, these fees can cost up to 20% of the monthly rent [8].
Altogether, Nestopia observes that the current rental system is fraught with dissatisfaction due to high fees, lack of transparency, and poor customer service. Nestopia aims to eliminate the need for intermediary estate agents by empowering both landlords and tenants and streamlining the entire rental process within one platform.
<h2>Introducing Nestopia</h2>
Nestopia intends to revolutionise the UK rental market by bridging the gap between landlords and tenants. The digital platform seeks to make rentals easy, efficient and transparent, offering a comprehensive solution to the problems surrounding the current rental system. The platform serves as a one-stop-shop for property rentals, aiming to redefine the rental experience for the modern age. Other key components include direct messaging, a community blog and interactive platform and tenant profiles with prequalification at its core, and a feedback system.
&nbsp;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6003 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.02.53-800x451.png" alt="Nestopia is a digital platform designed to streamline the rental process" width="800" height="451" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.02.53-800x451.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.02.53-768x433.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.02.53.png 1236w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
<h2>How does Nestopia work? </h2>
Nestopia aims to make rentals easy, efficient and transparent. The company believes it simplifies the rental process for landlords and tenants through an integrated subscription-based platform that combines property listings, tenant prequalification, automated lease creation, and comprehensive maintenance services as well as a community for support and interaction, including blogs, podcasts and a community board.
Nestopia is introducing to the market a comprehensive tenant-profile creation capability with the aim of making tenant prequalification easy. According to the company, the platform automates tenant verification, validating income, employment status, and references. Thus, landlords can save time and reduce risk by only engaging with qualified tenants. In addition, tenants will have a Nestopia rating.
The company also offers automated property management tools, allowing landlords to let directly to tenants, market and manage multiple properties, create tenancy agreements, arrange safety certificates, and track rent payments. Additionally, landlords can easily manage maintenance requests, track communication and keep abreast of legislation with real-time legal updates.
Furthermore, the company reports it offers an integrated tradespeople service, which enables landlords and tenants to find, and book, trusted electricians, plumbers and decorators directly on the platform. Integrated people are loaded directly onto the platform. All communication is securely documented, including quotations and booking confirmations.
The company claims Nestopia also appeals to homeowners, not just landlords. Their Home Hub will offer a simple document storage system for various home administration needs, including title deeds and survey reports to pet insurance, MOTs and utility bills – all in one place. It aims to enhance this as AI advances to set reminders for renewals where appropriate and to get quotes from providers.

Kris Ericsson

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Matthew Smith

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Matthew Smith (8) - secta.ai

Matt and Kris met in 2011 at Knight Frank, a renowned international estate agency. They have a proven track record in property, each having more than 20 years of experience in the industry. The pair have run Smith &amp; Ericsson, their award-winning boutique sales and lettings agency, since 2020. This led them to the realisation that the rental industry is ripe for disruption, and that recent advancements in technology have not been utilised fully in the property sector. Matt and Kris began working on Nestopia in the summer of 2023. They also co-host the podcast “Proper Tease” [10].
Kris is an accomplished entrepreneur with a thriving startup track record. He has previously worked for Foxtons, Barnard Marcus, Tedworth Property and most recently as a Partner at Knight Frank. Kris holds a master’s degree in real estate investment from Bayes Business School, a bachelor’s degree in economics from Regents Business School and a certificate of specialisation in entrepreneurship and innovation from Harvard Business School Online.
​Matt has been in real estate since 2001 and is a well-known name in the London property world. He has worked for some of the country’s most prestigious estate agents, such as Goldschmidt &amp; Howland, Tedworth Property, and Knight Frank, where he was a partner. Matt has led many notable transactions in London and excels in client services and property matching.

<h2>What’s next for Nestopia?  </h2>
As of June 2024, Nestopia is looking to raise SEIS funding. The company aims to establish itself as the premier choice for rental management in the UK. It has chosen to use Floww’s innovative infrastructure to facilitate its funding efforts as it pursues its future goals.
Nestopia plans to finalise its MVP, bolster marketing efforts, launch its go-to-market strategy and initiate expansion plans.
*Floww Markets Limited is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 980098. 
 The information and imagery contained within this article does not represent the opinions of Floww. Floww does not have a view on opinions provided by Nestopia in this article and elsewhere where they may be expressed, and is not responsible or liable for the information within this article.

<h3>Sources:</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/6428/residential-rental-market-in-the-uk/">https://www.statista.com/topics/6428/residential-rental-market-in-the-uk/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2022/3/uk-rental-market-now-the-worlds-fourth-largest-research-claims?source=newsticker">https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2022/3/uk-rental-market-now-the-worlds-fourth-largest-research-claims?source=newsticker</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-private-landlord-survey-2021-main-report/english-private-landlord-survey-2021-main-report--2">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-private-landlord-survey-2021-main-report/english-private-landlord-survey-2021-main-report&#8211;2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://mashroom.com/blog/landlord-tenant-relationships-15717">https://mashroom.com/blog/landlord-tenant-relationships-15717</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.property118.com/tenants-frustrated-by-lack-of-communication-with-letting-agents/">https://www.property118.com/tenants-frustrated-by-lack-of-communication-with-letting-agents/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/unregulated-lettings-industry-like-the-wild-west/">https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/unregulated-lettings-industry-like-the-wild-west/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.landlord-referencing.co.uk/blog/1-in-4-tenants-feel-ripped-off-by-rental-agreements-referencing-costs/">https://www.landlord-referencing.co.uk/blog/1-in-4-tenants-feel-ripped-off-by-rental-agreements-referencing-costs/</a>. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.lettingaproperty.com/landlord/blog/letting-agent-fees/">https://www.lettingaproperty.com/landlord/blog/letting-agent-fees/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdfY1eRsY2HuAzTz88tup">https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdfY1eRsY2HuAzTz88tup</a></li>
</ol>

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