Stories about investment

AI Agents show promise but face adoption challenges, with success likely first in simple, routine tasks where downsides are minimal compared to the hassle of doing it yourself. Joe's blog explores the spectrum from AI Assistants to true Agents, examining when consumers will trust AI to act independently rather than just assist.

As hinted at the end of last year when we announced our strategic partnership with Represent, the brand has now expanded into womenswear. Founded by brothers George and Michael Heaton, Represent has a loyal customer base and has seen considerable growth.

Ribble is now the official bike sponsor of the Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team for the 2025 season, powering the women's cycling team to new heights.

The Cotswold Company (TCC) saw Christmas sales surge 22% to £19.9m, B Corp certification, and the opening of its eleventh and twelfth showrooms in Marlow and Harpenden.

We are excited to announce True’s participation in Eyva’s €2.7m Seed funding round co-led with Earlybird and Wenvest.

We are an investment firm dedicated to the consumer and retail sectors, emphasising the significant opportunities for growth and innovation within these markets. With a focus on partnering with founders, we want to use our expertise to help build successful companies and navigate the evolving landscape of consumer and retail.

We’re excited to announce our strategic partnership with Represent, a UK-based luxury fashion brand reshaping the boundaries of luxury and performance sportswear.

Hush has appointed Philip Mountford, former CEO of Hunkemöller and Moss, as its new chairman. With over 40 years of executive retail experience, including his role as Managing Director at Versace and a 15-year tenure as CEO of Hunkemöller, Mountford brings valuable expertise. His appointment follows a successful brand relaunch and strengthens Hush’s leadership as it pursues growth in the UK and internationally.

The Cotswold Company have announced the opening of a delivery driver training academy (CHD) and a further delivery depot, moving them steadily closer to becoming a leading premium homeware brand in the UK.

The retail sector is in constant evolution, shifting in response to the ebb and flow of consumer demands, macroeconomic factors and increasingly, environmental concerns. As the environmental footprint of both retailers and consumers comes under growing scrutiny, we’re closely watching a handful of exciting technologies poised to address these challenges, helping the industry become more sustainable.

At True, we pride ourselves on being specialist investors in the Consumer and Retail sectors. Many associate "Consumer" with D2C physical products, but the reality is much broader. In this blog, Mike Martin, Director in the VC team shares more on our investment strategy and remit.

Major sporting heroes are increasingly investing in food and drink brands, giving these products star power and health credibility. Joe Seager-Dupuy, Director of VC Investment at True, shares insights in The Grocer's recent article on how brands can cut through the noise and stand out by leveraging the influence of famous athletes. Learn how these high-profile deals begin and the impact they can have on your brand.

Ribble has named Sean Hastings as its new CEO. Hastings, a veteran in consumer sector transformation, brings a wealth of experience from B2C Group, River Island, and Pentland Brands. This strategic move follows the recent appointment of Becks DeNiro as chair. Current CEO Andy Smallwood will transition to a senior adviser role, ensuring a smooth leadership change.

RIBBLE REBELLION electrified at the US Armed Forces Cycling Classic this past weekend with extraordinary bikes that pay tribute to the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Cole Davis (USA) was on the striking Ribble Ultra SL R P-51 Mustang Special Edition, and British rider Matthew Bostock was on the Ultra SL R Forces Special Edition. The bikes, inspired by WWII aircraft, were then auctioned to support TAPS, a charity aiding military families.

At True, we understand the challenges of securing that first crucial call with investors. In this article, we dive into the essentials of crafting a standout pitch deck. Learn how to align with our investment thesis, articulate your market opportunity, highlight your team's strengths, and more.

The Ribble Collective continues into 2024 following a very successful first season, now with a wider reach including riders covering Road, Gravel & Triathlon disciplines.

As part of the quick founder questions series – or QFQs – Maddyness spoke to Jean-Michel Chalayer, founder of Jena about recent investment, backing solopreneurs and the importance of flex culture!

Ribble partner with HUUB to launch RIBBLE REBELLION Race Kit at Redlands.

JENA, a UK SaaS platform that enables solopreneurs to run their businesses smoothly instead of piecing together disjointed tools, secures £1.2 million in an oversubscribed Pre-Seed funding round led by True & Gfund.

This year so far, we’ve been spending more time in major European tech and start-up hubs including Berlin, Paris and Barcelona, with the Nordics to come in Q2, meeting with other VCs and founders with a view to increasing our investments in European markets.

RIBBLE REBELLION is the all-new racing team founded by Ribble Cycles, with the primary focus of disrupting the global Crit circuit.

Retail Gazette's Aoife Morgan sits down with The Cotswold Company's CEO, Ralph Tucker, to discuss his take on throwaway furniture, its value push and 2024 growth plans for the business.

A new launch from Bleach promises to rebrand the permanent colour aisle.

Soulfresh will be ‘murdering thirst’ in 2024, launching global mega-brand Liquid Death in Australia and New Zealand.

E-commerce investor and former Gymshark Chairman, Paul Richardson, has been appointed President for fit-tech start-up Brawn, the world’s first, connected community strength training platform.