Bloobloom secures three million pounds funding to bolster expansion
The funding was led by Pembroke VCT, which had initially invested 2.5 million pounds into Bloobloom as part of a 4.8 million pound fundraise in 2022. For this latest round, the venture capital trust contributed two million pounds, alongside an additional one million pounds from Social Impact Enterprises.
Through the fundraise, Bloobloom said it was 'well-positioned to scale its operations', expand internationally and grow its retail presence in the UK, where it currently operates seven stores across London.
Founded in 2017, Bloobloom is dedicated to a tech-focused approach to eyewear, utilising its proprietary AI technology platform, Theia, to perform readings and interpretations of prescriptions in order to select the correct lenses for customers and analyse their eye health.
The company has continued to grow since its inception, reporting over 100,000 active customers with a sales retention rate of 90 percent. Bloobloom further stated that it welcomed a revenue growth of 2.3x from FY23 to FY24.
In a press release, co-founders of the brand, Fares and Abbas Manai, said in a joint statement: 'We are both excited and grateful as we embark on this next phase of growth, in partnership with some of the finest investors in the UK. This latest round of funding will enable us to continue enhancing our technology platform and to maintain the outstanding service we provide to our customers online, in store, and beyond, thanks to our Pair for Pair programme.'
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BMW Says Its Revival of Rolls-Royce Was a Secret Operation
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Nobody needed a wider, faster Cullinan, but we got one anyway. BMW may make luxury cars, but a Rolls-Royce is a Rolls-Royce To many people who are and aren't car enthusiasts, the British ultra-luxury brand Rolls-Royce is recognized as one of the most well-known brands producing some of the most luxurious cars on the road. Today, they're owned by another name known for uncharted luxury and refinement: BMW. 2025 Audi S3: 4 reasons to love it, 2 reasons to think twice Watch More The Bavarians revived the brand in the early 2000s by creating modern marvels like the Phantom, Ghost, and Cullinan, which combine opulent old-world elegance in a package tailor-made for the well-to-do in the 21st century. As part of BMW North America's 50th anniversary, the company is sharing a series of stories from its illustrious history previously known only within Bavarian Motor Works. One such story recounts BMW's revival of Rolls-Royce, as it saved the brand in a fascinating and secretive revival with a twist worthy of a spy novel. By providing your email address, you agree that it may be used pursuant to Arena Group's Privacy Policy. We may receive compensation. Source: Rolls-Royce BMW took advantage of a major technicality In 1998, defense and engineering firm Vickers PLC sold Rolls-Royce and Bentley to Volkswagen for £430 million ($703 million), as it 'lacked the expertise or the resources needed to modernize the cars' sold under the respective marques, per BMW. In The Complete Book of BMW, Tony Lewin wrote that BMW offered to buy 20% of Rolls and Bentley in the early 90s, but Vickers offered to sell the entire automotive operations, which Beemer refused. 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We may never know, but it's nice to hear the story from the storytellers who were there to see it for themselves. About the Author James Ochoa View Profile
Leader Live
2 hours ago
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Manchester United fans' group postpones protest against owners
The 1958 had organised a protest march to Old Trafford on August 17, ahead of United's clash with Arsenal, with banners referring to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The 1958 has overseen numerous demonstrations in recent years, principally aimed at unpopular majority shareholders the Glazers, but frustration has now spread to Ratcliffe. 🗣️Postponement of Protest – Arsenal (H), August 17th After careful reflection, and in light of the survey results. We have made the decision to postpone the planned protest for the Arsenal home game on Saturday, August 17th. For us, it has always been, and will always be, about… — The 1958 (@The__1958) August 11, 2025 The billionaire British businessman, who owns a 28.94 per cent stake in United, has instigated wide – often unpopular – changes since taking over day-to-day operational control from the Glazers in February 2024. 'Jim Ratcliffe chose to get into bed with the Glazers and, in our opinion, is helping keep them in charge,' said a group representative, who added Ratcliffe was 'no saviour' and 'like a (red) devil in disguise,' last week. However, after conducting a survey, the group has acknowledged opinion is split and the time is not right for a protest. A statement read: 'With a fanbase as diverse and passionate as ours, finding the right balance isn't always easy. We've had to consider momentum, timing, fan appetite, broader consequences of protest activity whilst assessing how current and future decisions may impact us as fans. 'Given the current sentiment within the fanbase and particularly in light of these recent survey results, it's clear there is no unified view on the direction of the club under Ratcliffe. 'That split is real, and we believe it would be irresponsible to risk creating a situation that could result in any 'red on red' conflict inside or outside the stadium.' The group say almost 63 per cent of the near 26,000 respondents to their survey said Ratcliffe and his Ineos company should be held to account for their decisions so far by means of a protest. However, 68 per cent also believed they should be given more time.
