Smart Money People, a financial review platform gains backing from
Northstar Ventures and the TwentyThreeMiles Fund
Smart Money People, a financial review platform has secured a six-figure investment just 9 months after launch.
Founded by Greek Cypriot Michael Fotis, Smart Money People is the UK’s only customer experience and review platform focused on the financial services industry. It allows users to read and write customer reviews for over 400 financial brands, thereby helping them to find the best products and providers based on customer experience.
The fast growing start-up has already attracted a number of financial businesses across the insurance, banking and alternative finance sectors. It offers the businesses that join it a platform to attract more customers, unparalleled customer insight, and the opportunity to build greater trust and transparency within financial services.
Michael Fotis, 26, founder and CEO of Smart Money People said: “We wanted to build a new type of review platform, one that helps customers and businesses alike. With this investment we can move forward faster, and take the business to the next level.”
The investment will be used to grow Smart Money People’s team, develop its core platform further and support additional marketing activity.
Prior to launching Smart Money People, Michael worked as a management consultant at Deloitte, and led innovative digital and customer experience projects for leading banking and insurance companies.
Alex Buchan, of Northstar Ventures said: “We are proud to be leading this investment round in what is a promising digital business. It is exciting to see an innovative platform that now has national reach flourish and we are exciting to welcome more financial businesses to join us.”
Paul Callaghan, of TwentyThreeMiles Fund said: “Smart Money People is the first investment that the fund has made, and we are pleased to be part of this follow-on investment. The next phase of the business is exciting and we look forward to our continued involvement.”
About Smart Money People
Smart Money People was launched in October 2014 and is a start-up with a strong mission: to use the power of customer reviews to increase trust and transparency in financial services.
Founded by Michael Fotis, 26, the ex-Deloitte management consultant who worked across retail banking and insurance, is passionate about forging stronger and more positive relationships between customers and the financial services industry.
He is a graduate of the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
For more information about Smart Money People please visit smartmoneypeople.com
About Northstar Ventures
Northstar Ventures’ investment was from the Finance for Business North East Proof of Concept Fund, which is backed by the European Regional Development Fund, the Regional Growth Fund and the European Investment Bank.
Northstar Ventures is a venture capital company dedicated to building successful high growth businesses across the North East of England. The £17m Finance for Business North East Proof of Concept Fund is one of the funds we manage.
About the TwentyThreeMiles Fund
Launched at the end of 2013, TwentyThreeMiles is a fund to help drive growth of technology start-ups in the UK. Based from Teesside, it is the brainchild of Clicksco, a group of global technology companies.
