IQBlade to create 25 jobs in Liverpool with six-figure Northern Powerhouse funding

Competitive intelligence and market insight platform IQBlade is set to create 25 jobs after securing a six-figure Northern Powerhouse investment.

The Liverpool-based company will use the £325k equity funding from NPIF – Maven Equity Finance to boost its headcount with new software engineers, data researchers, QA specialists and sales staff.

IQBlade currently employs a team of seven, but this number will rise to 32 in the next three years.

The firm will also use the cash to ramp up marketing activity, which will include corporate videos, PR and the launch of a new website.

IQBlade enables businesses to make smarter, data-driven decisions informed by real-time insights into competitors, business partners and customers.

Key features of the platform include financial benchmarking, growth analysis and news tracking.

NPIF – Maven Equity Finance is delivered by loan and equity provider MSIF alongside private equity firm Maven Capital Partners.

IQBlade’s director and co-founder, Antony Young, said: “The investment from NPIF enables us to help more clients to navigate significant changes occurring in the technology industry and local government.

“We believe that it’s crucial to have accurate, real-time data at your fingertips when defining strategy and making investments during this time.”

He added: “We have an aggressive growth plan and are looking forward to building a great team to achieve it.”

The £325k was delivered by MSIF investment director Simon Thelwall-Jones on behalf of Maven Capital.

Simon commented: “I found the management team at IQBlade really impressive; they have great industry knowledge, with a combined 50 years of experience working in IT.

“The market conditions also seem very positive right now, so I’m really excited to see this business progress and grow. It’s going to be a busy but very exciting year for the IQBlade team.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund was launched earlier this year by Sheffield-based British Business Bank.

Ken Cooper, managing director at British Business Bank, said: “IQBlade is a great example of the type of company that the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is designed to assist.

“This investment will help IQBlade meet their growth ambitions and contribute to the Liverpool City Region’s economy. Our fund managers will continue to seek out similar high-growth companies in need of funding in the Region.”