Ecommerce platform levels up as GC Angels joins £500k pre-seed

Manchester-based mobile commerce platform, TheNextLevel, has secured investment from GC Angels as part of a £500k pre-seed round led by DSW Ventures.

The round also saw the business secure funding from Richard Hong of Pangaea Holdings, while angel investor Elizabeth Gooch MBE joined as chair. The funding will support TheNextLevel’s growth strategy across the UK and US as it expands its customer base and advances the development of its AI-driven mobile platform.

The combined backing strengthens the position of the business as a key player in the future of mobile-first retail.

TheNextLevel turns any Shopify store into a high-converting mobile app, giving e-commerce brands a powerful tool to build stronger, more personal relationships with their customers. Through a focus on what it calls “Community Commerce,” the platform goes beyond transactions. It empowers brands to create a community, in return driving engagement and customer loyalty, improving retention, and driving long-term growth.

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With mobile apps converting up to five times better than on the web, TheNextLevel’s platform continuously learns from user behaviour to deliver smarter engagement. The business operates on a revenue-share model, aligning its success with the brands it serves. Current clients include Offlane, which runs Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri’s store, Gustharts, and Manchester Storm.

Over the next 18 months, TheNextLevel plans to grow its UK sales function and raise additional finance to support international expansion.

Paul Rawlings, CEO and co-founder at TheNextLevel, said: “TheNextLevel is on a mission to reshape e-commerce, making it more intelligent, more human, and truly mobile-first. Ranvir and the GC Angels team immediately understood our vision. This latest investment gives us the power to scale more quickly, win more customers, and expand further into international markets.”

Ranvir Singh, investment manager at GC Angels, added: “TheNextLevel’s technology gives Shopify brands a smarter and more effective way to drive mobile revenue, while owning the customer relationship. Paul’s expertise in D2C and m-commerce from his time with The Hut Group made him the perfect founder for this business. We have high hopes of them achieving rapid growth, both in the UK and internationally over the next 12 months.”