Mobile commerce firm, TheNextLevel, has raised pre-seed investment, led by DSW Ventures.
The parties haven’t released figures, but except to say that Richard Hong of Pangaea Holdings and OpenBorder also contributed to the round.
Angel investor, Elizabeth Gooch MBE has joined the Manchester company’s board as Chair.
Co-founded by Paul Rawlings and Ionut Vasiliu, TheNextLevel aims to help online brands build and cultivate communities next to their mobile storefront.
It has secured Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri as its first brand, through Dutch specialist e-commerce agency Offlane BV – which will allow the driver’s team to communicate with their audience in a more personalised way, “enhancing customer loyalty and driving sustainable growth.”
“TheNextLevel is on a journey to transform the e-commerce market, and we are confident that the platform can reshape brands’ relationships with their customers,” said Keith Benson, founding partner of DSW Ventures.
“Having a rising star like Oscar Piastri is testament to Paul and Ionut’s vision of Community Commerce: empowering online brands to own and control the relationship with their own customers outside of social media. We’re particularly proud to support a business from the dynamic Manchester tech scene, a key focus for DSW Ventures.”
The investment, is the fourth from DSW’s SEIS Fund, which provides it with the capacity to invest up to £2m in regional start-ups. TheNextLevel said the undisclosed sum would “supercharge” its product development and expansion.
“DSW Ventures’ investment process was instrumental in helping us refine our commercial strategy,” added Paul Rawlings, CEO of TheNextLevel.
“Their experience and guidance have been invaluable, and we’re thrilled to have them and Elizabeth on board as we look to grow our team and set a firm foundation for scalable growth. Our partnership with Offlane and Oscar Piastri is fantastic validation of our platform and the potential that Community Commerce holds for brands to build meaningful connections with their audiences.”
