The LBR family

Making pensions easier for everyone, everywhere
Making pensions easier for everyone, everywhere

Smart Pension want to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing across all generations, around the world.

Smart was founded in 2014 by Andrew Evans and Will Wynne. They brought together their financial and technological expertise, with the original aim of making pension auto enrolment simple.

Since then, Smart has expanded to become global in both its ambitions and its operations. They still help employers, scheme members and intermediaries, but are now working with an increasing number of the world’s largest financial institutions and at government level.

Their team now has hundreds of talented people. They take care of everything from design to fund administration. When it comes to investment management, we work with our trusted partners – some of the biggest fund managers in the world.

Smart is one of the fastest-growing financial technology companies in the UK. They are really proud of being able to make a genuine difference. From day one, they always believed in the potential of starting with a blank sheet of paper and not having to build things to fit ‘legacy’ technology.

  • MILESTONES
    Founded: 2014
    Invested: 2016
  • FOUNDERS
    Andrew Evans
    Will Wynne
  • CEO
    Andrew Evans
  • Fellow investors include:
    J.P. Morgan
    Legal & General
    LinkGroup
    Natixis Investment Managers
    Barclays
    Chrysalis Investments
    DWS
  • Websites
    https://www.smart.co
    https://www.smartpension.co.uk
The next phase of Moore’s Law
The next phase of Moore’s Law

Based on 10-years of research and collaboration between MIT, UC Berkeley, and CU Boulder, and funding from DARPA via the POEM program, Ayar Labs created a solution that overcomes the power/performance scaling challenges of semiconductors as well as the interconnect bandwidth bottleneck between those devices.

Their technology was developed with volume product manufacturing in mind, leveraging high-volume semiconductor and packaging partners. Recognizing that ecosystem is key to successful integration into partner solutions, they are an active member of the CXL, ODSA, and AIB consortiums.

  • MILESTONESFounded: 2015
    Invested: 2021
  • FOUNDERSMark Wade
    Chen Sun
    Vladimir Stojanovic
    Alexandra Wright-Gladstein
  • CEOCharlie Wuischpard
  • Fellow investors include:
    Lockheed Martin
    Founders Fund
    Intel Capital
    Applied Ventures
    Downing Ventures
  • Website
    https://ayarlabs.com
REVOLUTIONIZING THE PRODUCTION OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERY
REVOLUTIONIZING THE PRODUCTION OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERY

Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock.

The patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis technology produces new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. Their approach launches a truly closed-loop circular battery economy.

Ascend Elements helps EV battery manufacturers and end users maximize value. Beyond producing commodity metals, we use advanced particle engineering techniques to transform used Li-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap into highly engineered precursor (pCAM) and cathode active materials (CAM) that meet client specifications.

Their full-service logistics, materials-tracking and customer support services simplify the pursuit of greater sustainability and higher value.

We Sweat The Big Stuff
We Sweat The Big Stuff

Founded by Rita Ora and Christopher Money, Humans Being creates activewear and loungewear designed with the true person in mind. They are focused on recycled and sustainable materials while not compromising on looking good.

They don’t champion unachievable goals or unattainable bodies; they simply celebrate the beauty and gift of movement.

They are conscious brand. They strive for sustainability and work to save precious rainforest with their partners, the world land trust.

They are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community with a proactive stance on the causes that matter to everyone.

  • MILESTONESFounded: 2015
    Invested: 2022
  • FOUNDERSChristopher Money
    Rita Ora
  • CEOChristopher Money
  • Fellow investors include:
    B&B Studio
  • Websites
    www.humans-being.com

Fearne & Rosie, passionate about helping families to eat healthier.
Fearne & Rosie, passionate about helping families to eat healthier.

As a former teacher, Rachel is passionate about creating healthy change for children and families. She’s on a mission to reduce the amount of sugar consumed in households.

That’s why she developed her range of reduced sugar jams because she wanted there to be readily available healthier, tastier, happier choices for children and their families.

Fearne & Rosie jams are 40% less sugar than the standard jams you’ll see across the U.K. They around 70% fruit and importantly they use all natural ingredients and never ever use concentrate.

They are great tasting, HFSS compliant (which means they are lower in sugar) and proudly made here in the U.K.

Fearne & Rosie are the first B Corp certified jam company.

  • MILESTONESFounded: 2019
    Invested: 2022
  • FOUNDERSRachel Kettlewell
  • CEORachel Kettlewell
  • Fellow investors include:
    Giles Brook
  • Websites
    www.fearneandrosie.co.uk

Protecting your world, naturally
Protecting your world, naturally

Kit & Kin was created by Emma Bunton (Spice Girl, TV and radio presenter and UNICEF ambassador) and Christopher Money (Director of Product Development), who brings over 15 years’ experience working in the mother and baby industry for some of the world’s leading brands.

As parents themselves, Emma and Chris struggled to find products which didn’t irritate their children’s skin and were inspired to develop a natural, gentle and sustainable alternative for families – and from this Kit & Kin was born.

“We want to take away the stress and worry parents often experience when trying to choose the best products for their family. That’s why we’ve developed an amazing range you can trust to care for and protect your family as they grow.”

In addition, for every 10 customers that buy a Kit & Kin nappy subscription, they will fund the purchase and protection of one acre of tropical rainforest though World Land Trust (WLT) – and for every product purchased from their website or retail partners, we’ll also make a donation to WLT.

  • MILESTONES
    Founded: 2017
    Invested: 2019
  • FOUNDERS
    Chris Money
    Emma Bunton
  • CEO
    Chris Money
  • Website
    https://kitandkin.com
Optimising Google for both retailers and consumers
Optimising Google for both retailers and consumers

The complexity of Google shopping management has gone beyond what humans can manage. Bidnamic overcomes this by combining advanced machine learning with human thinking.

They are powered by data and uses machine learning to make decisions on a 24/7 basis. Bidnamic bids down to the most granular level using SKU level bidding, using insights that are not available in Smart Shopping.

Using their advanced machine learning and deep human behavioural expertise they have increased their client revenue in cases by 712%, made over 1.72m bid changes per year for a single client, reduced CPC by 54% and CPA by 22%, and grown ROAS by 274% across a number of sectors.

  • MILESTONES
    Founded: 2018
    Invested: 2018
  • FOUNDERS
    Liam Patterson
    Dr Ingvar Kraatz
    Antonio Reyes
  • CEO
    Liam Patterson
  • Fellow investors include:
    Richmond View Ventures
  • Website
    https://www.bidnamic.com
The world’s first real-time deals personalization platform
The world’s first real-time deals personalization platform

RevLifter has one key vision – to make every deal intelligent.

The foundation of RevLifter was built by a crack team of developers who understood the value of hyper-personalized, goal-driven, and customer-centric offers. As for making every deal intelligent, that’s a whole new chapter…

Years of innovation, adoption, awards, acclaim, and refinement have taken them to where they stand today. RevLifter is now a global eCommerce platform. They are supported by an international team, with the technology to launch online brands into a completely new era of customer incentivization.

It’s why in addition to award-winning products like RevPage and RevConvert, clients now have access to a Personalization Platform that bolsters their effectiveness and constantly challenges deal intuition to find the right formula.

Every campaign is made more effective by a centralized hub to conduct A/B tests and highlight winners across design, content, and strategy. Brands also gain a transparent view of RevLifter’s incremental impact on business goals like revenue and acquisition, helping them visualize the bottom-line effect of hyper-personalized offers.

  • MILESTONESFounded: 2017
    Invested: 2019
  • FOUNDERSSimon Bird
    Ryan Kliszat
  • CEOSimon Bird
  • Fellow investors include:
    Maven Capital Partners
    Gresham House Ventures
  • Website
    https://www.revlifter.com
World Class Engineering And Science Applied
World Class Engineering And Science Applied

Having studied the three main vectors of disease, o3 Biotech founders recognised the need to create the best livestock environment and the best nutrition through cleaner air, feed and water supplies.

o3 Biotech has worked on feed solutions for several years, initially focused on finished feeds, but now offering solutions further up the supply chain. It is developing products that increase the quality of feed, which are cheaper and better for the environment: improved nutrition and product shelf life, reduced reliance on chemicals and a lower carbon footprint.

o3 Biotech’s solutions treat agri-feed on an industrial scale – 10’s of tonnes per hour. The production of agri-feed globally is measured in billions of tons and where o3 Biotech can make a real difference.

Through extensive research and development in treating macro-feed components and finished feeds to control Entero cultures, salmonella and mycotoxins, o3 Biotech has validated the engineering and science through successful testing verified by independent laboratories, including some of the most reputable establishments in the world.

Innovation does not stop at agri-feed. o3 Biotech provides solutions that replace natural ozone levels (70 ppb), which rapidly decreases within interior environments, providing sanitary air supplies as fresh as external air.

The most powerful search in commercial property
The most powerful search in commercial property

US giant CoStar bought out the business in 2018 to establish a European operation. We supported the founder in the process to achieve the best outcome for the team and investors.

  • MILESTONES
    Founded: 2014
    Invested: 2017
  • FOUNDERS
    Andrew Miles
    Ian Parry
  • CEO
    Andrew Miles
  • Website
    https://www.realla.co.uk
Bring investing to life
Bring investing to life

Tumelo was established at Cambridge University, where the founders, Georgia, Will and Ben, campaigned for the sustainable investment of their university’s £6 billion fund.

They recognised a global problem: millions of ordinary people contribute to investment systems through ISAs, workplace pensions and other investments. Yet, most have no visibility over where their money is going and no voice at the many companies they own through their investments. The result? A society that is disengaged and an investment system that is failing to address critical social, environmental and governance challenges.

Tumelo was founded to change this. Their software shows investors the companies they own and empowers them to engage on issues they care about. In doing so, they help investment firms connect with customers so they can better serve people and protect our planet.

  • MILESTONESFounded: 2018
    Invested: 2019
  • FOUNDERSGeorgia Stewart
    Will Goodwin
    Ben King
  • CEOGeorgia Stewart
  • Fellow investors include:
    Legal & General
    Fidelity International Strategic Ventures
    Treasury Fund
  • Website
    https://www.tumelo.com
Feeding the planet's feel good
Feeding the planet's feel good

In 2015, Olly’s launched their first ever olive snack pouches and across the next 3 years they have continued on their mission to bring smiles to as many faces as possible with their olives, and they did just that, landing stockists across the UK and internationally. Their garlic & basil olives were even the official olive on a number of airlines.

In 2021, Olly’s Snacks expanded its portfolio with the launch of three snack ranges, consisting of new mixed nut and pretzel products and even a beer.

The three new ranges include three seasoned nut mixes, three new flavours of pretzel thins and two varieties of chocolate pretzel thins.

Olly’s has an amazing range of stockists including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, Amazon and Ocado. Olly’s is also listing in Waitrose, Booths, Boots and Wholefoods across the USA.

In addition, with their charity partner, they provide as many school meals as possible to children in need around the world.

  • MILESTONES
    Founded: 2014
    Invested: 2018
  • FOUNDERS
    Olly Hiscocks
  • CEO
    Olly Hiscocks
  • Fellow investors include:
    SFC Capital
  • Website
    https://ollys-ollys.com