Princess Beatrice-backed start-up community OPUS lands $2m funding boost

A for-profit societal endeavor which counts HRH Princess Beatrice among its directors volition this week denote a backing boost and the assignment of 1 of Silicon Valley’s astir salient figures to its board.

Sky News has learnt that OPUS, a rank assemblage which aims to cultivate a caller question of British entrepreneurs, is to unveil a $2m injection of superior from a syndicate of angel investors and household offices.

It volition besides denote that Marc Porat, co-founder of General Magic - the institution credited with inventing the aboriginal technologies down the smartphone - is to go a manager of the company.

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OPUS has drawn a rank of astir 1,000 exertion institution founders since it was established with the purpose of helping their projects during the embryonic stages of gathering their businesses.

"Anything anyone has ever achieved has been owed to the enactment and actions of others," Sam Tidswell-Norrish, seat of OPUS, said successful a statement.

"That's what OPUS is built connected - the powerfulness of the collective.

"This rise is simply a awesome of intent: that OPUS and its investors are profoundly committed to backing the founders of tomorrow."

The institution has a carnal beingness successful cardinal London, and is establishing a dual-base successful South Africa.

Its caller backing volition beryllium deployed to assistance founders done the usage of artificial quality successful areas specified arsenic fundraising, recruitment, merchandise improvement and operations.

Among OPUS's different backers are Miguel McKelvey, the WeWork co-founder, and Imtiaz Patel, erstwhile brag of MultiChoice Group.

"OPUS's ngo profoundly resonates with my ain journey," said Mr Porat

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"The aboriginal stages of gathering are ever the astir challenging - adjacent for the astir talented, experienced and well[1]connected founder.

"Community and friendships unlock opportunity, and being capable to lend towards a level that leverages exertion to standard that worth to early-stage founders is exceptionally exciting."

OPUS volition besides denote this week that Ken Donald, a erstwhile enforcement astatine British fintech Snoop, is to go its co-managing director, alongside Kerry Fennell.