The round was co-led by East X Ventures and Sure Valley Ventures to support the development of hybrid artificial intelligence for high-stakes environments.
Sure Valley Ventures
Venture CapitalSure Valley Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on software investments within the artificial intelligence sector.
Portfolio
17
companies
Investment by month
By category
- AI/ML£21.5M
- Uncategorised£21.4M
- AdTech£18.2M
- GameTech£2.6M
- Robotics£2.0M
By location
- New York£18.2M
- London£11.6M
- Cambridge£11.0M
- Dublin£5.6M
- United Kingdom£5.0M
- Other£14.2M
Portfolio companies

Admix
Admix develops in-play monetisation technology for video games and virtual worlds.
Astut
Astut builds hybrid artificial intelligence for high-stakes decisions without data.
Capably
Capably provides an intelligent automation platform that enables businesses to delegate tasks to artificial intelligence.
EVERYANGLE
Computer vision software that analyses CCTV footage for retailers and hospitality venues.
Inephany
Inephany develops an intelligent optimisation platform for training neural networks.
Ittybit
Ittybit provides APIs and AI-driven tools for managing large media files.
View all 17 companiesShow fewer
Jentic
Jentic builds an integration layer for AI agents to connect software systems.

Literal Labs
Literal Labs builds high-performance logic-based artificial intelligence models that are faster and more energy efficient than neural networks.
PHINXT Robotics
PHINXT Robotics provides decentralised edge AI software for warehouse automation.
Purple Transform
Purple Transform develops artificial intelligence software that analyses camera and sensor feeds to prevent accidents on railway lines.
Purple Transformation Group
Purple Transformation Group develops artificial intelligence software to automate safety and security monitoring for critical infrastructure.
RETìníZE
Developer of virtual reality software for the animation and creative technology sectors.
Stylus
Stylus automates marking and personalised feedback for paper based school assessments.
Virtex
Virtex builds virtual esports stadiums for immersive fan experiences.

VividQ
VividQ develops holographic technology that converts standard consumer displays into immersive 3D screens.
Vizgard
Vizgard builds distributed artificial intelligence software to automate defence and security optical systems.

Vortex IQ
Vortex IQ provides an artificial intelligence automation platform for the e-commerce sector.
Team
Brian Kinane
Founding Partner
Brian brings investment management and founding experience from Sure Valley Ventures, Riverfort Global Capital, and Yorkville Advisors UK LLP.
LinkedIn
Barry Downes
Managing Partner
Barry brings venture capital and executive experience from Sure Valley Ventures, Alludium, and the Walton Institute, alongside advisory roles with InterTradeIreland and the European Innovation Council Accelerator.
LinkedIn
Isabelle O'Keeffe
Principal
Isabelle brings early-stage investment experience from roles at Twin Path Ventures and Sure Valley Ventures. She also operates as an angel investor and board advisor.
LinkedInIsabelle O’Keeffe
Partner
Recent investments
Literal Labs secures £4.6m in pre-seed funding led by Northern Gritstone and Mercuri to scale engineering and launch its first product.

Northern Gritstone and Mercuri co-led the pre-seed round to help the Newcastle-based artificial intelligence firm commercialise its technology.
"We’re at a pivotal moment for AI with adoption continuing to accelerate alongside sustainability and cost concerns. Our logic-based AI offers a new solution for those that want and need high-performing AI that is faster, more energy efficient and more explainable than what’s currently available via neural networks. This funding comes at a time when we’re ready to significantly speed up our product development and will enable us to bring our first product to market later this year."
Boost Capital Partners led the seed round with participation from multiple European and American investors to fund product expansion.
"AI is transforming how people and businesses operate, and delegating work to AI is the future. Capably is leading this shift, and we’re excited to back them in redefining the way work gets done."
The London-based deep tech startup secured backing from Amadeus Capital Partners, Sure Valley Ventures, and Professor Steve Young to expand its engineering team and refine its neural network training technology.
"We are thrilled to be backed by such experienced investors, and having a seasoned entrepreneur and AI pioneer like Professor Steve Young as our chair is a true privilege. Current approaches to training LLMs and other neural networks are extremely wasteful across multiple dimensions. Our unique solution tackles this inefficiency head-on, with the potential to radically reduce both the cost and time required to train and optimise state-of-the-art models. As we prepare to deliver our first products later this year, we are incredibly excited to embark on the next chapter of our journey—and to help shape the ongoing AI revolution by transforming AI optimisation."
Sure Valley Ventures led the seed round to help the artificial intelligence company expand its engineering and business development capabilities.
"Vizgard is tackling the growing need for time-critical visual intelligence and precision camera automation in security and defence solutions. Their technology addresses important AI reliability concerns through a robust ‘systems approach’, identifying threats that would have been missed and allowing stronger performance in new environments. With the rapidly growing demand for AI in Defence and Security, and the team’s deep domain expertise, we believe Vizgard has the potential to become a global leader in AI vision automation."

