Member Article

Grant Thornton leads key growth deal for booming Brighton software business

Grant Thornton UK LLP has advised on the investment in leading provider of customer experience management software 15gifts by mid-market growth investor FPE Capital LLP.

Based in Brighton, 15gifts has grown rapidly in recent years and now serves the majority of UK telecom mobile network operators as well as large providers in the US and Europe.

Its cutting-edge software combines consumer behavioural psychology with machine learning to humanise the online sales journey and model real-time, data rich customer profiles.

Since being established in 2010 it has grown to over 60 employees and produces more than 2,000,000 customer buying recommendations per month.

15gifts has a long-standing relationship with Grant Thornton, dating back to 2018. M&A Director at Grant Thornton, Adam Bunch, said: “We have known the team at 15gifts for a number of years and having kept a close eye on their growth so far, we are really excited for them as they enter this next chapter.

“This partnership with FPE Capital will enable founder Tom Cox and the management team to accelerate their international expansion and further develop the platform.”

Andrew Frame, M&A Director at Grant Thornton in the South East, added: “It is not only a success for Tom and the outstanding team at 15gifts, but also for the whole of the region. Brighton is fast becoming a hub of emerging tech companies, with huge potential, helping to put the city and the wider region in the focus of investors. We are excited for what the future may hold as we look forward to a strong pipeline of activity in 2023.”

Tom Cox, founder and CEO of 15gifts, said: “FPE’s track record of supporting software businesses of our size accelerate into their next stage of growth makes them a very attractive partner to be our first institutional investor. We have been able to quickly form a strong working relationship with FPE that has already helped shaped our growth plans, which we’re eager to start executing.”

Llewellyn John, partner at FPE Capital LLP, said: “Tom has built an impressive business that operates in a large and growing market, creating demonstrable ROI for its clients. There is strong chemistry between us, Tom and his team, so we are looking forward to supporting them achieve their exciting growth ambitions.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Robson .