The North West Fund for Digital & Creative, managed by AXM Venture Capital Limited, has backed Survival Media, a Liverpool-based start up, with a first round investment for a minority equity stake.
Survival Media was founded earlier this year by Mike Clarke and Jonathan Saunders. It will use the funding to publish the already established Student Survival Guide and Student Property Guide, expand its media services and roll out the brand to other university cities.
Mike Clarke has 20 years’ experience of editing and publishing magazines in Liverpool. At 18, Jonathan Saunders, who is from Manchester, is one of the region’s youngest entrepreneurs. He started his first business at school – a successful website selling Revision Guides to students.
The investment from The North West Fund for Digital & Creative, which is part of the £185m North West Fund financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), will support the company’s growth plans.
Mike Clarke, managing director, said: “The North West Fund for Digital & Creative really helped us develop the business and we look forward to working with them over the next few years to grow the company. Survival Media is passionate about adding value to student’s lives and this investment will help us to achieve this.”
Joanne Evans, Investment Manager of AXM Venture Capital, added: “We are excited by a team whose dynamic combination of experience and youth enables them successfully to communicate with students the essential information they need to enjoy life in a new city.”
Survival Media has moved into Liverpool creative hub, Elevator Studios.