Bath-based asset management group Chelverton has completed the first deal this year for its investor club with a growth capital investment into Hypersonica, an early stage technology business.
London-based Hypersonica Safe Search is a mobile application which combines internet search results from the world’s leading providers with premium consumer internet security. The application gives users a high quality mobile search experience with a layer of free and valuable security. 
The company was founded in 2013 and is led by CEO Marc Webster, with support from angel investors Martin Reith and Ian Martin. Marc originally conceived the idea for Hypersonica in previous roles, as head of products and services at AVG and Avira, two of the world’s largest anti-virus companies. While at Avira he had designed and implemented search monetisation for the Avira free product.
Martin and Ian both had highly-successful careers in the insurance industry, including as founder and board director respectively of Ascot Underwriting. They retain a number of board roles both in the UK and overseas, and have become serial investors in young, high-growth companies.
Richard Bucknell, who led the investment for Chelverton, said: “Hypersonica Safe Search is unique. There is no other product which provides free mobile internet security and monetises users through mobile search. While the company is at an earlier stage in its development than many typical Investor Club transactions, the product is fully operational and the roll-out, with the hugely impressive list of distribution partners, is well underway. The operational model is massively scalable, and by the end of 2015 we predict over six million active users.
“The continued commitment from Martin and Ian, allied with the enthusiasm of such a highly regarded new investor like Laurence, were also compelling reasons for the high level of investor appetite which this investment garnered. We very much look forward to working with them all, alongside Marc and his executive team, over the coming months.”
Chelverton Investor Club focussed exclusively on smaller equity investments.
