UK startup Shopblocks raises £2M in funding, rebrands as Symphony Commerce to expand B2B e-commerce

Shopblocks, a UK-based digital commerce startup, has secured £2 million in fresh funding as it rebrands to Symphony Commerce. The investment comes from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, managed by Mercia Ventures, as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), along with Mercia’s EIS funds, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), and private investors.

This funding round fuels Symphony Commerce’s expansion into the global B2B enterprise market, bringing in a suite of new features aimed at wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers. The platform allows businesses to create e-commerce sites, customer portals, and product catalogs, making it easier to handle large-scale transactions and manage complex pricing models. It integrates with ERP, finance, and marketing software, giving companies a way to sync their operations without extra hassle.

Founded in 2015 by Kevin Jones and Stewart Reynolds, the company has grown to serve over 2,000 customers, including Toshiba, Giacom, Daisy Telecom, and Tower Housewares. Over the past 18 months, it has nearly doubled its annual recurring revenue (ARR) to £1.4 million and has set its sights on tripling that figure within the next three years. The latest round brings total funding to £6 million, giving Symphony Commerce the resources to push further into the enterprise B2B space.

Kevin Jones, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, put it this way:
“With Symphony Commerce, we’re empowering our clients to outpace their competition with agility and precision, ensuring they remain leaders in their industries. This investment allows us to scale faster, expand our team, and deliver a superior customer experience.”

Mercia Ventures has backed the company since 2023, and Robert Hornby from the firm sees Symphony Commerce as a business that solves challenges most e-commerce platforms can’t.

“Symphony Commerce solves a number of complex challenges for B2B companies that other platforms are unable to deal with. As a result, it is rapidly building its customer base in the B2B sector and has the potential to become a leader in its field. With a new brand and fresh investment, we believe the right foundations are in place to help the business pursue this goal.”

Backing from Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II focuses on supporting businesses across the North of England, offering loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments of up to £5 million. The goal is to fuel innovation and economic growth by giving early-stage businesses access to funding they might otherwise struggle to secure.

Legal support for the deal came from Hill Dickinson for Symphony Commerce, while Browne Jacobson advised Mercia Ventures, and Ward Hadaway represented GMCA.

With fresh funding and a new identity, Symphony Commerce is positioning itself for significant growth in B2B e-commerce. Now, it’s all about execution.