Ferovinum Raises £17.5 Million in Series A Funding for Wine and Spirits Platform

Ferovinum, a funding and supply chain platform tailored for the wine and spirits industry, has successfully closed an oversubscribed £17.5 million Series A funding round. This significant investment highlights the pressing challenges faced by businesses in the drinks sector, including liquidity constraints due to funds being tied up in stock and payment terms, an outdated supply chain, and a heavily regulated global market that complicates international sales.

Founded in 2018 by Mitchel Fowler (CEO) and Daniel Gibney (CFO), Ferovinum has developed an end-to-end digital platform designed to assist businesses in funding, producing, procuring, and selling within the global wine and spirits markets. Since its inception, the company has funded over 35 million bottles, demonstrating its commitment to addressing industry-specific issues.

The platform has already gained substantial traction in the UK market, facilitating over £170 million in product transactions and achieving an astonishing 1,000% growth in annual sales since early 2023. To date, Ferovinum has deployed over £114 million in funding to support UK wine and spirits producers, effectively channeling capital from financial markets into the industry.

Ferovinum’s innovative model provides working capital and automates the supply chain until products are sold through a brand's sales channels. By employing trading concepts commonly used in commodity markets, the platform enhances risk profiles, offers greater flexibility, and facilitates increased data collection to support underwriting decisions—all while maintaining low operating costs at scale.

The funding round was led by Notion Capital, with General Partner Jos White joining Ferovinum’s board of directors. Other participants included Shapers VC, Semapa Next, and Ferovinum's existing shareholder group. White praised Ferovinum for leveraging technology to empower small and mid-sized players in the drinks industry, allowing them to compete more effectively with larger corporates and ultimately unlocking growth potential.

Mitchel Fowler expressed enthusiasm for the funding, emphasizing the inefficiencies plaguing the $800 billion annual wine and spirits industry. He stated, “At Ferovinum, we’re passionate about building technology for the sector in a way that provides the rails for the most exciting next generation of brands and resellers to succeed.” He also noted the valuable expertise that Jos White brings to the board, referring to him as “the Yoda of SaaS.”

This latest investment will enable Ferovinum to expand into new markets and enhance its product offerings across funding and supply chain services. The company is set to launch its services in the US and Europe later this year, positioning itself as a pivotal player in the transformation of the wine and spirits industry.

As Ferovinum continues to innovate and scale, it is poised to offer crucial support for the next generation of brands eager to succeed in a competitive landscape. By streamlining funding and supply chain processes, Ferovinum empowers smaller players to navigate the complexities of the wine and spirits market more effectively. This approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also fosters a more dynamic environment where emerging brands can flourish. As the company expands its reach into new markets, it remains committed to transforming the industry with advanced technology and tailored solutions that meet the unique challenges faced by its customers. Ultimately, Ferovinum aims to be a catalyst for growth, driving innovation and accessibility in a traditionally rigid sector.