Armagh-based corporate gifting firm, needi, has announced it has secured a £1 million follow-on investment from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI). This is the second round of investment the company has received from IFNI, bringing total funding raised to £2.4 million. Managed by Clarendon Fund Managers and supported by the British Business bank, the IFNI equity funding will accelerate the development of needi’s technology platform, which will help organisations move away from generic gifting, rewards and branded merchandise towards more personalised experiences that make people feel genuinely appreciated.
For Clarendon Fund Managers and the British Business Bank, the investment represents continued support for high-growth, female-founded technology businesses with global ambitions. Co-founded by Louise Doyle and Steph Scholes, needi has designed onboarding experiences for leading financial institutions, helping new recruits feel welcome, connected and valued from day one. The business now works with more than 150 organisations, including global brands such as Microsoft, Spotify, Intuit and DPD.
needi has produced bespoke products such as “Microsoftopoly” board games to celebrate a major company milestone with Microsoft and delivered personalised Christmas gifting experiences for 15,000 drivers at DPD, allowing recipients to choose gifts meaningful to them rather than receiving the same reward as everyone else.
The investment follows a period of significant growth for needi, which has achieved more than 400% year-on-year growth and generated £1.6 million in revenue last year. Since launching in 2021, needi has generated more than £3 million in sales for local independent businesses across the UK and Ireland while delivering experiences that have reached hundreds of thousands of employees and customers globally. More than 90% of needi’s customers return to use the platform again.
Claudine Owens, Senior Investment Manager at Clarendon Fund Managers, said:
“We are delighted to further support needi in this next stage of growth. Since our initial investment, the team has demonstrated exceptional execution, achieved impressive year-on-year growth, and has continued to innovate and expand its customer base. Louise, Steph and the wider team have built a highly scalable platform that is addressing a clear market need, with strong customer retention and increasing demand from leading global brands. We are excited to make this follow-on investment and look forward to supporting needi as it continues to scale internationally and deliver on its ambitious growth plans.”
Louise Doyle, Co-Founder and CEO of needi, said:
“We’re living through one of the biggest shifts in how people work and connect. Every day we’re told AI will make us more productive, more efficient, and more scalable. Yet many employees feel less valued and less connected than ever before. At the same time, organisations are spending millions on generic gifts, rewards and merchandise that often end up forgotten, unused or thrown away. A thriving business is a business that values its employees. That’s why we built needi. As a founder and mum of three, I’ve learned that the moments people remember most aren’t usually the biggest or most expensive. They’re the moments where someone takes the time to show they care. Our mission is simple: whenever a company wants to connect with someone and show they are valued, needi should be the platform they turn to.”
Steph Scholes, Co-Founder of needi, added:
“The best organisations understand that appreciation isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a business advantage. When people feel seen, understood, and valued, they stay longer, perform better, and become advocates for your organisation. We’re proud to be helping some of the world’s leading brands create those moments every day.”