Puma Private Equity, the private equity division of Puma Investments, has deployed £3 million into Influencer – the leading influencer marketing platform run by renowned entrepreneurs Ben Jeffries, Caspar Lee and Adam Ludwin.

Launched in 2017, Influencer’s proprietary technology simplifies the influencer marketing process for brands and creators. Its data-driven technology platform provides brands around the world with access to a network of premium social media influencers who are vetted for authenticity, quality and creativity. The platform empowers these businesses to make smarter decisions on their influencer activities by bringing together the discovery and relationship management of creators, as well as campaign management and campaign reporting, along with rich actionable insights.

Influencer is managed by award-winning entrepreneurs – 23-year-old Ben Jeffries who leads the company as CEO, and 25-year-old famed YouTuber and creator Caspar Lee, Influencer’s Chief Visionary Officer. In 2019, Influencer also bolstered its board with the appointment of serial entrepreneur Adam Ludwin, co-founder of search intelligence company Captify and growth marketing agency Inflecto Media.

Backed by some of the world’s largest creators, Influencer is currently growing at 420% year-on-year and already works with many of the world’s leading brands, including Boohoo, Alibaba, Pepsi, Starbucks, Pantene, Uber Eats, PrettyLittleThing and Apple Music. Influencer will use this funding to drive new innovations within its platform and expand its global presence – doubling headcount and opening its first US office in New York, with expansion planned to the West Coast over the next year.

Commenting on the investment, Tommy O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Puma Private Equity said:

“With its disruptive approach, strength of technology and creator credentials, Influencer is ideally placed to continue its explosive growth. Ben, Caspar and Adam are a uniquely skilled team whose knowledge and understanding of this fast-moving sector has impressed us from day one. We are delighted to be working with them and look forward to helping them achieve their aggressive goals for the business over the coming years.”

Influencer’s Co-Founder and CEO Jeffries added:

“Puma Private Equity shares our vision and I’m thrilled to be working with them. Their backing validates our proposition and will enable us to now significantly scale our offering globally and continue to solve the problems currently facing brands and creators.”

About Puma Private Equity

Puma Private Equity is a leading provider of growth capital to small and medium-sized businesses across all sectors and regions of the UK, delivering investments between £2-10 million and partnering with management teams to accelerate growth and help businesses achieve their potential. 

Puma Private Equity Limited (“Puma Private Equity”) is an appointed representative of Puma Investment Management Limited (“Puma Investments”) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.