A Leicester founder has secured £250k investment in her wedding venue startup.
Stacey Ferguson-Czersovski says she managed to raise the funds through Jenson Ventures even before launching an minimum viable product.
Her startup The VenueVerse is an AI-powered platform that lets couples explore wedding venues worldwide before they travel, giving venues better-qualified enquiries and more insight into what couples want.
The funding will take the platform through development and into launch, with a particular focus on its AI matching and immersive viewing technology, as the team works alongside couples and a founding group of venues to shape the product.
Stacey, a Leicester Startups member, said:
“For as long as I’ve worked in this industry, venue discovery has been fragmented and time-consuming for couples and venues alike. The VenueVerse is the technology I believe the industry has been missing, a more intelligent and connected way for couples to find places that genuinely fit their vision. Having Jenson behind us gives us the backing and the expertise to turn that into a platform that works for the UK and, ultimately, for international markets.”
Jeffrey Faustin, CIO and Managing Partner at Jenson Ventures, said:
“The VenueVerse is addressing a clear gap in a large, established market, combining AI and immersive technology with genuine sector insight. Stacey and Mark bring the kind of first-hand experience and commercial determination we look for in founders. As greater choice reshapes the wedding landscape, we believe there’s a compelling opportunity to improve how couples discover venues and how venues connect with the right customers.”
You can also catch up on Stacey’s story in our Meet the Member feature from June.