An Armagh-based corporate gifting company has secured £1m in follow-on investment as it prepares to accelerate development of its technology platform and build on strong recent growth.
Needi, founded by Louise Doyle and Steph Scholes, announced the second round of backing from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI) on 1 September 2026. The new equity funding takes the total raised by the company to £2.4m.
Funding to support technology development
IFNI is managed by Clarendon Fund Managers and supported by the British Business Bank. The fund said its investment reflected support for “high-growth, female-founded technology businesses with global ambitions”.
The funding will be used to accelerate development of Needi’s technology platform. The company was established to help organisations provide more thoughtful gifts, and it has also created onboarding experiences for financial institutions to help new employees settle into their roles.
Claudine Owens, senior investment manager at Clarendon Fund Managers, said: “We are delighted to further support Needi in this next stage of growth.”
She said the company had shown “exceptional execution”, achieved year-on-year growth and continued to expand its customer base since the initial investment.
More than 150 organisations using the platform
Needi now works with more than 150 organisations, including Microsoft, Spotify, Intuit and DPD. Its projects have included creating ‘Microsoftopoly’ to mark a major Microsoft milestone and delivering personalised Christmas gifting experiences for 15,000 DPD drivers.
The Investment Fund for Northern Ireland said the latest backing followed a period of significant expansion. Needi generated £1.6m in revenue last year, according to the source material, and the company says more than 90% of its customers return to use the platform.
Since launching in 2021, Needi says it has generated more than £3m in sales for independent businesses across the UK and Ireland. It has also delivered gifts and experiences for hundreds of thousands of employees and customers globally.
Founders set out the company’s purpose
Ms Doyle said changing working practices and the growing use of artificial intelligence were affecting how employees felt connected to their organisations.
“Every day we’re told AI will make us more productive, more efficient, and more scalable.”
She said Needi was created in response to generic gifts and merchandise that can be forgotten, left unused or discarded. Ms Doyle, who is a founder and mother of three, said the company’s aim was to help organisations show people that they are valued.
Ms Scholes said appreciation could be a business advantage, arguing that people who feel recognised and valued are more likely to stay, perform well and advocate for their organisation.
Clarendon Fund Managers said it looked forward to supporting Needi as it scales internationally and pursues its growth plans.