AI assistant Marloo raises £2m led by Blackbird Ventures with Tom Hambrett
This article covers a pre-seed funding round on 9 September 2025 for Marloo, a London- and Auckland-based startup reinventing financial advisers' workflows by automating note-taking, document creation and client communication, founded by Hardy Michel and Shakeel Lala. It raised £2m in a round led by Blackbird Ventures, with participation from Tom Hambrett.
What does Marloo do?
Marloo is an AI assistant platform for financial advisers that automates meeting notes, document creation and client communication. It produces tailored advice documents, searchable records and collaboration tools to streamline adviser workflows and reduce manual paperwork.
Why is Marloo useful?
Problem
Financial advisers in the UK face outdated, clunky software that turns client meetings into mountains of tedious paperwork.
Solution
Marloo helps by automating note-taking, document creation, and client communication in each adviser's voice. Its "Ask Marloo" search and collaboration tools make archives usable and speed team workflows.
How much did Marloo raise?
Marloo raised £2m ($2.7m) in a pre-seed round led by Blackbird Ventures, alongside Revolut’s Chief Legal Officer Tom Hambrett.
Who invested in Marloo?
Key investors include:
- Blackbird Ventures: a venture capital firm known for backing Canva, with a focus on early-stage technology and a strong Australian and global presence.
- Tom Hambrett: an angel investor bringing expertise in legal and regulatory matters from his role as Revolut's Chief Legal Officer.
- Sam Halse: an angel investor known for his work in payments and scale-up operations, formerly serving as COO at Adyen.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of fintech venture capital firms in the UK
- Browse our directory of fintech angel investors in the UK
Who founded Marloo?
The founders of Marloo are Hardy Michel (Co-Founder and CEO) and Shakeel Lala.
Where is Marloo based?
Marloo is based in London, UK.
What sector is Marloo in?
Marloo operates in the financial advice software sector. This sector builds tools that help advisers manage clients, documents and meetings.
Key trends and challenges in financial advice:
Generative AI automation
Generative AI is automating advisers' workflows, for example producing meeting notes and advice letters instantly.
Data security and regulatory compliance
Advisers must meet strict rules like GDPR and SOC 2, because client data is highly sensitive.
Competition and user experience
New AI-native platforms, and firms such as FNZ, compete with clunky legacy systems, so design drives adviser adoption.
For a deeper look at innovation in this space, see the fintech startups in the UK.
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