Mimecast founder Peter Bauer has significantly backed Glasgow-founded recruitment tech firm Willo, which has secured £1.8 million in its latest investment round.
The investment follows key client wins, including Toyota, Wood Mackenzie, City of Long Beach, EDF Energy, and DPD Group, marking a pivotal moment for the company as it sets its sights on global expansion.
Bauer, who contributed £1.5m to the video interview platform, sees massive potential for Willo’s cutting-edge technology in international markets. Founded by Euan Cameron and Andrew Wood in 2018, Willo’s platform is used by organizations across 180 countries, including well-known names like The NHS, Prada, Samsung, and Hitachi. The latest funding brings Willo’s total investment to £4.2m.
This capital injection will fuel further research and development, with a focus on improving candidate experience and expanding its verification and certification software. It will also support Willo’s continued expansion in the US market, where the company already generates 60% of its revenue, as well as increase its global workforce.
Initially seeking £800,000 in the investment round, Willo exceeded its goal due to Bauer’s substantial contribution. CEO Euan Cameron described the achievement as a “significant milestone” for the UK tech start-up scene and an opportunity to push for continued growth in 2025 without the need for further fundraising.
Additional investors in the round included former Visa Europe Chief Digital Officer Mark Danby and 1818 Venture Capital. Cameron emphasized that the funding will enable Willo to enhance its award-winning platform and experiment with new technologies, while positioning the company for sustained growth in a challenging SaaS market.
Peter Bauer, who co-founded Mimecast in 2003 and stepped down as CEO in 2024, expressed his enthusiasm for Willo’s mission to simplify the hiring process, improving accessibility for candidates and helping companies find the best talent globally.
Willo aims to grow by 300% by 2025, interviewing millions of candidates worldwide, while also achieving carbon neutrality.
