Palatine Impact Fund takes majority stake in Crowdguard

Greg Holmes, Beth Houghton and Jihad Karambizi led the investment for Palatine, and Holmes and Houghton will join the Crowdguard board.

Crowdguard works with organisers and operators of crowded venues to assess vehicle-borne threats and design protective security solutions. Its services run from risk assessments through deployment, installation, assurance, servicing and maintenance. Deborah Ainscough founded the business in 2019, and Iain Moran joined as managing director in 2022. Both will remain in their current roles. Palatine says its Impact Fund invests £5m to £30m in commercially driven businesses with a positive societal or environmental mission.

Palatine plans to support Crowdguard's investment in people, leadership, systems, technology and assurance processes. Holmes said the business addresses an important societal need. Palatine was advised by Hill Dickinson, Forvis Mazars, Armstrong, Quinn Partnership, RSM and Lockton, and Crowdguard was advised by Bamburgh Capital and Clarke Willmott.