Today (21st July 2026), Lightning Reach, a platform that makes it easy for organisations to connect clients and residents with external financial support, announced that it has been acquired by European Technology Group (ETG). 

ETG is a long-term oriented platform that acquires and scales exceptional software businesses serving the public sector and other regulated industries in Europe. It plans to keep Lightning Reach independent and mission-led, and to back its growth with public-sector distribution and capital. 

Founded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lightning Reach has facilitated over £25m in grants to individuals in need of financial assistance and registered over 300,000 users since launching in December 2021. GIF invested £250,000 in Lightning Reach in 2023 and welcomes the acquisition as proof that a mission-driven business can also be a commercially strong one, and as a sign of progress on one of the biggest barriers facing underserved people: knowing what support is available and being able to access it. 

Research from Policy in Practice shows that every year, over £24 billion in financial support goes unclaimed, with a total of 7 million households missing out. These figures include an estimated 123,000 children across the UK who are missing out on Free School Meals (FSM). The figure for FSM alone leaves a staggering £69 million in support unclaimed, at a time when 1.9 million children were found to be in deep material poverty. Thousands of support schemes from charities, local authorities, and utility and household providers also go unclaimed because of a lack of awareness. 

Lucy, a single mum of three, works full time but was still struggling to make ends meet with rising costs. Lightning Reach matched her with £1,000 in grants from a national teaching charity to help with food and essential items.

Sometimes, you feel judged, and it’s hard to admit you need help. It’s just amazing to know that this kind of support is available.

Ren Yi Hooi, Founder of Lightning Reach, said:

I’m incredibly proud of this milestone. Lightning Reach started as a nascent idea during the pandemic and is now a thriving impact business, helping hundreds of thousands of people access over £25 million in financial support with over 100 partners across the UK. The Growth Impact Fund helped us every step of the way during our investment and supported us in understanding the acquisition process.

Rhiannon Sheridan, CEO of Lightning Reach, added:

When I joined Lightning Reach, we were a tiny team with a big goal, to make it easier for people to access support while removing the manual work that slows organisations down. It has been a privilege to be part of the journey, and I’m honoured to take on Ren’s legacy as CEO as we enter this next chapter. With ETG’s long-term backing, sector expertise and clear alignment with our mission, we have the right partner to help us scale sustainably, deepen our partnerships and keep investing in the platform as we work towards helping one million people access financial support by 2028.

Hana Hussain, Investment Director at Big Issue Invest, said:

Lightning Reach is a powerful example of how mission-driven organisations can thrive when backed with the right kind of capital. It highlights the important role that flexible patient capital can play in addressing a longstanding funding gap for high-growth social impact businesses that may not fit traditional debt or venture capital models. As our first exit, this is a defining moment for the Fund and an encouraging demonstration of what can be achieved when commercial potential and social impact are aligned. Lightning Reach is a remarkable organisation, and I am delighted to see it entering this next phase of growth. Lightning Reach is a remarkable organisation and we’re all excited to see how it grows even bigger in this exciting next chapter.

Trishna Nath, Head of Investment at UnLtd, said:

This marks an important milestone for the Growth Impact Fund and reinforces what we set out to prove: that investing in ambitious, diverse-led social ventures tackling systemic challenges can create both impact and value. Lightning Reach is a powerful example of how founder-led innovation can reach underserved communities while building a resilient and scalable organisation.

Social enterprises interested in the Growth Impact Fund can visit growthimpactfund.org.uk to learn more and register their interest or email enquiriesGIF@bigissueinvest.com.  

The “Growth Impact Fund” is managed by Big Issue Invest Fund Management Ltd (BIIFM). BIIFM is the alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) of the Fund and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 610618) as a “small authorised UK AIFM” in accordance with article 3(2) of the AIFMD to manage unregulated AIFs. The fund is addressed to professional investors only. Please note that: past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. The capital of Investors in the Fund is at risk. Any target is not a predictor, projection or guarantee of future performance.