Princess Beatrice-backed start-up community OPUS lands $2m funding boost

A for-profit social enterprise which counts HRH Princess Beatrice among its directors will this week announce a funding boost and the appointment of one of Silicon Valley's most prominent figures to its board.

Sky News has learnt that OPUS, a membership community which aims to cultivate a new wave of British entrepreneurs, is to unveil a $2m injection of capital from a syndicate of angel investors and family offices. It will also announce that Marc Porat, co-founder of General Magic - the company credited with inventing the early technologies behind the smartphone - is to become a director of the company.

Money latest: Why you probably should not book a hotel on your laptop OPUS has drawn a membership of nearly 1,000 technology company founders since it was established with the aim of helping their projects during the embryonic stages of building their businesses. "Anything anyone has ever achieved has been due to the support and actions of others," Sam Tidswell-Norrish, chair of OPUS, said in a statement.

"That's what OPUS is built on - the power of the collective. "This raise is a signal of intent: that OPUS and its investors are deeply committed to backing the founders of tomorrow." The company has a physical presence in central London, and is establishing a dual-base in South Africa.

Its new funding will be deployed to help founders through the use of artificial intelligence in areas such as fundraising, recruitment, product development and operations. Among OPUS's other backers are Miguel McKelvey, the WeWork co-founder, and Imtiaz Patel, former boss of MultiChoice Group.

Read more from Sky News:US-China hold trade war talks in LondonRiver Island owners draw up rescue plan "OPUS's mission deeply resonates with my own journey," said Mr Porat "The early stages of building are always the most challenging - even for the most talented, experienced and well-connected founder. "Community and friendships unlock opportunity, and being able to contribute towards a platform that leverages technology to scale that value to early-stage founders is exceptionally exciting." OPUS will also announce this week that Ken Donald, a former executive at British fintech Snoop, is to become its co-managing director, alongside Kerry Fennell..