London-based fintech Novum Investment Management has secured a significant equity investment from a UK local government pension fund to launch and scale Doris, a patent-pending investment technology designed to help more people move from saving to investing with greater confidence.

More than 10 million people in the UK currently choose to save rather than invest, largely due to fear of losses. Doris is designed specifically for this audience, removing complexity and giving control through a simple, user-friendly experience that can be completed in just a few clicks.

Doris brings institutional-grade investment techniques into a retail setting, allowing individuals to set clear parameters around risk before investing. By focusing on predefined safety nets and outcomes, rather than open-ended uncertainty, Doris represents an industry-first approach to retail investing.

Through Doris, retail investors are connected to the global exchange-traded options market - a multi-trillion-pound market historically inaccessible to individuals - while maintaining clarity, transparency and predefined limits on downside risk.

Mark Davies, co-founder at Novum, said: “Doris was created in response to a simple problem - that too many people are excluded from investing because they’re asked to accept uncertainty and risk. We believe individuals should be able to define outcomes upfront and invest knowing exactly where they stand.

“This investment allows us to launch an industry-first approach that applies institutional-grade protection in a retail setting, in a transparent, regulated and accessible way for investors.”

The investment reflects growing institutional confidence in fintech solutions that align with government objectives to convert savers into investors.

Pension fund investment in UK growth companies has been identified as a key pillar of the government's growth strategy, making this funding particularly significant for the fintech sector. Government and industry leaders have welcomed Novum’s progress and its wider relevance for UK fintech.

Minister for Investment Lord Stockwood said: “The UK’s fintech sector is world-leading, and this investment by a local government pension fund is further proof that we’re backing savers to become investors, helping to give businesses the financial boost they need to thrive.
“With financial services identified as a key sector in our modern Industrial Strategy, we’re providing businesses the stability they need to attract more investment, helping to create new jobs and opportunities for people across the country.”

Samantha Niblett MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fintech, added: “I have been pleased to support Novum’s journey, which closely aligns with this government’s ambition to encourage and broaden investment.

“Novum is a strong example of the UK’s financial services expertise being successfully translated into fintech, using innovative technology to give investors greater control over risk. By allowing individuals to set their own safety net, it can help savers and first-time investors feel confident about investing.”

Katie Ramsey, Head of Fintech, His Majesty’s Government, concluded: “The Fintech Team and I at Department of Business & Trade have been proud to support Novum over the last two years and are excited for their growth in the UK and expansion overseas in key markets including the US and GCC.”

Novum has also announced a strategic partnership with FusionIQ, a US wealth technology provider serving more than 12 million end users, which is exploring the integration of Doris into its platform. The partnership highlights the scalability and export potential of the technology in markets where retail investors face similar barriers to participation.

As Novum progresses beyond the FCA’s Innovation Pathways programme, having submitted its application for FCA authorisation, Doris is being developed within the UK’s regulatory innovation framework. The platform draws on the UK’s established expertise in derivatives and options markets to deliver institutional-grade financial engineering in a controlled, outcome-focused retail environment.