AI software firm PEAK:AIO lands £5m led by Pembroke VCT with Praetura Ventures
At a glance
This article covers a growth funding round on 2 October 2025 for PEAK:AIO, a Manchester-based AI software start-up that builds ultra-fast storage systems for AI workloads, founded by Mark Klarzynski. It raised £5m in a round led by Pembroke VCT, which provided £3.7m, with participation from NPIF II - Praetura Equity Finance.
What does PEAK:AIO do?
PEAK:AIO supplies storage systems for AI workloads and data-intensive computing. The systems deliver data to GPUs and servers to prevent idle compute during AI training and inference.
Why is PEAK:AIO useful?
Problem
People face slowed AI development because traditional storage systems cannot feed data fast enough to GPUs. This creates bottlenecks, leaving GPUs idle and stopping organisations adopting AI for data-heavy tasks.
Solution
PEAK:AIO explains that it has developed ultra-fast, energy-efficient storage systems for AI workloads. This reduces data delays so GPUs run continuously and organisations can adopt AI without storage bottlenecks.
How much did PEAK:AIO raise?
PEAK:AIO raised £5m in growth funding, in a round led by Pembroke VCT (providing £3.7m) alongside NPIF II - Praetura Equity Finance. This makes it the 5th largest funding round in October 2025 (10 recorded). As of 2 October 2025, the round is the 219th largest of the year (481 total) in the Startupmag database.
For details on how Startupmag compiles its rankings, view our Methodology.
Who invested in PEAK:AIO?
Key investors included:
- Pembroke VCT: A UK venture capital trust that provides equity investment to smaller UK companies at early and growth stages, with activity across technology and other sectors.
- NPIF II - Praetura Equity Finance: A fund managed by Praetura Ventures that offers equity finance to SMEs in the Northern Powerhouse region, concentrating on early-stage and growth companies.
In the funding announcement, Fred Ursell from Pembroke Investment Managers said:
Every major technology wave exposes bottlenecks that hold back progress. In AI, that bottleneck is storage - GPUs sit idle while data crawls in.
The investor added that PEAK:AIO has built a solution from first principles that flips this equation, unlocking the full potential of AI infrastructure.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of AI venture capital firms in the UK
- Browse our directory of AI angel investors in the UK
Who founded PEAK:AIO?
Mark Klarzynski is the founder of PEAK:AIO.
In the funding announcement, Mark Klarzynski explained:
Traditional IT has been around for decades, but AI has created demands that no one saw coming. While many large tech companies tried to rebrand old products for this market, we have worked directly with the pioneers of AI to understand what was really needed.
Where is PEAK:AIO based?
PEAK:AIO is based in Manchester, UK.
What sector is PEAK:AIO in?
PEAK:AIO operates in the AI sector. This sector builds software that enables machines to learn and make decisions from data.
Key trends and challenges in AI:
Infrastructure and data bottlenecks
GPUs and storage systems can create bottlenecks, for example GPUs often sit idle while data loads.
Energy and sustainability
AI training and data centres consume significant power, with data centres using roughly 1% of global electricity.
Regulatory and safety concerns
Governments introduce rules like the EU AI Act to manage risks such as bias and misuse.
For a deeper look at innovation in this space, see the AI startups in the UK.
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