Trademark checking tool TrademarkNow raises $3.5 million in funding

London-based Balderton Capital has invested $3.5 million in trademark checking tool, TrademarkNow, continuing its European start-up spending spree. TrademarkNow, launched just over a year ago and headquartered in Helsinki, is a web-based system used by companies to assess the risk of confusion of new names or brands with existing trademarks and to determine the likelihood of successful trademark applications.

Making good on its promise of a renewed focus on Series A investments in Europe, Balderton Capital has led a $3.5 million Series A round in trademark checking tool,TrademarkNow. Previous backers include Lifeline Ventures, Finnish taxpayer-funded Tekes, and various angel investors. It follows a recent investment by Balderton in urban transport app, Citymapper, which saw the London-based VC lead a $10 million round. Helsinki-headquartered TrademarkNow offers an “automated trademark search and risk analysis” online tool that it claims significantly reduces the costs (and time) it takes for companies, marketers and trademark lawyers to stay on top of potential trademark infringements.