Shoosmiths advises Octopus Ventures on its investment into friend finding app for new mothers

National law firm Shoosmiths has advised Octopus Ventures on its £2 million investment into a social network that helps new mothers form friendships.

The cash injection provided by the London and New York based venture capital firm will fund the expansion of the 22-strong team currently working on the app, named Mush, as well as increasing the spending on its development and the addition of new features.

Mush was launched in 2016 by former Citi derivatives broker Katie Massie-Taylor and Sarah Hesz, a marketing consultant, after they met at a London playground with their children.

It helps users to find other mothers living nearby, and details how old their children are. More than 300,000 mothers have downloaded the free app to date.

Alastair Peet, corporate partner at Shoosmiths who led on the deal, said: "Octopus Ventures is a long-standing client of ours, achieved through our commitment to providing an excellent client experience and building strong relationships. We are delighted to have been a part of this deal, with the project sure to enrich the lives of many people."

Alastair was assisted by Tom Wilde, corporate tax partner, and solicitor Helen Burnell.

Eyal Rabinovich, of Octopus Ventures, said: "Mush has the potential to really take off and be a valuable tool for women across the country, and even further afield. This was a good opportunity for us to expand our presence in this field, and yet again we have been provided with a first rate service from Shoosmiths in securing the deal."