Openmoove Secures £700k Funding in Cardiff 2026

Key Points

• Cardiff-based proptech firm openmoove has raised £700,000 in equity investment to scale its B2B platform, accelerate go-to-market activities, and roll out services across the UK property sector.
• The funding was led by the Development Bank of Wales with £350,000 from its Wales Technology Fund, matched by £335,000 from HAATCH and contributions from Welsh angel investors; this marks the second co-investment between HAATCH and the Development Bank.
• The investment will create six new jobs in Cardiff as the company builds an expert team.
• Founded in 2024 by Ross McKenzie (CEO) and Cai Gwinnutt (CTO), openmoove has spent 18 months developing and testing its platform with early customers, securing interest from major estate agency groups and conveyancers.
• The platform integrates with existing systems of estate agents, conveyancers, and mortgage brokers to reduce administration, improve communication, and simplify property transactions without requiring new interfaces.
• Ross McKenzie has experience from Purplebricks, Countrywide, and sold his agency Isla-Alexander to TAUK in 2025; Cai Gwinnutt has 20 years in startups and engineering, including OnExamination, Amplyfi, and Cyber Innovation Hub.

Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) April 30, 2026 – A Cardiff-based property technology firm, openmoove, has secured £700,000 in equity investment led by the Development Bank of Wales to expand its platform across the UK property sector.

What Funding Has Openmoove Secured and Who Led the Deal?

The £700,000 equity investment comprises £350,000 from the Development Bank of Wales’ Wales Technology Fund, £335,000 from early-stage venture firm HAATCH, and additional funds from a syndicate of Welsh angel investors. This deal represents the second co-investment between HAATCH and the Development Bank of Wales. As reported on the Development Bank of Wales website, the funds will enable openmoove to scale its B2B platform, accelerate go-to-market efforts, and support wider rollout in the UK property sector.

How Will Openmoove Use the £700,000 Investment?

Openmoove plans to use the capital to build a dedicated expert team, with the funding expected to create six new jobs in Cardiff over the coming months. The investment supports scaling operations, enhancing the platform, and expanding commercial activities following 18 months of product development and testing with early customers. Coverage in Proptech Connect notes that this will accelerate go-to-market activity and broader platform rollout.

What Is Openmoove’s Platform and How Does It Work?

The B2B platform streamlines workflows for estate agents, conveyancers, and mortgage brokers by integrating directly with their existing internal systems, creating a single source of truth and common communication layer. This approach avoids the need for users to adopt a new interface, aiming to reduce administration, improve communication, and simplify property transactions. As detailed in multiple reports, the platform addresses inefficiencies in the home-moving process, which has attracted commercial interest from major estate agency groups and conveyancers.

Who Founded Openmoove and What Is Their Background?

Openmoove was founded in 2024 by Ross McKenzie, CEO, and Cai Gwinnutt, CTO, both Welsh natives with the company headquartered in Cardiff. McKenzie held senior roles at Purplebricks and Countrywide before founding Cardiff-based estate agency Isla-Alexander, which he sold to TAUK in 2025. Gwinnutt brings two decades of experience in startups and engineering, including positions at OnExamination, Amplyfi, Cyber Innovation Hub, and Tramshed Tech.

What Did Openmoove’s Founders Say About the Funding?

Chief Executive Ross McKenzie stated,

“We’ve spent the last 18 months building the product, working closely with estate agents, conveyancers and mortgage brokers, and proving there is real demand for a better way to manage the property transaction process.”

McKenzie added,

“This investment gives us the backing to scale up, build our team in Cardiff and start rolling the platform out more widely. We’re proud to be building openmoove in Wales. This is a Welsh business, founded by two people who have grown up and built their careers here, and we’re excited to be creating jobs in Cardiff as we move into the next phase of growth.”

Cai Gwinnutt said,

“Our focus has been on creating technology that fits around the systems professionals already use, rather than forcing them to change behaviour or adopt a completely new way of working.”

Gwinnutt continued,

“We’ve developed a market-ready product, tested it with early customers and are now in a strong position to accelerate our growth. This funding allows us to keep building with intent — expanding the team, strengthening the platform and taking a product that will improve the way property transactions happen.”

What Did Investors Say About Openmoove?

Mike Rees, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, commented,

“Ross and Cai have combined deep sector knowledge with strong technical expertise to build a compelling platform in a large and important market.”

Rees stated,

“They have made significant progress in a short space of time, developing the product, securing early commercial interest and setting out a clear route to growth. Our investment from the Wales Technology Fund will help openmoove scale from Cardiff, create new jobs and build on the commercial foundations already in place.”

Rees also noted,

“It is also encouraging to be investing alongside HAATCH again, demonstrating the value of co-investment in supporting ambitious Welsh businesses with high-growth potential.”

Background of the Development

Openmoove was established in 2024 amid growing interest in proptech solutions to address longstanding inefficiencies in the UK property transaction process, which involves multiple parties and extensive paperwork. The founders drew from their extensive experience in property and technology sectors to develop the platform over 18 months, focusing on integration with legacy systems used by professionals. This funding round follows early traction, including a waiting list of over 200 property professionals reported in prior coverage, and aligns with the Development Bank of Wales’ support for tech ventures through its £20 million Wales Technology Seed Fund II, which has backed over 300 innovative businesses since 2017 with £97 million invested.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Property Professionals

This development can affect estate agents, conveyancers, and mortgage brokers by providing an integrated tool that reduces administrative tasks through seamless system connections, potentially shortening transaction times. Property professionals may experience improved communication via a shared platform, leading to fewer errors and smoother coordination among parties. The wider UK rollout could standardise workflows for these users, enabling focus on client service rather than manual processes, while the creation of six jobs in Cardiff supports local talent development in proptech. Homebuyers and sellers may indirectly benefit from faster, less stressful transactions as professionals adopt the platform.