British tech startup Blippar eyes new funding after £4.96m loss

Augmented reality company records net loss after it acquired rival Layar and tripled its headcount in preparation for growth

British startup Blippar recorded a loss of 4.96m in its last financial year, as it more than tripled its headcount in the expectation of future growth in the augmented reality (AR) technology market.

The company's AR mobile apps, which overlay digital information and interactivity over real-world scenes and printed media, have been installed by more than 50 million people since they launched in 2011.