Pikum, a stealth-mode game service that will let friends bet one another on questions they set, has already raised £2.6 million in first-round investment. The round was led by Virgin USA and included First Round Capital and early angel investors. Started by education finance provider Higher One founder Sean Glass in London, the outfit began life as Friendent but, renamed Pikum, registered a buiness on Gibraltar and moved in to rented London offices last month.

Glass conceded: “Getting the round closed was different than any other financing I’ve been involved with , mostly due to the intricacies of Gibraltar law.” Pikum is still in private beta but will supposedly let users place bets against their sporting knowledge, score predictions and so on for either fun or money. Release (via TCUK).