Samson VT is an online platform that allows a user to convert a design or intellectual property into a 'Virtual Twin' i.e., a digital replica of any entity. The platform is redefining how organisations think about, manage, and interact with data by connecting previously siloed data and replacing paper and PDF publications. Its vision is to pioneer Virtual Twin as a Service (VTaaS), a subscription model affordable to small and medium enterprises. With £250,000 Angel funding in February 2019, the brand built SamsonWEB, its cloud-based platform that allows organisations to start their digital transformation journey by uploading a Computer-aided design (CAD) file onto its portal. Its SamsonCORE then allows the user to virtually take apart the product, viewing everything from the serial numbers for individual components, to service records for parts. And, with SamsonLIVE, the user can connect, store and visualise Internet of Things (IoT) data to build a fully functioning virtual twin. The IoT market is estimated to reach $11.1 trillion by 2026 furthering the need to shift to work and think digitally in a comprehensive manner. In January 2020, to compliment SamsonWEB, SamsonCORE, and SamsonLIVE, Innovate UK awarded the company with a £500,000 grant to develop SamsonAI. With the funds received, the company aims to invest 30% of it on SamsonAI alongside Innovate UK Grant, 30% on SamsonCORE development, 20% on marketing and sales, and 10% on outstanding suppliers.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£206,485
The Funky Appliance Company is the manufacturer of electronic appliances like irons, toasters and kettles. They give popular small domestic appliances a funky twist by designing them in a new stylish and smarter way. The company is working on a new product which will launch in the UK in 2020, and will be sold on its website and dedicated Amazon and eBay stores. They have also finalised arrangements with at least two large UK retailers which will see the new product range go into over 100 stores and online. Funky Iron has got the Good Housekeeping Institute Approval in 2019. The company will use the funds for the tooling and moulds of new products including their certification. The balance of capital will be used as working capital.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£171,359
Honestly Good Smoothie Company specialises in making 100% organic pre-portioned smoothie ingredient packets delivered directly to a customer's doorstep. Users can avail their kits via a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly subscription plans. Each recipe is developed by a chef and approved by an independent nutritionist. The ingredients are delivered in ready-to-blend kits in recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging. The company has more than 25 recipes and has sold over 30,000 smoothie kits. The company has been featured in publications such as Forbes, and Pebble magazine. With the investment, the company aims to introduce re-usable packaging by June 2020, offer more data-driven personalised plans, introduce another 20 recipes, build its digital marketing strategy and subscriber base.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£119,321
Horse Guards Gin (HGG) aims to revive heritage spirit brands and re-introduce them to modern consumers. The company owns eight heritage trademarks including its latest brands 'Pink Gin' and 'Wing Walker Rum.' HGG intends to become a contender in the Gin and Rum markets that are forecast to grow to $17.36 billion and $21.5 billion by 2025. The company aims to launch two new premium spirits in 2021 and is in early talks around licensing to spirits businesses, including 'Ready To Drink' cocktails. HGG sold 9,000 bottles in 2020 and onboarded distributors who have access to more than 500 outlets. The company is in discussions to sign up distributor agents in Canada, South Africa, and the Middle East. The company's celebrity ambassadors include cricketing legend, Phil Tufnell. It will use the investment to accelerate new brand launches, grow its sales/marketing team, and build strategic alliances to extend brand reach.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£346,340
Howbout is a millennial-focused social calendar and planning application. The app allows a group of individuals to instantly find when they’re all free, easily organise any social plan & quickly manage what they’ve got on. The company soft-launched in December 2019 and after strong early traction raised £100,000 – co-led by mobile heavyweight Claire Valoti – to refine the product ahead of its full launch in July 2020. Howbout argues that its app downloads have grown >500% since then. The company has been featured 3x by Apple and >75,000 events have been organised by users in >100 countries, despite 100% UK marketing focus. Howbout was also named in TechRound’s 2020 list of top 100 startups. Howbout sees a socialising boom waiting to happen and believes itself uniquely positioned to capitalise on overdue drinks, catchups and holidays in a post-pandemic world. It will use the investment to focus on company growth and begin monetising.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£505,010
Clin-e-cal is a medical technology company that has created a 'Clip-Tone Buddy' app. The app uses Clin-e-cal's patented Sound Response (SR) technology to give real-time feedback helping patients understand how to use their inhalers correctly. The company intends to become a disruptor in the estimated £300 million inhaler technology market. It asserts that its app can help streamline clinical trials, identify patients most at risk and impact future respiratory device design. Clin-e-cal was short-listed for the Tech4Good award 2020 and rated 79% by The Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications (ORCHA). Clin-e-cal will use the investment to progress commercialisation of the Clip-Tone Buddy, scale its sales activity, and optimise the company's marketing, regulatory and legal aspects.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£132,354
Cuckoo is an internet broadband provider. The company claims that incumbent internet providers treat customers with poor customer service, high prices, and complicated contracts. Cuckoo aims to change this by providing users with fair and transparent prices, simple contracts, high-quality routers, and responsive customer service. The company is currently developing its website and billing engine ahead of launching with its first customers in the second quarter of 2020. Cuckoo's business is in the pre-revenue stage. It expects to start generating revenue in May/June 2020 when they launch their broadband service. Cuckoo will use 50% of the investment towards paying salaries to staff, 25% as technology development fees, 10% as professional fees, 5% as rent, and 10% as AOB. Cuckoo's exit strategy is via a trade sale or listing in the United Kingdom.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£69,622
Drop Drinks creates vintage beverages with a distinctive taste. Theses beverages are inspired by traditional British sweets like Pear Drop and Cherry Drop. The company has sold more than 10,000 units since its launch in 2018. With more than 9,000 followers on social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, Drop Drinks aims at increasing its product range to become a popular and leading drink brand domestically and grow globally. The company is now raising funds to increase production, execute an extensive go-to-market strategy, and hire key staff.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£127,690
Ingle & Rhode has come up with ethical and traceable wedding bands and rings. The company has sold more than 6,000 rings directly to the customers. It has achieved a rating of 5-star on Trustpilot and became a finalist of 2015, 2016 and 2017 UK Jewellery Awards. They aim to offer an exceptional combination of premium quality and ethical credentials. With the proceeds, the company will boost its digital marketing campaign.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£118,080
Balkerne is a tech start-up providing software as a service to the property and insurance sector. They have developed SmartResilience, a real-time loss prevention software platform, which helps insurers and the insured understand the value at risk. Insurers spend £1.3bn a year on commercial property claims and £2.3 on domestic property claims, work on squeezed margins and struggle to differentiate with the competition. Balkerne provides customers with pre-emptive, bespoke information and actionable advice, allowing insurers to minimise claims, uninsured losses and improve the customer experience. Moreover, they helped businesses reduce their long term property risk through proactive mitigation and make insurance affordable. Their SmartResilience platform has been developed with the technical ability to integrate with both Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure Cloud. The company is registered on the AWS Partner Network and with Microsoft for Startups. Modular functionality is core to the platform, with the ability to seamlessly scale to meet customer requirements.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£150,000
