HireHand is a VC-backed platform connecting people and businesses. The company has helped more than 2000 people in earning £3M by giving valuable support to 750 businesses owners in the UK. It has 750 businesses on its platform and it has received a 4.5-star quality rating from businesses. HireHand aims to provide people with stability and flexibility instead of under-employment and insecurity. It has been featured in the Financial Times media platform. HireHand has received funding from Mustard Seed Impact VC. With the proceeds, the company will hire additional technical talent and launch in New York (food retail) and London construction (scaffolding).
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,011,505
Your Dog’s Club (YDC) is a dog-specific online retailer that provides high nutrition food and treats alongside top quality toys and accessories. YDC community consists of its customers (Waggys), local dog business partners (Pack Leaders), and industry experts (Gurus). The company aims to connect the aforementioned parties through its online community, coupled with a dedicated website, social media feeds, competition announcements, and pet education amidst other details. YDC has scored a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot and aims to be a contender in the £2 billion recession-proof pet market. It has also registered over 5,400 customers. YDC will use 30% of the investment for digital marketing, 25% for accelerating customer base, 20% as working capital, 20% to boost customer growth via affiliate agreements with Forestry England and English Heritage, and 5% for optimising operational costs.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£268,040
Found, as the name suggests, aims to become the go-to community across the UK for lost properties, offering a better and simpler way for the public to get their property back. The company is noted by Insurance Post as the 'Top 6 insurtechs to watch for 2020.' It has also won the Start-Up Guernsey Angel Pitch Event sponsored by Barclays. Found offers multiple potential revenue streams (insurance, software subscriptions, SaaS and analysing data) with both B2B and B2C channels. Found will employ 30% of the proceeds, in product development, 25% in team development, 10% for the insurance product, 10% in operations, and 25% for its launch in Bristol and UK wide BD.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£254,372
Fighter Shots (FS) is a company that makes daily energy shots from a range of sources like ginger, turmeric and manuka honey to boost and strengthen human immunity. FS has sold over 50,000 bottles since its launch in November 2019. The functional drinks market has the potential to grow by $180 billion (11% CAGR) to $270 billion from 2020-24 on the back of COVID-19. FS aims to be a disruptor in this segment and asserts that its a dependable substitute to coffee and sugary drinks. It has secured listings with the Health Store, Tree of Life and DDC. The company is also developing sales in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). FS will use the investment to build its digital marketing and sales capabilities to bring its product to more customers.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£160,000
Helpr Technologies has built a platform to help the elderly and improve their lives. Helpr plans to improve the social and domestic care market by making it better for clients and carers. The number of care visits the company delivers has grown by over 300% in 16 months. With the proceeds, the company plans to build upon its success by developing the brand with extra functionality in the platform, and explore numerous models to quickly widen its geography.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£61,020
Holly and Beau is a kids-wear brand that offers a unique collection of colour changing rainwear and umbrellas. They have applied the colour changing idea to its range of children’s rainwear products to create a fun and exclusive clothing range to become famous. Stocked in two of the largest departmental stores in the United States; Dillard’s and Nordstrom and they have also received Innovation of the Year Award (Nectar Card Business). Funds will be used for marketing, brand awareness and rolling out the production of the swimwear collection.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£143,623
Nourish by Jane Clarke (NBJC) is an aspirational wellness brand that makes nutritious drinks made with all-natural organic ingredients, using low carbon footprint packaging, delivered to a customer's doorstep. Its target audience is people afflicted with malnutrition particularly when undergoing cancer treatment or living with dementia or mental illness. The company expanded its customer base by 789% between January 2020 and March 2021. It also points out that it has onboarded noted Chef Prue Leith. The company has featured in numerous publications like Daily Mail, Net Doctor, The Sun Online, and Daily Express, to name a few. NBJC has raised more than £650,000 from private investors in its previous round and secured an 'Excellent' rating of 4.7 on Trustpilot from 100+ verified reviews. It also seeks to become a contender in the Oral Nutritional Supplement (ONS) market in the UK that is valued at £237 million. The company will use the investment to launch and scale its B2B model and invest in Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) marketing.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£257,579
Sol-Gel Materials and Application (SGMA) is a sustainable technology company that is using its new sol-gels to create sustainable solutions to plastic environmental waste. The company has researched and developed a non-plastic, non-toxic coating for products, from food packaging to electronics, that is water and oil resistant yet recyclable. Its product is the world’s only biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable (BCR) solution. The company's founder and CEO, Dr Fanya Ismail, has won the award 'Women in Innovation 2019' by Innovate UK and the company's work has been covered by BBC South East Today. The company plans to function as an IP management company, sub-contract manufacturing to chemical firms moving from bulk to advanced materials, and outsource distribution to partners, whose packaging customers serve brand owners.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£611,040
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
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
