Square Mile Farms (SMF) is a company that installs innovative and productive vertical farms in a workplace to engage employees and help businesses create a culture of healthy, low-impact living. Its 'Office Farming' model creates green spaces for engagement and collaboration. In 2019, it was invited to build a vertical farm in Paddington Central by British Land, one of UK’s largest landowners. The setup now acts as a hub for the company's office farm installations and a base from which it can conduct Research and Development (R&D). SMF's customers include Grosvenor Group Limited and Vodafone. Moreover, the company has been covered by media platforms such as BBC One and BBC Radio. It will use 45% of the investment for sales and business development, 15% for design and technology up-gradation, 15% for raising its profile and increasing brand awareness, and 25% for operations.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£504,118
Advanced Blast & Ballistic Systems (ABBS) is a company that has developed globally patented systems to counteract the forces an armoured vehicle sustains when a mine or Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explodes under it. As per reports, mines and IEDs accounted for over 80% of UK and US army casualties in Iraq & Afghanistan. ABBS believes that its products can keep occupants inside a vehicle completely safe from the aforementioned explosive devices. The armoured vehicle protection market has a value of about $20 billion wherein ABBS aims to be a major contender. The company has received £2 million-plus revenues till date from Research and Development (R&D) grants in the UK, as well as, sold its products to the US Army and Israel with profits worth £145,000 in 2018 and £560,000 in 2019 respectively. It will use the investment to bring its products to more markets globally.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£445,814
Antaco is a company that deals in waste management by converting it into neutral solid biofuel using their patented technology. The global water sector is estimated to present a £15 billion opportunity. To date, the company has raised £5.8 million, including an £857,000 grant from the UK government and has also signed a contract with its first customer (Swiss Public Utility). With the proceeds, the company will build up their in-house capacity, increase enhancement of existing plant and hire subcontractors to install and commission plant.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£570,840
WooHa brewing company started with a 3000 square foot and in 3 years moved to a 6.2 acre farm. WooHa is always focusing on export and US has always been their main target. They began exporting in 2016 and within a year had distribution in California, Washington DC and Tennessee. In the UK their beer can be found in supermarkets, bars and restaurants.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£156,870
Gively is an online marketplace where users can give and get secondhand items for free. The secondhand clothing market will double in value to £50 billion annually by 2023, and the company finds itself as a suitable contender in this domain. They aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions and minimise landfill sites through its portal. The company has reached over 5,000 users, 70% of which came from unpaid channels. Gively won an SME (Small and medium enterprises) grant worth £10,000 of television advertising and has received rave reviews from its users through the App Store, social media, and in person. They will use 50% of the investment for marketing purposes, 25% for technology up-gradation, and 25% for hiring human resources.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£105,207
Itasca Wines is a Hampshire-based vineyard and winery that produces fine English wines. The company is raising funds for its contract winemaking facility, to fulfil the growing demand from vineyards. There are over 760 vineyards in the UK currently, 111 have their own winery and only a handful of these provide contract winemaking services to other vineyards. Itasca Wines aims to become a major winemaker and create award-winning wines at Penn Croft. The company planted its first vineyard of 16,000 vines in May 2019 and has featured in Vineyard Magazine in February and May 2019.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,147,003
Algarve Rock Brewery manufactures Portuguese craft beer. The company aims to put Portuguese craft beer on the map with flavoursome beers that embody local ingredients. They have won Best Stout award in Trujillo Festival 2018- Spain. They supply to major Portuguese outlets including Emprodalbe distributors, Apolonia supermarkets, prestigious Quinta do Lago resort and 'house' beers to Casa do Frango group in London. The proceeds will be used to start its themed Brewbars and Brew kiosks, to increase exports to the UK and USA, strengthen brand identity, team expansion and expansion of brewery to cope with increased demand.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£205,456
pluumo makes sustainable thermal packaging material from waste feathers. The company asserts that fresh food deliveries need thermal packaging to keep ingredients frozen and prevent spoilage. pluumo claims that plastics such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) are used in this process, leading to 141,000 tons of plastic waste generated in the EU in 2019. pluumo asserts that its patent-pending material matches the performance of EPS, keeping items chilled for up to 40 hours. The company has secured £450,000 in grants/awards, including £140,000 via InnovateUK. It aims to be a contender in the $137 billion online food delivery industry. pluumo argues that 74% of consumers would pay more for green packaging, with e-commerce sustainable packaging predicted to be worth $65 billion by 2023. The company will use the investment to scale production and expand into the wider UK market.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£511,325
envoPAP is a company that specialises in manufacturing printing and packaging materials from agricultural waste. Started in 2015, the company has achieved £7.3 million in revenues across 45 countries. The European packaging market is valued at over £100 billion and the European Union (EU)are looking to ban some single-use plastic products with effect from 2021, envoPAP aims to capitalise on these developments. The year 2019 saw envoPAP introducing its product 'envoBarrier’- a material resistant to oil, water, and grease which won the 'Packaging Innovation of the Year' at the Business Green Technology Awards. In 2020, envoPAP became a certified B Corporation rendering it a business that balances purpose and profit. The investment will be used to protect its Intellectual Property (IP) and expand its team.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£381,128
Skinny Tonic™ is the first Zero Calorie, Nothing Artificial, and Zero Sugar, 100 % Natural Tonic Water in the UK. It has a nationwide listing in Asda and a 2nd major listing agreed for 2020. Skinny Tonic™ also has been listed in major retailers including Amazon and Costco. The company has a bespoke, fully automated production facility capable of producing 6,000 cans per hour. With the proceeds, the company will recruit a marketing and sales team. Additionally, Skinny Tonic™ will increase its product development and production capacity.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,783,994
