VINEX is a digital Business-To-Business (B2B) trading platform that connects buyers and sellers to source, sample, negotiate and execute contracts related to wine. The company has traded more than 115 million bottles of wine across 26 countries since 2016. It has also witnessed 3,200 monthly visitors on its platform with an average of 80 million litres of wine traded each month, from 16 countries. The company recently launched VINPay, an industry-first financial technology service customised for the wine industry, providing wineries with guaranteed payment and increased access to capital liquidity. VINEX argues that VINPay pays wineries in 3 days from dispatch, rather than them waiting for 90+ days, and removes non-payment risk. The company points out that it has already started processing invoices, making and receiving payments from 7 countries. VINEX aims to become a contender in the wholesale wine market that is set to exceed US$381 billion in 2021. It will use the investment to help wineries invest and flourish.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£159,720
Kestrl is a mobile app based on the principles of Islamic banking. It aims to cater to the over 1.9 million British Muslim community to invest in the UK in line with their religious beliefs. Consumers can avail a host of financial services from finding interest-free savings accounts to taking out a mortgage. The company raised a £135,000 pre-seed round from C-level Islamic banking professionals in January 2020. It also launched its application on Google Playstore and App store in September 2020. Kestrl is working on launching an equity-based home purchase product soon. It also aspires to expand to Malaysia/Indonesia by white labelling with established retail banks and utilising its 'inside knowledge' of the region. It will use 39% of the investment towards platform up-gradation and tech team expansion, 20% towards hiring personnel across various departments, 19% for maintaining agency license fees and acquiring its own regulatory permissions, 8% in marketing, and 14% towards ancillary costs.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£194,502
Rebel Energy (RE) is an energy supplier on a mission to address inequality and provide everyone with easy access to clean and affordable energy, to eventually eliminate fuel poverty. RE claims that fuel poverty led to 16,500+ cold-related deaths in the UK in 2018. RE argues that as the UK home electricity market enters a phase of growth in a post-COVID world, it will be focused on offering reliable customer service and develop strategies that help people who are struggling with their electricity bills. The company has applied for a B Corporation accreditation. RE asserts that its customer support systems are automated and can handle multiple queries simultaneously. It plans to offer a weekly direct debit payment option. RE will use the investment to grow its business across different verticals.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£503,810
Baanx is a B2B2C mobile banking platform offering cutting-edge services in remittance, spending & blockchain. The company takes pride in its innovative customer acquisition process through partner communities. The BaanxCL already has a CL™ VISA Debit Card, Crypto-Payment Gateway, a Crypto-Exchange, Stablecoins, and other exciting features. The company is also partnering with new brands around the world which are not banking already but have large user communities to connect. The company is aiming to target 100,000 users by Q2 2020 with the assistance of Super Seed Investors. With the proceeds, Baanx will hire additional team members, spend funds on marketing, and launch services in South America and Asia.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£658,200
HubrisOne is an online platform that allows its global customers to exchange, invest and safely store their crypto assets, tapping into a $500bn+ global digital asset market. Their aim is to simplify the world of digital currencies and blockchain technology by focusing on product design, user experience, and consistent innovation. Till date, they have engaged over 100,000 members and started generating revenues since its launch in July 2019. The funds will be used in product development, expanding the team, salaries and marketing.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£903,990
Thrillz is a portal that aims to create life-changing moments for users by allowing them to personally connect with their favourite celebrities. The company intends to become a leader in the global gifting market that is worth £450 billion. It argues that its average monthly revenue growth of 157% in 2020 was driven by the recruitment of high-quality celebrities with 75% of sales accomplished via organic growth, by word of mouth, product virality, and PR in national outlets. Thrillz was named as a 'Top UK Startup in 2020' by Startup Pill and has featured in press publications like The Sun, The Times, and The Evening Standard, to name a few. The company has launched its app on iOS and Android platforms and achieved a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 82. It will use the investment to scale its celebrity network, usher New Product Development (NPS), and hire personnel across marketing and operations.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£552,304
planarTECH is an engineering company founded in 2014 as a provider of process equipment for the growth and characterisation of graphene and other emerging 2D materials. Its core product line is the planarGROW Chemical Vapor (CVD) system. The company has the ability to deliver scalable production systems that allow lower-cost production of graphene in comparison to other options currently available in the market. Moreover, from 2014 to 2019, the company’s cumulative revenues exceeded £5 million. The company's products have been installed and used by faculties and students at prestigious universities like Stanford University (USA), IIT- Bombay (India), Deakin University (Australia), and many others. From the investment, the company will utilise 45% as working capital, 30% in Capital Expenditures (CAPEX), 15% in R&D and 10% in hiring additional staff.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£425,061
TheCarCrowd is a Passion Asset Investment (PAI) platform that intends to address the lack of investment options for the 8 million UK millennials by allowing them to take a real equity stake in a classic car and benefit from the potential appreciation. The company argues that classic cars appreciated 194% over 10 years up to Q4 2019 as per expert reports. TheCarCrowd points out that its portal allows interested investors to buy shares in cars from just £20 and unlock the benefits of potential appreciation. The company asserts that its business idea has found traction amidst users with over 620 investors registering on the portal since the company's launch in November 2020. TheCarCrowd will use 12% of the investment for Public Relations (PR), 48% for marketing, and 40% for working capital.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£379,108
Learn Amp is now a multi-award winning an employee experience platform which combines SaaS learning, engagement and performance management software in one intuitive platform that helps deliver a better overall employee journey. Company's vision is to transform the way businesses engage, align with and develop employees and want to dominate space the way HubSpot has done with content/inbound marketing for better employee experience. Till now, they have secured multiple integrations and content partnerships, having three-year deals with Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, Metro Bank, Paragon Bank and Boon Edam. They won numerous awards: including 2019 Winner of the Employee Experience Award (use of technology) as well as two years running the global no.1 Learning Experience Platform. Funds will be spent majorly on marketing, building tech, product, sales team and marketing team and covering all the central costs.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£400,730
PopUp Painting (PUP) is an art company that aims to be the leader in organising experiential social painting events in the UK. The company endeavours to bring art out of the classroom and gallery into the places people meet on an everyday basis, thereby, unleashing creativity. PUP has hosted over 45,000 guests to date. Total revenues to date are £1.1 million. In the last financial year, the company generated revenues of £373,000. The COVID-19 pandemic in March led to PUP launching its online art sessions which was met with positive feedback. The company resumed hosting in-person COVID-secure events from July 2020 onwards. PUP is seeking £175,000 at a pre-money valuation of £1.3 million to launch its own Central London experiential events space and to expand its current services to reach a new product market.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
Withheld
