Handset Expert (HE) is a company on a mission to help a customer select his/her next phone or SIM card in a quick, cost-effective, and easy manner. HE claims to provide all the information customers need when buying a new phone and/or SIM and streamline every step of the process. In 2018, 28.8 million handsets were sold in the UK. 61% of consumers expect to buy a new phone in the next two years, and the advent of 5G will usher a new generation of devices. The company, having undergone a thorough test and build phase, believes that it is in a suitable position for a full launch with a comprehensive go-to-market plan in place. It has featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Sun and The Mirror, been recommended by MoneySavingExpert and received Ofcom accreditation. It will use the investment to grow its business across different verticals to become the UK’s go-to mobile recommendation service.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£286,670
Vestemi is a clean tech company with an environmental and social purpose. It has created, in partnership with EDF Energy, Radbot, a smart heating control product that saves money by reducing energy consumption of up to 30%. Radbot is easy to install, simple to use, and scalable. Moreover, Radbot has been awarded National Energy Efficiency Product of the Year, 2019. With the proceeds, Vestemi focuses on developing Radbot and testing the market to optimise its commercial strategy. It will also generate growth, increase brand awareness, and invest in sales & marketing to drive market sales.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£421,705
Toraphene is an environmental technology company that aims to eliminate plastic waste. It has released with its product, Toraphene, to solve this crisis. It claims that Toraphene is a biodegradable, compostable and commercially-viable plastic packaging substitute for conventional plastic. The company asserts that its product is biodegradable even in the ocean, and has been developed using graphene technology. It is focussed on eliminating carrier bags and food containers in its first-round which account for 23% of marine waste. It aims to be a segment leader in the projected $25.4 billion biodegradable plastic industry by 2026. The company will use the investment to make Toraphene accessible to companies worldwide and make plastic packaging obsolete.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,000,000
Sknhead is a company offering a range of male grooming products. Conceived by male celebrity hairdresser, Adee Phelan, the company asserts that shop shelves are full of the same products that have been around for lifetimes, with very few actually tailored to men's needs. Sknhead aims to change this. It claims that its Gamechanger line of personal care is the only product for hair, skin, and tattoo care. Sknhead also offers a range of 9 hair care products to the growing $66 billion global male grooming market. It has supplied £1.2 million+ of products and 900 haircuts to National Health Service (NHS) workers nationwide. The company has also sold over 20,000 units across more than 10 international markets. Sknhead will use 50% of the investment for marketing and advertising, 20% for sales, 20% for product development, and 10% for operations.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£353,376
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
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
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
Almond provides businesses and consumers with a method to understand their carbon footprint and use the company's proprietary offset tools to become carbon neutral. Consumers can earn Almond Tokens when purchasing products from Almond's partnering sustainable brands. The Almond Tokens can be spent on their website The Almond certification label on products enables them to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment, consumer health and building a better society for all. The core idea is to build a market that's geared towards sourcing and selling sustainable products. The green economy market is worth $4 trillion. The offset market was $300 million in 2018, having grown over 140-fold in 10 years. Almond seeks to be a market leader in this domain. It has also partnered with reputed institutions such as the World Wildlife Fund, and the Stockholm Environment Institute (carbon analytics). With the investment, the company aims to further the popularity of its existing Almond App and have more people join its ecosystem.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£522,540
Launched in 2015, Gone West plans to disrupt the commercial forestry sector by adopting regenrative forestry systems in place of traditional ones, thereby creating environmental and social benefits. The company has planted millions of trees and has become pretty good at it. The company's product development team is engineering solutions for environmental problems, such as its Green Light app. The company's business model is structured to provide diverse yet interconnected revenue streams. Gone West has been self-funded to this date with increasing year-on-year revenue growth since launch. With the proceeds, the company will invest 30% for operations, 20% for Marketing, 5% for Business Innovation, 20% for Forestry Services, 15% for Product development, 10% for Plant and Protect.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£159,300
