Vertically Urban (VU) is a horticultural lighting specialist that produces high-tech LED lighting solutions for indoor industrial farms, glasshouses, medicinal growers and onsite Pod farms, who in turn, supply to supermarkets, restaurants and the medical market. The company aims to be a segment leader in the global vertical farming market that is projected to reach $12.7 billion by 2026. VU asserts that vertical farming has been tipped as the future of food production and supported by early investors such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. The company has witnessed £30 million+ worth of sales to date. It will use the investment to increase brand awareness via horticultural trade shows, market its products on online and offline portals, develop new technologies, and recruit senior personnel to oversee growth in key markets.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£335,040
The Park Brewery (TPB) is a beer manufacturer. The company raised over £300,000 in its crowdfunding campaign in 2018. It has also managed to increase its sales from 100 pubs to 200. The company's beer is distributed around the UK via eight wholesalers. It also has onboarded notable clients like The Hilton, Honest Burgers, Fullers, and many more. TPB argues that it performed well despite Covid-19. It set up an e-commerce site and sold its products Direct-to-Customers (DTC), having completed around 2,000 home deliveries and gained over 1,700 new customers in 2020 throughout the lockdown. It will use the investment to develop its marketing strategy, increase direct sales, enhance its range, create more employment, and purchase additional tank space to meet demand.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£229,999
Enertor is a sole manufacturer which uses smart material that cushions the foot when moved slowly, but on impact locks together to absorb and disperse energy, before instantly returning to its flexible state which reduces the risk of injury. The global orthotics market is worth $ 6.5 Billion per annum, of which approximately $ 3.5 Billion is foot orthotics and growing at 7% CAGR per annum. The company is on a mission to help everyone stay injury-free with their shock-absorbing insoles. They have strong endorsements from elite athletes, including Usain Bolt & the British Military. Their shock-absorbing insoles are to be mandated by the British Armed Forces, including the Royal Marines and SAS. With the proceeds, the company will develop its website, further research and development, IP protection and patent filing, marketing and working capital for the business.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£509,999
White Peak Distillery (WPD) is a whisky distillery that aims to change the way whisky is made and create authentic flavours. It has so far invested £1.4 million in tried and tested plant equipment producing 400,000 bottles of maturing whisky. The company aims to become a contender in the $60 billion global premium whisky market. WPD has received 'Gold Awards' from The Wizards of Whisky World Whisky Awards. It has come out with programs to monetise its maturing whisky including its Cask Sales program, Temperance Club membership and its Prologue 2.1 release 2-year aged single malt spirit, that has been received with positive feedback. WPD has also been awarded visitor business in The Peak District, which receives 13 million+ visitors per annum, boosting its Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) model. It will use the investment to grow its business across different verticals.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,301,320
Comino is an international start-up specialising in the design and production of liquid-cooled PCs and servers. It claims that its products consume up to 40% less electricity than equivalent air-cooling computers. The company currently operates in AI, Forensic, Gaming, and Video Rendering, with aspirations to enter other domains in the coming years. Comino has sold 2,000 work stations to professional businesses, accruing sales north of 9 million EUR since its launch in 2017. Its products have been accredited by global hardware giants like AMD and ASUS. The company will use 70% of proceeds for manufacturing its devices, 10% towards marketing and promotional materials, and 20% to compensate its teams.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£949,608
Square Root (SR) aims to shake up the adult soft drinks market with its range of high-quality, fresh-pressed, small-batch sodas that contain no concentrates or artificial flavours. SR's product line includes classics, seasonal specialities, perfect serve tonics, and alcohol-free cocktails. SR asserts that unlike other craft soft drinks firms, it fully owns the soda making process from concept to bottling. The company has sold 3 million bottles to date with its products stocked in 9 Michelin star restaurants. SR has also crowdsourced a mojito recipe, secured a listing as part of the Sainsbury’s Future Brands scheme, and created collaborative-branded tonics for high-end clients like Gymkhana and Pantechnicon. The company was the winner of 3 Great Taste awards in 2019 and adjudged 'Best Drinks Producer' at the 2015 BBC Food & Farming Awards. It will use the investment to launch into the off-trade, meet increased demand, upscale its marketing strategy, and launch its drinks in cans.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£572,128
Doisy & Dam (D&D) is a confectionery challenger brand that produces a range of dark chocolate products. It claims that its products are sold across the UK and stocked by Amazon, Sainsbury's, Holland & Barrett, Ocado, Boots, and other global markets. D&D's products are created using ethically sourced cocoa, natural ingredients and contain no traces of palm oil. The company aspires to become a contender in the UK confectionery market that was worth £3.9 billion in April 2021. It further points out that people are aware of the health and the sustainability credentials of the products they buy. It intends to target this sentiment and become an established brand. The company states it has grown its sales to over £1 million and aspires to become the best dark chocolate confectioner in the UK. D&D state they will use the investment for marketing, expanding its product range, and growing its export business.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£515,735
Kirk & Kirk produces a distinctive range of glasses and sunglasses, handmade in France from a particular grade of acrylic, providing a variety of colours. The company aims at earning a unique position in capitalising on a rapidly-developing market with opportunities to grow in wholesale, fashion and online sales. Till date, the company has developed its core markets in the UK, Europe, USA, and Australia. Many celebrities such as Naga Munchetty, Prue Leith, Morcheeba, Morrissey, and Sharon Stone are clients of this fashion brand. The company intent on using the investment for new retail collection, enhancements to the IT infrastructure and the recruitment of key personnel.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
Withheld
KLORIS manufactures and sells premium Cannabidiol (CBD) wellness and beauty products. The company follows a Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) model and has garnered over 1,400 loyalty club members achieving a conversion rate of over 3.4%. KLORIS asserts that this has allowed the company to build brand loyalty and respond quickly to customer needs while maintaining high gross margins. The company has procured over 20 Stock Keeping Units (SKU), is listed in leading retailers like Boots, Selfridges, Amazon Prime, Mankind, and Lookfantastic, and has signed spa treatment partnerships with BVLGARI Spa, Cloud Twelve, and others. KLORIS has earned over 120 reviews with an 'Excellent' Trustpilot rating and was shortlisted for 'Best Wellness and Self-Care Brand' in the Sunday Times STYLE Beauty Awards 2021. The company will use 40% of the investment for PR and marketing, 35% for hiring key personnel, 16% for New Product Development (NPD), and 9% for hosting events.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£334,396
Propelair is a company that has developed the world’s lowest water-flush toilet system. The toilet uses air to propel 1.5 litres of water per flush, saving water when compared to 6-9 litres per flush for conventional toilets. The company has installed nearly 4,000 units in the UK and South Africa. They were awarded the prestigious Horizon2020 grant in 2017 to develop new innovations. It has also been featured in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, London Evening Standard, and The Times. The company will use the investment as working capital and stock acquisition funds to enable growth, in the UK and South Africa and launch into other water-stressed markets like the Middle East, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and introduce its 'Smart Connected Toilet' to the market.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,236,245
