BitcoinPoint is a financial technology entity that allows anyone to buy Bitcoin easily. The company remarks that registration on crypto exchanges and the extremely high fees non-tech savvy users encountered with Bitcoin ATMs made Bitcoins unviable. BitcoinPoint aspires to change this by creating an ecosystem of agents, Point of Sale (PoS) machines and ATMs to make it easier to acquire cryptocurrency and even use it for remittances. The company has developed a 'Bitcoin Online Wallet' with zero network fees for its clients. It has overseen 21,500+ transactions, registered 2,500+ accounts, and signed an agreement to connect and provide services to 320,000 locations globally in Q1 2020. The company argues that its platform was supporting a network of 25 agents reaching over £200,000 in monthly transactions before lockdown. BitcoinPoint will use the investment to build a remittance service leveraging its crypto expertise via Bitcoin and the Stellar blockchain with stablecoins, allow cross-border instant transfer, and increase its UK network of agents.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£410,580
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
Oyako is a distance-control application that aims to reduce the stresses and strains on children's eyes. The company asserts that an increase in mobile technology usage has led to an increase in myopia (nearsightedness) in children. It also leads to parents incurring a cost by way of purchasing spectacles along with a cost to the National Health Service (NHS) and medical insurance companies. By 2050, half of the global population will be short-sighted if current trends continue. Oyako aims to solve this issue through its application. Oyako's prototype app uses a simple traffic light design to signify safe or damaging scenarios, intelligently controls the phone camera without compromising battery usage, and is available on the App Store and Google Playstore. Oyako will use the investment to finalise its application and take it to market at £6.99 per download.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£131,641
ClearWaste is a price comparison website for waste removal and a provider of enforcement services to councils across the UK. The company argues that the cost to local authorities and taxpayers for cleaning up fly-tipping in England in 2016/17 was £57.7 million and is now thought to exceed £100 million. ClearWaste is on a mission to combat it through its app and web platform utilising reporting and prevention methodologies. The company links consumers with govt-registered waste removers backed by a £1k no-fly-tipping guarantee. ClearWaste argues that the UK waste industry is worth over £6.8 billion and supports more than 103,000 jobs. It aims to be a contender in this segment. ClearWaste has featured in press entities such as BBC, ITV, Channel 5, Sky, Times, and The Guardian. It was also a finalist at the National Recycling Awards 2020. ClearWaste will use the investment to develop its sales and marketing functions and further raise brand awareness.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£199,599
KegTracker is a company that has launched an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) enabled device that turns kegs into smart containers. The device tracks real-time location, volume, temperature and motion for each keg in order to create reports & insights that enable a sustainable supply chain. The company asserts that a lack of transparency in managing kegs has led to annual industry losses of £1.4 billion+ in theft and spoilage, £1 billion+ in poor distribution, and £500 million+ in suboptimal production and lost containers. KegTracker argues that its device can reduce these losses significantly. The company has developed a working prototype, filed a patent and received letters of interest from leading UK breweries, coffee roasters and Wales National Health Service (NHS). In 2019, the company featured in Startups Magazine and were finalists at FutureFood Awards, London & Partners BGP, and Pitch@Palace. It will use the investment to bring its product to more markets.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£511,428
Polysolar specialises in manufacturing photovoltaic windows capable of generating electricity, which can be used in buildings to generate clean renewable energy whilst also meeting planning regulations. Its technology is already in-use by major organisations such as Network Rail and Sainsbury's.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,311,180
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
Troubadour is a London-based menswear brand specialising in designing minimalist bags & accessories by combining performance design with a clean & modern aesthetic feel. The company has delivered its products to 60+ wholesalers. It is backed by Pembroke VCT, a luxury-focused venture capital firm based in London. Troubadour is planning to work with non-traditional retailers including Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, and Equinox. It has also collaborated with many world-renowned brands such as British tailors 'Thom Sweeney' and British essentials brand 'Sunspel' that is famous for clothing James Bond. The company has also been a case study for classes at the Harvard Business School. With the investment, the company will support sales growth to its customers and retail partners and also fund working capital requirements from its forecast growth plan.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£621,240
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
Planks is a British clothing brand that creates eco-conscious outerwear for skiers. The company is an omni-channel brand that sells Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) via planksclothing.com, through its Val d’Isère store and other retailers. Planks uses 'Bluesign' approved fabrics and incorporates 'REPREVE' recycled yarns into 68% of its products having recycled 1.5 million waste plastic bottles, in the process, so far. The company had a turnover of £1.85 million between May - June 2020. Planks has a growing community of 27,000+ customers that are a part of its Grassroots Tour initiative. Planks's loyalty platform, 'The FUSS', allows the brand's best customers to complete missions, create content and become brand advocates. The company will use the investment to continue international D2C expansion by improving customer experience in target markets via website localisation and digital marketing and sustain Business-to-Business (B2B) growth via digital wholesale accounts and integrated marketplaces.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£847,154
