Aardvark is a company that manufactures dry kibbles for dogs and cats using insects as the source of protein. It has partnered with VC backed insect farm NextProtein. The company claims that its products meet the nutritional needs of pets while creating a smaller environmental footprint than pet food that uses animal meat. It also asserts that insect protein is endorsed by the British Veterinary Association. The company has developed its kibbles to be grain-free, consist of seaweed and other natural ingredients with no fillers. The UK pet food market is poised to grow to £2.9 billion in 2020, and the company aims to be a sustainable manufacturer in this segment. The company requires investment to assist in manufacturing its first batch of pet food, help market its products to pet owners across the UK, and expand into Europe by 2021 and the U.S by 2024.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£300,290
Helping online retailers run profitable operations by managing their orders, stock levels and couriers. Veeqo's software has been implemented in more than 300 retailers' systems and processes transactions with an average value of £16m per month. Businesses can access their data from almost any smart device and Veeqo have also released Scanner for all retailers, a hardware device with functionalities similarly used by Amazon in their distribution warehouses.
Revenue is generated via retailers paying a regular licensing fee to use the Veeqo platform. This can range from £4,000 to £20,000 per annum. In addition, retailers can also lease the Veeqo Scanner from the company. Funds will allow Veeqo to develop products that can be used in-store at POS systems, as well as strengthen the business further in the UK.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£126,550
Space Store is a UK based business which offers edutainment practises through a mixture of physical and digital channels. Its mission is to bring space experiences to everyone. The company involves space in three ways: Firstly, hands-on experiences such as viewing live space data feeds, virtual reality or getting in and out of the spacesuit. Secondly, buying products that are authentic and backed by the space industry. Thirdly, one can eat what astronauts eat-in space. Since Sept 2018, Space Store has executed over 40 pop-ups in London and Oxfordshire. It has formed space industry partnerships that include OSS and Reaction Engines, and the team includes NASA scientist and rocket specialist. With the proceeds, the company will accelerate its growth, hire staff to increase its capacity to run events, invest in new experiences to create repeat customers and increase revenues.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£146,570
Tom & Teddy Limited is a family-centric global swimwear brand started by Bristol-based female-founder. Tom & Teddy is a beachwear brand for men & boys that has sold more than 55,000 shorts in 2018 generating a revenue of approximately US$1.8m. The shorts are made in a quick-dry microfibre fabric with UV protection and a super-soft finish. The company aims to grow to £8m by the year 2023 (with significant upside potential), £1.6m EBIT.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
Withheld
Lost At Sea (LAS) is an independent lifestyle beer brand that targets adventurers. The company has sold 26,000+ beers since 2019, with its products stocked in 50+ outlets. LAS claims that its new online shop has a 21.82% conversion rate and an engaged community of over 30,000 people. It also points out that since its first brew in 2019, it has seen substantial growth in demand, and as a result, provides kegs to its flagship stockist to ensure they have a constant flow of stock. The company has made over £1,000 Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) donations to date. They intend to use the investment to build a community of like-minded beer lovers, launch a flagship bar in Abersoch, North Wales to advocate local produce and sustainability, create a scalable bar concept for future expansion in other coastal towns, and hire personnel to drive product innovation and sales.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£82,351
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
The Sports Edit (TSE) is one of the UK’s fastest-growing eCommerce retailers that sells activewear brands and products, as well as, produces content and events, centred around inspiring movement and mindfulness. It is among Europe’s foremost curators of premium activewear, partnering with 50+ leading brands. The company aims to become a major contender in the womenswear market, forecast to grow 7.7% per annum to $216 billion, by 2024. The company has >45,000 social media followers, a leading gym retail partnership, and seen its online revenues grow over 145% in the first five months of 2020 Year-Over-Year (YoY). For its timely response to customers' queries, TSE was validated by the Feefo Gold Service Award 2020 & garnered a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 72. The company will use the investment to widen its brand & product range, hire staff for marketing and merchandising, ensure customer acquisition & retention, and launch its deal with Nike in the third quarter of 2020.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£930,307
HUUB is a premium endurance sports apparel brand. Its products are used by Olympic gold medallists, 'IRONMAN' champions and amateur athletes. HUUB witnessed profits worth £4.8 million and an EBITDA of £420,000 in 2019. The company is a leading brand in the £60 million UK triathlon apparel & accessories market. HUBB is now targeting the US$5 billion global bike apparel market. It has built working relationships with noteworthy individuals such as former Olympian Greg Whyte and chef Gordon Ramsay. The company will use the investment to target all endurance sports through a combination of retail and distributor partnerships. It will also expand its Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) online business.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,352,941
Tech Will Save Us is a company that specialises in making STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) kits for children in the 4-6, 7-10 and 11+ age categories. The company has created a home learning system that enables kids to learn about the world through technology and play. There are three core components to its home learning system: A Digital platform, Physical Experiences and Subscriptions through which the company has helped over 1 million kids build & create. For its ingenuity, the company received the 2019 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award for Electro Guitar and the Design of the Year Nomination by the London Design Museum. It also collaborated with the BBC to develop The BBC micro: bit., a pocket-sized computer designed for kids to invent with which, in turn, was given to one million kids and is now used in over 40 countries. Its first coding product, Gamer Kit was launched at WIRED's 1st Next Gen conference amidst positive feedback. The company will use 15% of the proceeds in Technology and Research & Development, 25% for marketing, and 60% for working capital and team building.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£843,940
Bazar is the UK’s first dedicated ethical marketplace and lifestyle application. The company intends to disrupt the ~£32.8 billion UK consumer marketplace by creating a platform where eco-friendly businesses can thrive, and consumers can trust brand values. It brings curated ethical and eco-friendly brands, artisans, and items under one portal. BAZAR soft-launched its application with 35 sellers and 650 products in the COVID-19 lockdown which doubled showing positive seller demand. The app saw over 1800 downloads with early sales. The company has a social media presence with over 1500+ Instagram followers. It intends to enter the US market in 2022, followed by Europe. Bazar will use the investment to continue to develop its technology to help sellers grow their business and give buyers an intuitive shopping experience on the app.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£208,368
