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
Aguulp innovates and curates liquid formulas using liposomal technology. The company asserts that vitamins in pill form have an absorption rate as low as 5% which is further eaten by stomach acid upon consumption before a person gets a chance to absorb it. Agullp aims to resolve this. Its product, NutriProtect, shields nutrients from corrosive stomach acid and helps 98% of nutrients reach the small intestine for absorption. The company estimates that over 3 million people in the UK and more than 10 per cent of the world’s population is malnourished for a variety of reasons, including environmental pollution, unhealthy diets and stressful lifestyles that block nutrient absorption and compound deficiencies. Aguulp aims to change this with its product line that includes Aguulp for Gut, Aguulp for Brain, and Aguulp for Immunity. The company will use 55.6% of the investment for marketing purposes, 44.2% for paying their staff, and 0.2% as other expenses.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£317,993
GigList is a platform that gives music fans a single place to find out about gigs happening in cities throughout the UK. Using technology they source information from across the internet and bring it together in one place.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£69,788
Shuttout is a global community-driven photography marketplace that adds social significance to photographs and makes it more fit for sale. It uses features such as 'stock' (Shutterstock, 500px, Flickr), 'social media' (Instagram) and 'photo contest' (GuruShots, Viewbug) to create a unique selling environment. It started worldwide expansion, growth and user acquisition from 154 countries using Facebook and Google ads. It has also collaborated with YouTube Influencers including Rebecca Spencer (UK), Hanna Saba (Australia), and Saurav Sinha (India) to increase its userbase. Shuttout has started the facility for users to host contests by themselves. Since the launch in April 2018, it has reached 76,000+ users and has added 71,000+ photos to the platform. The platform aims to connect those who love taking photos and want to earn money from their passion with potential buyers.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£539,536
Worldwide FM is an award-winning, reliable worldwide radio destination for underground music and cultural programs from around the globe. The station has 365,000 listeners (January 2019) out of which 34% are based in the UK, 11% in Japan, 11% in the USA, 7% in France and 7% Germany. Worldwide FM has world-class, trustworthy presenters with a combined reach of millions. Furthermore, the company has a senior team with high-class experience in music, radio, and tech. The funds will be used to build listenership and grow revenue streams.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£375,970
Njori is a company that has created an accurate, multi-functional cooker that can be stored on a bookshelf alongside cookbooks. The cooker uses integrated sensors and accessories to monitor and regulate the cooking process. It's built-in scales helps a user measure ingredients before and during the cooking process. The scale function also enables the user to reduce food by a set weight or percentage. The company aims to be a disruptor in the global portable induction cooker market that is set to be worth £4.5 billion by 2022. Njori has filed UK patents & is building its supply chain in China. It will use the investment to finish development and bring the final product to market.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£236,797
Ripple is the UK's first-ever clean energy ownership platform. The company aims to enable households and businesses to own new wind farms and solar parks and have the electricity they generate supplied to their home or business premises via the grid. It endeavours to become a segment leader in the $11 trillion global wind and solar market. Ripple has overseen £1 million+ transactions on its platform to date. It has featured in publications like The Times, CNBC, Independent, Business Green, and This Is Money. It has also garnered 5300+ pre-registered customers. The company will use 40% of the investment for marketing purposes, 40% for projects and business overheads, 10% for Non-UK projects, and 10% for website and application development.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£442,282
Mash Paddle Brewery (MPB) aims to join South London’s brewery scene wherein its members brew their customised beer. MPB wants to provide members, for a monthly fee, with access to a professional kit, guidance, ingredients and a community who share the same passion to create unique brews that a regular consumer can’t buy off the shelf. MPB claims that the UK home-brew market is estimated at over 2 million people. It intends to capture this market and grow its business. The company won the City LaunchLab CitySpark “People’s Choice” and Santander Scholarship, planned a collaboration with a leading London cheesemaker to create a ‘beer & cheese’ experience, and raised £10,900 on Crowdfunder. MPB has also featured in CAMRA’s BEER magazine and Beer52’s FERMENT. The company will use the investment for its first, fully-kitted site identified on Bermondsey Beer Mile, and build a taproom serving fresh beer brewed on-site.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£88,950
JOHNNY'S is a sex-positive condom brand. It asserts that conventional condoms are overpriced, often unethically made harming both humans and animals, with the buying process being an awkward experience. It aims to change this via its condoms that are vegan, compostable, of high quality and packaged as sustainably as possible. The company intends to deliver its products on a subscription basis, similar to Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) health disruptors like Harry's and Dollar Shave Club. It aspires to become a contender in the global condom market that is set to be worth $15 billion by 2026 and enter the lubricant and sex toy market later in 2021. The company has also pledged to give a condom to HIV/STI/NHS clinics for each condom sold. It will use the investment for a PR launch, social media advertising, stock purchase, and attract talent to help the business hit its growth targets.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£219,819
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
