Argento Labs, a UK-based biotech company, is dedicated to converting waste into valuable resources, leading the way in sustainable innovation. They utilize patented bioprocessing technology to extract sugars, proteins, and fats from agricultural, forestry, and municipal waste. Their product range includes alternative proteins, biogenic CO2, and bio-fertilizers, contributing to environmental sustainability and decarbonization efforts. Argento Labs focuses on scalability for industrial production to support a sustainable future and envisions waste as a transformative solution for preserving the planet. Their patent currently applies in the US jurisdiction.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£415,233
Aloha is a barrier-free WiFi hotspot and data-sharing platform. The company estimates that 3.5 billion smartphone users worldwide pay to access the web with many unable to access the internet daily due to technical or financial constraints. Conversely, 67% of smartphone users do not consume all of their mobile phone data available to them each month. Aloha aims to change this scenario. It enables users to get paid for sharing unused data and be rewarded with 'Aloha Tokens' that can be exchanged for cash, bitcoins and exclusive offers from Aloha's partner companies. Business users and advertisers can use the advertising tools in the Aloha application and broadcast offers and promotions directly to a targeted audience within the Aloha community. The company will use 20% of the investment to list the Aloha Token with one or more key Crypto exchange platforms, 15% to expand the application development team, 17% to complete development of the Aloha Marketplace, 20% for marketing and PR, 16% for running monthly costs, 3% for Aloha app upgradation, and 10% as contingency funds.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£307,707
Strowz is an innovative, all-in-one financial lifestyle App that allows users to create multiple savings buckets earning 2% interest, link bank accounts and credit cards, invest in high growth funds, and set up customised round-ups. The Strowz App combines technology, finance, lifestyle and helps users save and invest intuitively. As of May 2020, Strowz savers have targeted over £3.6 million across 260+ savings buckets. The company also won the 'Best Programmatic Technology For Trading Award' for three consecutive years in 2017, 2018, and 2019 from WSL and Fund Technology awards. The company's growth strategy will include 'Word Of Mouth' referrals, social media & digital ads, strategic partnerships, amongst others. The company will use the investment funds to increase growth, focus on product development, and launch Strowz in Canada and the US.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£275,009
FlairBox is an end-to-end hiring platform that allows performers to share a wide range of their work and entertainment industry professionals to hire their choice of performers. FlairBox uses proprietary 'Intelligent Casting' AI, to rank performers based on suitability for a role. The company has 2,900 performers on its database, 2,500 of which are active on the platform and 438 of which are on paid premium accounts or premium trials. FlairBox has been awarded a £277,000 Innovate UK SMART Grant to fund its 'Machine Learning' and AI development over the next 18 months. The company points out that casting directors of notable films like 'Mission Impossible', 'Harry Potter', and 'Top Boy' have used FlairBox's services. FlairBox will use 42.88% of the investment on marketing, 34.5% for paying salaries, 9.6% towards paying office rentals, 5% towards legal expenses, 4% towards software expenses, 2.25% towards design expenses, 1.2% as accountant fees, and 0.57% as insurance fees.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£338,151
Husky is the UK’s only open, SaaS platform for workplace pensions. For employers, the platform deals with legal and compliance burdens of auto-enrolment while helping reduce pension costs. For individuals and company directors, the app is instrumental in bringing profitable and responsible investments with the Husky for Everyone app. And for advisers and accountants, it ensures strong client relationships amidst transparency and efficiency. Close to 1.4 million employers & 22.6 million workers are affected by the UK’s automatic enrolment (AE) legislation. Within this market, a conservative estimate of fees charged on employees by pension providers is £2 billion a year; Husky aims to disrupt this market & is ready to scale. Its method of operation has led to it achieving important milestones. With more than 1000 firms onboarded, a 92% renewal rate, and an average annual fee of £438, Husky charges its onboarded firms (including Crowdcube) with monthly recurring fees laid out as part of a 3-year subscription model. With the funds received, the company aims to disrupt the relatively stagnant workplace pensions industry with innovative products and empower its customers.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£417,338
Lifetise generates proprietary consumer data via its portal to boost the Artificial Intelligence (AI) based decision-making process within banks and insurers and increase their product sales. Lifetise asserts that its portal helps financial institutions acquire and fulfil the needs of high-value customers at a lower cost to the organisation. It is in negotiations with three retail banks and is an Accenture Fintech Lab alumni. The company was named as one of the most influential financial technology entities of 2020 by The Financial Technologist magazine and selected for the Mayor of London's 'Business Growth Programme' under the 'Most high potential startups' category in 2021. Lifetise will use 58% of the investment in product development and engineering to scale its technology platform, 31% on sales and marketing, and 11% on operations.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£369,407
Bitstocks is a financial technology application built entirely on blockchain. The company intends to bring to customers the benefits of bitcoin in a simple & accessible personal account format. It asserts that 76% of UK adults use online banking. Its product, Gravity, currently offers BSV, BTC, GBP & EUR pairings, with investment accounts for customers to buy, sell & store bitcoin. The company is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and integrated with Faster Payment System & Single Euro Payments Area provider. Bitstocks has 1,800+ registered customers, with 650+ joining through referrals. It will use the investment to scale & develop the next phase of Gravity, bring forth stablecoin to enable tokenised global micropayments, and introduce personal accounts, debit cards, savings & loans.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,105,596
Smart Trade App is a software-based payment app that accepts card payments directly from the phone. It helps small business owners all over the UK. The app further includes features in it such as invoicing, light CRM, team management, reporting as well as the ability to delegate jobs. Smart Trade App has got the most Disruptive Payments Tech award 2019 and has processed transaction volumes worth £1.5 million. Large high street banks in the UK have approached the company for their business accounts. They have also signed an agreement with CardOne banking and has formed a strategic partnership with MasterCard.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£268,152
Glug provides a platform for businesses to let customers order from a digital menu and have them served to the table or pick up from the bar. It points out that its system is designed to be user friendly and easy to set up wherein restaurants or bars can upload and digitalise their menu and can be discoverable within 24 hours. Consumers can discover the restaurant, book a table, place an order, and browse for offers and discounts, amongst other features using the company's community app. Glug asserts that more than 16,000 users have ordered food and drinks through its app in less than four months since the company's launch. It intends to become a contender in the UK dining and pub market that is a £40 billion+ industry. Glug argues that more than 20,000 users have downloaded its app from the App Store and Google Playstore. It will use the investment for marketing, hiring, technology development, attract 1.5 million users and onboard 1,000+ venues over the next 12 months.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£73,114
Online checkout and form abandonment is costing retailers $billions in lost sales [Source: BusinessInsider]. Formisimo is an analytics platform that measures user behaviour in online checkouts and forms, and shows companies what they need to change in order to increase sales. Trading began in 2014, and Formisimo is now used by companies like Experian, Shop Direct, Secret Escapes, Arsenal, and Starcom MediaVest. There have been 1,800 signups in over 100 countries with the company targeting the UK and Europe.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£438,962
