Carocell Bio is innovating by developing patented anti-inflammatory peptides delivered via nanoparticles to address severe inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis. Their primary peptide, JEL0305, not only halts inflammation but also prevents its initiation, as evidenced by its effectiveness in reducing inflammation in human AD biopsies and burn tissue. With AD impacting a substantial population and costing $21 billion yearly for unsafe treatments, Carocell Bio's safer peptide remedy has the potential to avert AD recurrence. Additionally, their pioneering approach to skin-related inflammation involves topical peptide products that target mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a crucial element in inflammation. This breakthrough offers promise for managing and forestalling AD and mitigating skin aging.
days to go:
Extended
investment:
Withheld
Optimise BP, the debut product by Optimise Health, introduces an innovative digital solution that offers secure and efficient semi-automated blood pressure management within primary care, focusing on hypertension. This advancement is projected to lead to substantial appointment savings in the range of millions.
days to go:
TBC
investment:
£127,001
PULMOBIOMED is addressing the failings of current lung tests, which are expensive, infrequent, and invasive. Their so-called "clinically proven" solution claims to offer non-invasive liquid samples from deep within the lung, promising affordable tests for lung diseases. They assert that their product can empower clinicians to diagnose and treat conditions like lung cancer and infections, even though there's limited evidence to support these claims. With a few customers in the USA and Australia, and vague partnerships in the EU, PULMOBIOMED hopes to disrupt the asthma diagnostics market by introducing what they call a comprehensive diagnostic test for asthma, despite the skepticism around their capabilities.
days to go:
Extended
investment:
£295,000
Stroli – the shopping trolley reimagined for modern needs. The shopping trolley, often associated with a particular image, is an untapped category ready for innovation. The market is flooded with generic, budget-friendly options that lack charm, with the exception of Rolser, which is pricier and claims the green niche. Stroli steps in as the go-to brand, offering a unique approach, positioning, voice, and eco-friendly credentials. Say goodbye to sore hands and plastic bags – Stroli makes shopping a pleasure with its high-quality, stylish trolley bags designed to enhance your convenience and style
days to go:
Extended
investment:
Withheld
MenuLab helps food businesses track allergens in the food they serve to customers via a smartphone app.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£1,989
Two Drifters Distillery (TDD) is one of the very few British distilleries that makes rum from raw ingredients, rather than importing and flavouring it. It has worked with Climeworks Direct Air Capture technology to remove CO2 from its products. The company's technique won admirers leading to a boost in sales. Since its launch in 2019, TDD converted existing equipment to increase capacity from 80 bottles per week to an estimated 1800 per week. It has also secured contracts from prominent entities including John Lewis (national and online), Exeter Chiefs Rum and Virgin Wines. The company has an active social media community with 10,000+ followers and also conducts weekly distillery tours that see full attendance from its customers. TDD has also received press coverage from media houses including The BBC, The Telegraph and The Independent. It will use the investment to grow its sales and showcase its product at retail outlets, and bring to the masses sustainably-made British products.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£286,340
Altr is an e-commerce startup that specialises in male grooming and cosmetics. It is a brand that is committed to helping men look and feel more confident. The company adopts a B2C business model with the aim to reconstruct male cosmetics from a niche into a mass-market essential. The company retails through its own website and supplies across the UK, the US, Italy, and Spain through Amazon. In December last year, the company recorded a monthly turnover of £45k, doubling sales month on month (Oct-Dec). The funds raised will be used to increase product range and expand internationally.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£103,530
Drop Bear Beer Co. aims in disrupting and exciting the alcohol-free beer market. It is the only female-run alcohol-free craft beer company. Drop Bear Beer Co.'s May 2019 launch was a success as it experienced sales of 3000 units in one month. The company is a winner of the Wales Start-Up of the Year Awards 2019. With the proceeds, Drop Bear Beer Co. will finalise core range within 12 months, scale-up production, make range available in cans, and arrange a large brand-building campaign.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£172,570
GIBIE combines ancient Indian dying methods with modern weaving technologies to produce sustainable and luxurious homewares. The company argues that the textile industry uses an astonishing 9 trillion gallons of water annually, as well as, releases harmful gases and chemicals in the air and water. GIBIE aims to change this scenario by bringing forth sustainable linen that has superior qualities to chemically enhanced and dyed linen. It has come out with an industrial-scale production proposal of its linen. The company is a PETA-approved vegan brand and a member of the Color Ashram Foundation that promotes the usage of herbal dyes around the world. GIBIE will use the investment to launch its essential sales programs, boost marketing initiatives and scale production.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£158,571
Hemspan states that it designs bio-based building systems and products for construction by combining modern methods, technology and hemp to produce net-zero carbon solutions. The company argues that every time an average house is built, the CO2 emitted by the manufacture, transport and assembly of the materials used is around 50 to 60 tonnes. Hemspan says that one hectare of UK-grown industrial hemp can absorb 11 tonnes of CO2 each year with regeneratively farmed hemp capable of sequestering a further 6 tonnes per hectare of CO2 into the soil each year. Hemspan intends to activate significant demand for hemp farming in the UK and develop processing technologies to reduce reliance on imports and enable large scale manufacturing of bio-based cladding and insulation products that spin out of R&D programmes. It asserts that the global industrial hemp market is expected to grow at 25% CAGR reaching US$ 27 billion by 2028. It aims to be a contender in this segment.
days to go:
Expired
investment:
£200,000
