Tag Archives: Crowdfunding

Food & Drink, News

Protein Rebel Crowdfunds to Bring UK’s First Maple Syrup Energy Gel to Market

Protein Rebel is crowdfunding through Kickstarter to raise enough funds to bring the UK’s first pure Maple syrup energy gel to market. Maple Ignite, which contains just two ingredients – pure Canadian Maple syrup and sea salt – is set to rival the lab-made energy gels which typically cause stomach issues among endurance athletes.

“Energy gels are commonly used for giving endurance athletes an energy boost, but the big brand gels contain chemically-engineered ingredients that can cause stomach distress”, says Tim Boote, Founder of Protein Rebel. “We want to bring an all-natural alternative to market that provides everything your body needs while exercising, without the bloating and cramps.”

Protein Rebel, which launched in September 2020 with its all-natural and easy-to-digest protein powders, is looking to become the number one choice for endurance athletes that want to fuel themselves without chemicals. The sports nutrition company has already won leading European sports industry awards for its cricket-based and vegan protein powders, and has appeared on the BBC as well as in leading publications. It’s now looking for Kickstarter backers to help launch Maple Ignite.

Using pure and light maple syrup directly from a farm in Quebec, Canada, rather than the dark and thick maple syrup often used on pancakes, Maple Ignite not only tastes great but is very easy to digest. It’s naturally high in carbohydrates as well as potassium, calcium, manganese, iron and antioxidants to support endurance, and has been blended with sea salt to replace the lost sodium through sweating. A single tube of Maple Ignite provides 24g of carbohydrates and 110mg sodium per serving to fuel athletes for longer during training and competitive events.

Maple Ignite also provides a more sustainable source of energy as each maple sugar tree typically produces sap for over 200 years. Plus, for each gallon of maple syrup produced, 100lbs of carbon is absorbed.

“We’re so excited to bring the UK’s first pure maple syrup energy gel to market, and are looking for people who believe in natural sports nutrition to join us on our journey”, says Boote. “With over 90 percent of distance runners suffering with stomach issues during exercise, there’s a real need for a natural gel that can help boost performance without compromise. We believe Maple Ignite is the ideal solution!”

Launching its Kickstarter campaign in August 2022, Protein Rebel is inviting those interested in finding out more about Maple Ignite to sign-up for updates, where they will be kept informed of the Kickstarter launch and progress. The early-bird offer is £34 for 24 Maple Ignite gels plus a free sports nutrition guide. And pledges in the first 24 hours of the Kickstarter campaign also receive a free protein powder sample.

Environment, Finance and Banking, News

ekko Opens for Funding on Seedrs – Public Crowdfunding Now Open

Crowdfunding campaign for ekko’s debit card and app turning the tide on climate change

ekko’s crowdfunding campaign for its climate-friendly debit card and app is now open. Fuelled by its successful pre-registration campaign, ekko’s funding round on Seedrs will close in up to four weeks’ time.

The company is raising via crowdfunding, which is in addition to funds already raised to launch the brand and build its product. Investors can visit ekko’s crowdfunding page on Seedrs which contains information on the company and latest company news.

ekko is backed by Mastercard and the first UK fintech company to become a Priceless Planet Coalition partner. By 2025, the Priceless Planet Coalition aims to restore 100 million trees. Every newly planted tree is maintained for years after its planted, to ensure that it lives a long and healthy life and has a beneficial impact on the environment.

Oli Cook, co-founder and CEO of ekko said: “We’re on a mission to make it simple for everyone to fight climate change. We’re starting with a debit card that plants trees and clears ocean-bound plastic bottles, but our goals go far beyond this. Through this funding round, we hope to bring on board engaged investors who want to be part of our journey.”

ekko provides a debit card, app and ecosystem that empowers consumers to make a difference in the fight against climate change. Consumers can feel good about doing good, through routine actions like shopping, banking, or paying bills. Every five transactions paying for one ocean-bound plastic bottle to be collected and every fifty transactions paying for a tree to be planted and maintained.

The accompanying ekko app keeps users up to date with their green activity, tracks their progress and monitors their carbon footprint via a carbon meter.

Invest in ekko at www.seedrs.com/ekko-card

News

Self-centred societies are more likely to embrace crowdfunding, says new research

Societies with characteristics, such as widespread individualism are more likely to embrace crowdfunding as means of investing and financing, says new research from Trinity Business School.

According to the research, undertaken by Francesca Di Pietro, Assistant Professor in Business Strategy at Trinity, a country’s institutional characteristics will significantly impact the likelihood of that society creating new business ventures.

With crowdfunding being an increasingly popular means of financing new ventures, Di Pietro focused specifically on how a society’s characteristics would impact crowdfunding.
Di Pietro undertook a study which analysed the influence of both formal and informal institutions in 27 different countries during between 2014 and 2017. Formal institutions are political, economic and contractual rules that shape individual behaviour, while informal institutions refer to values, beliefs and behavioural norms within a country.

She found that societies that were more individualistic had higher levels of crowdfunding. Alongside this, Di Pietro’s research found that countries with a more business-friendly legal system were more likely to embrace all forms of crowdfunding.

Surprisingly, the research also found that communities who are more risk-adverse were more likely to invest in ‘lending-based crowdfunding’ opportunities – in which those who invest expect to recoup their investment, plus interest, after the lending period is up – suggesting that it could be seen as a safer investment.

The research revealed that China has the world’s largest crowdfunding market, driven especially by widespread lending-based crowdfunding. Meanwhile, the US and UK has the second and third largest crowdfunding markets.

Dr Francesca Di Pietro, Assistant Professor in Business Strategy at Trinity Business School, says:
“Covid-19 had a severe impact upon financial markets, forced small businesses and entrepreneurs to rethink their business model and look for alternative forms of financing. This research is useful in identifying where crowdfunding is most likely to be successful for these entrepreneurs.”

Business Investment, Midlands News

Exclusive British watch brand announces record-breaking funding results

Midlands-based timepiece start-up, Hagley West, has announced the record-breaking results of its latest funding round. In January, the British brand secured more than £360,000 in crowdfunding to realise its ambitions of taking effortless style and exceptional design to the global marketplace.

Renowned to be the fastest-ever fully-funded quartz fashion watch business, the company’s December funding round also broke the record for the largest ever crowdfunding raise by a watch manufacturer.

Tim Hayden, CEO of Hagley West Watches, commented:

“When we founded Hagley West, our ambition was simple – to provide discerning customers worldwide with high-quality, eye-catching British timepieces without the unnecessary, over-inflated ‘big brand’ mark-up.

“Our range blends style, functionality and practicality, providing the perfect model for almost every occasion. Undertaking a second round of crowdfunding has enabled us to facilitate ambitious international growth plans and, in the future, will help us to further expand our range with a number of stylish new designs.”

Highly popular among the domestic and international cricketing community, Hagley West has secured backing from some of the world’s best-known players including JP Duminy, Carols Braithwaite and Tino Best. The company, which is co-owned by West Indies legend Chris Gayle, prides itself on these links and is committed to supporting the next generation.

Hayden added:

“With almost 20 first-class county and professional cricketers having invested in the business, we wanted to give something back to the sport. By supporting the grass-roots level, we aim to inspire and support the talented players of tomorrow.”

The Hagley West range is available to order online at www.hagleywest.com. For more information, visit the website or follow the brand’s latest updates on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.