UK based companies in the plant-based arena have a new TV show to pitch their products to potential investors. Pitch + Plant will be similar to Shark Tank here in the US, with a focus on the rapidly evolving plant-based sector.
The contest – which takes its inspiration from the popular BBC TV show Dragons’ Den – was piloted last year at Vevolution, an events and media startup in London, founded by Damien Clarkson and Judy Nadel, in partnership with BRAN Investments. The ethical investment firm offered £1,500 to the winner, sustainable vegan beauty brand Optiat, which then went on to complete £217,000 in funding on equity crowdfunding platform Crowdcube.
This year BRAN Investments has increased its offering to £100,000 due to “strong investor demand for plant-based businesses”, according to head of partnerships Jonathan Keeling. Applications are open from now until July 2, and six finalists will be chosen to pitch their products in front of a live audience in London at the competition which is part of a larger Plant Based Business Bootcamp on July 14. Last year’s trial event attracted 31 entrants from tech firms to vegan food companies and Clarkson says he expects competition for the 2018 event to be “tough”.