CLUB CULTURED AND THE WELL-BEAN COMPANY WIN INVESTMENT AT PITCH + PLANT 2019
Damien Clarkson
CEO and Co-Founder at THE PACK | Certified B Corp & Co-Founder and Board Member at Vevolution
On Saturday 13th July, LUSH Studio in London was brimming with entrepreneurs pitching their fledgling businesses to an audience of 100 people and a panel of plant-based business experts at Pitch + Plant 2019.
The atmosphere in the room was electric as attendees gathered in anticipation of hearing about 7 incredible businesses.
Pitch + Plant is an investment competition we created at Vevolution way back in 2017. We did this because we wanted to find a way of connecting early stage startups with investment to help them sustain and scale their businesses.
This year there were 50 applications from startups for Pitch + Plant 2019, after whittling down the shortlist to seven finalist there were two plant-based emerged as winners of Pitch + Plant 2019.
The winners were Club Cultured, who make tempeh and other fermented products and The Well-Bean Company who make vegan milk chocolate and contribute profits to helping mental health charity Young Minds
Both companies will receive a seed investment directly from Vevolution, as part of the expansion of ways Vevolution is supporting plant-based startups.
Startup support is something both myself and Co-Founder, Judy Nadel are incredibly passionate about.
All of us Pitch + Plant judges saw in Club Cultured and The Well-Bean Company two businesses not only with great products but a passionate for helping other people and the planet to thrive.
These companies represent the new wave of businesses who are transforming the economy with social good woven into the fabric of what they do.
I asked the winners of Pitch + Plant to share a few words on what winning Pitch + Plant 2019 meant to them and they said:
The Well-Bean Company, Creative Director, Laura Francesca Kendrew said:
“Pitch + Plant was an incredible experience and to be selected as finalists blew us away! We are so grateful for the opportunity to be part of Vevolution and to share this journey with the Club Cultured guys"
Harry Watmough, Co-Founder of Club Cultured said:
“We are buzzing to be the winners of Pitch & Plant 2019 and we cannot wait to work with Vevolution to lead the Cultured revolution”
Vevolution will be bringing back Pitch + Plant in the near future. In addition to their education focused events Vevolution also offer services to help plant-based startups throughout the year - learn more at: https://www.vevolution.co/business