Dorset Business Angels held a successful pitch event at the Bournemouth Carlton Hotel on Monday, 29 September, with 38 angel investors gathering to hear from five early-stage companies seeking investment. The evening generated significant interest across three of the presenting businesses, with a total of 20 expressions of interest submitted by attendees.
A London-based cleantech company attracted the strongest response of the evening, securing 10 expressions of interest from investors. The business has developed innovative wastewater treatment technology that uses waste heat or renewable energy to achieve over 95% water recovery whilst requiring significantly less energy than traditional solutions. With established clients including major aerospace manufacturers, nuclear power contractors, and infrastructure firms, the company is addressing the critical challenge of industrial wastewater treatment. Their approach offers businesses over 30% cost savings compared to legacy processes, whilst substantially reducing environmental impact. The company is seeking £500,000 at a £3 million pre-money valuation, with SEIS and EIS advanced assurance already secured.
A vertical farming business generated 7 expressions of interest with their component-based growing solution. The company addresses UK food security concerns through their proprietary technology, which delivers 22 times the yield per square metre compared to open field farming through optimised space utilisation and sensor-driven plant personalisation. Currently operating their first commercial facility growing lettuce, herbs and microgreens for wholesale and food service customers, the business is seeking £500,000 at a £2 million pre-money valuation under SEIS/EIS to fund operations, leadership recruitment, and their second facility. The company projects revenues of £23.3 million by year five.
A hearing protection technology company also attracted investor attention with 3 expressions of interest. The business uses smartphone-based AI imaging to make custom-fit earplugs accessible at scale, addressing the significant problem of noise-induced hearing loss, which accounts for 50% of UK employers’ liability insurance claims. Their medical-grade silicone products provide premium-level certified hearing protection whilst offering superior comfort compared to universal-fit alternatives. With clients including major aerospace and infrastructure contractors, the company serves both workplace safety and consumer markets across 68 countries.
The evening’s programme also included pitches from a non-invasive health diagnostics company and a smart AI adult social care business, both addressing important challenges in the healthcare sector. Whilst these companies did not receive expressions of interest on the night, the feedback gathered during the event will prove valuable as they continue to refine their propositions for future opportunities.
The event also featured a sponsor presentation from TC Group, which provided valuable insights into what SMEs should anticipate from the upcoming November budget, helping attendees understand the potential fiscal environment for their investment decisions.
Don McQueen, DBA Chairman, commented:
“This event demonstrated the continued appetite amongst our members for innovative technology investments that address real-world challenges. The strong response to companies tackling sustainability, food security and workplace safety reflects the growing recognition that profitable businesses can also deliver meaningful environmental and social impact. We’re grateful to all five companies for their presentations and encourage entrepreneurs to view the pitch process as an opportunity to gather valuable feedback, regardless of the immediate outcome.”
The evening highlighted DBA’s ongoing commitment to connecting entrepreneurs with the capital and expertise needed to scale their businesses, whilst providing investors with access to carefully screened investment opportunities across diverse sectors.
About Dorset Business Angels
Founded in 2013, Dorset Business Angels brings together investors and entrepreneurs to accelerate the growth of early-stage companies. As a member of the UK Business Angels Association and signatory to the Investing in Women Code, DBA hosts quarterly pitch events and provides a supportive ecosystem for both investors and founders. Entrepreneurs interested in pitching at future events should visit dorsetbusinessangels.co.uk for more information.
