Dorset Business Angels held a pitch event at the Bournemouth Carlton Hotel on Monday, 17 November, with over 30 attendees gathering to hear from five early-stage companies seeking investment. The evening generated interest across three of the presenting businesses, with continued discussions taking place beyond the event.
A vertical farming technology business attracted particular attention, receiving an exciting offer from one of our members and is currently in active discussions to progress this opportunity. The company provides advanced modular agricultural solutions addressing food security and sustainability challenges, with their component-based growing systems already serving multiple sectors including hospitality, education, agriculture, and corporate businesses. Backed by a world-leading manufacturer with 39 patents, the business offers a comprehensive product range from plug-and-play units to container-scale installations.
A diagnostics technology company attracted investor attention with their innovative molecular testing solutions. The Cambridge-based business has developed advanced rapid testing platforms that deliver laboratory-quality results in under 10 minutes, addressing critical challenges across industrial, veterinary, and food safety sectors. Having already launched their first commercial product for cell culture contamination testing, the company has an extensive product pipeline spanning multiple applications and represents an opportunity in the growing point-of-need diagnostics market.
An employee wellbeing platform also generated investor interest with its comprehensive health and wellness solution for SMEs. The business addresses the challenge of making affordable healthcare benefits accessible to small and medium-sized businesses through its £3.99 per employee monthly platform. Covering the employee and their household, the service includes 24/7 GP access, mental health support, legal and financial helplines, and retailer discounts. With over 11,000 users already acquired and established partnerships with major organisations, the company is seeking funding to accelerate growth through marketing, sales expansion, and partnership development.
The evening’s programme also included pitches from two innovative drinks businesses. An alcohol-free punch brand showcased its flavour-first approach to hydration drinks with adventurous combinations using all-natural ingredients in sustainable, plastic-free packaging manufactured in carbon-neutral facilities. Meanwhile, a Great Taste award-winning dairy-free flavoured drinks company presented their solution to a significant market gap, with products now stocked in major retailers and experiencing 50% revenue growth. 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 was generously sponsored by The FSE Group, with Ralph Singleton delivering an informative presentation on the South West Investment Fund (SWIF).
Frank Guinn, Vice Chair of DBA, commented:
“These pitch events remain vital for connecting entrepreneurs with potential investors and gathering valuable feedback. Whilst not every event generates high volumes of immediate interest, the real value often emerges in the conversations and relationships that develop afterwards. We’re particularly pleased to see one company receiving a very strong offer from within our membership, which demonstrates the quality of both our investor base and the businesses we’re introducing them to. 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.
