Startup Spotlight

In recent years, health and wellness have become increasingly important to people, especially within the young and middle-aged demographics. However, finding the right wellness provider that is in the right location and has the right qualifications can be difficult. Wellmatch is a platform designed to connect wellness service providers and clients in a streamlined and seamless manner. The platform focuses on finding the right match for individual wellness needs and aims to empower wellness professionals to build their personal brand affordably and professionally. 
<h2>Industry overview and challenges </h2>
From fitness and nutrition to mental health and holistic healing, the wellness industry encompasses a wide range of products and services aimed at improving overall wellness. The wellness industry in the UK is a significant market – in 2024, over a million people were working in the health, wellness, and beauty industry [1]. The digital fitness and wellbeing market in the UK is expected to achieve a revenue of $2bn by year end. Furthermore, it is projected to demonstrate a CAGR of 6.18% between 2024 and 2028, leading to an estimated market volume of $2.7bn by 2028 [2]. In addition, by 2022, the average wellness spending per capita for Britons was forecasted to be £487 annually [3]. However, entrepreneurs in the wellness industry face significant challenges.  
Wellness providers rely heavily on word-of-mouth and existing client referrals to acquire new customers. However, the lack of trustworthy peer reviews is a major obstacle for clients looking for high-quality wellness services. This makes their search a difficult process of trial and error, which is not only time consuming but also expensive. Clients often end up investing in treatments that don’t meet their expectations, leaving them unsatisfied with the results and quality of service.  
Additional challenges encountered by wellness providers include struggles with scheduling, booking management, whilst also dealing with late cancellations and payment chasing. On the other hand, clients face issues such as lack of price and service transparency, difficulty in finding the right fit, and frustration over the effectiveness of treatments. Furthermore, wellness providers must deal with a limited budget to market their business via traditional channels [4]. 
Lavinia Roma founded Wellmatch in response to her frustrations as an entrepreneur in the wellness industry. After graduating as a nutrition and weight management advisor in 2020, she struggled to find sustainable and cost-effective ways to acquire customers and grow her business. She spent hours  creating content to grow her following organically, attended events, attempted to navigate the world of SEO and paid advertising, and chased friends and family to spread the word. At the same time, through her personal and professional network, she realised that wellness enthusiasts were also struggling to find effective and affordable wellness services that were easily accessible and relevant. This realisation led her to develop the Wellmatch platform.  
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5195 size-full" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Phone.png" alt="Wellmatch MaaS platform" width="641" height="540" />
<h2>Introducing Wellmatch</h2>
According to the company, Wellmatch is the only UK MaaS (marketplace-as-a-service) platform designed for freelance wellness providers. The provider-centric platform is specifically tailored for self-employed wellness specialists, ranging from freelancers that provide services online, in-person, or at home. The app combines the transparency and competitiveness of traditional marketplaces with software-inspired analytics to boost provider performance. The platform also provides elements of social networks to foster a sense of community and inclusiveness.  
<h2>How Wellmatch Works </h2>
Wellmatch is set to streamline wellness management for both users and providers. The app was designed to revolutionise the way clients fulfil their wellness needs and simplify the steps from searching to booking. With a personal account, the platform is intended for users to effortlessly navigate the selection process – filtering options, exploring services, and comparing prices. Direct communication with providers, reading peer reviews, and simple payment processes are designed to enhance the user experience.  
Meanwhile, operating on a subscription-based model, Wellmatch seeks to be a one-stop solution for wellness providers to market their services, acquire customers, and manage bookings while potentially maintaining attractive margins. Providers may benefit from sophisticated tools for schedule and price management, client outreach, and an analytics dashboard that facilitates strategic business decisions. Providers can also proudly showcase their certifications and receive valuable feedback through service reviews.  
The platform spotlights individual wellness providers, cherishing unique brands and skills and creating a community of wellness enthusiasts where circularity and cross-selling are promoted so that the community can grow together. The Wellmatch marketplace promotes price and service transparency, saving users from relying on word-of-mouth and desktop research to find solutions for their wellness needs.
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Lavinia Roma

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LinkedIn Picture

Lavinia has a background in financial services, having previously worked at Moody&#8217;s Analytics. As an ex-athlete, sports and nutrition was always close to her heart, and she has a passion for health and wellness. After leaving Moody’s, she studied to become an AfN-certified Level 3 nutrition and weight management advisor. Lavinia also holds a master’s degree in international health management from Imperial College Business School.  
Eager to learn the secrets of scaling a healthcare technology company, she joined Open Medical, a cloud enterprise SaaS business for clinical workflow automation, and led their Series A raise and market expansion efforts. After briefly going back to the investment side for an internship at Goddess Gaia Ventures, a female healthcare-focused VC, Lavinia utilised her experience in building marketplace apps at GrannyNanny to conceptualise Wellmatch.

The founders' story

<h2>The next steps </h2>
Wellmatch has chosen to use Floww’s innovative infrastructure to facilitate their next funding round and help them achieve their future goals.  
In 2024, Wellmatch is set to embark on a pivotal stage in its development journey, focusing on designing a robust data architecture, crafting an intuitive user interface, and formulating efficient workflows to launch the MVP of its mobile app. Later in the year, the company plans to begin a crucial bet testing phase with a select group of target users to validate the product-market fit rigorously.  
**Floww Markets Limited is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 980098. 
 The information and imagery contained within this article does not represent the opinions of Floww. Floww does not have a view on opinions provided by Wellmatch in this article and elsewhere where they may be expressed, and is not responsible or liable for the information within this article.

<h3>Sources:</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/tips-for-the-future/future-of-health-wellbeing-beauty/">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/tips-for-the-future/future-of-health-wellbeing-beauty/</a>  </li>
<li><a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/hmo/digital-health/digital-fitness-well-being/united-kingdom">https://www.statista.com/outlook/hmo/digital-health/digital-fitness-well-being/united-kingdom</a>  </li>
<li><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/tips-for-the-future/future-of-health-wellbeing-beauty/">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/tips-for-the-future/future-of-health-wellbeing-beauty/</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://fastercapital.com/content/Navigating-Challenges-in-the-Wellness-Industry--Strategies-for-Resilient-Entrepreneurs.html">https://fastercapital.com/content/Navigating-Challenges-in-the-Wellness-Industry&#8211;Strategies-for-Resilient-Entrepreneurs.html</a> </li>
</ol>

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Official_Logo_WM

Wellmatch

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The UK’s creative scene, with its constant flurry of activity, is a diverse and vibrant ecosystem that is home to over 16,000 film and video production companies, along with a myriad of post-production houses [1]. However, the film and creative industries are notorious for high&#8211;pressure lifestyles and personal burnout [2]. The Lighthouse Club seeks to be an innovative members’ club that will provide an unparalleled environment by bringing wellbeing into a setting where members can see firsthand how forming healthy habits can be the foundation that allows them to progress in their fields. The company aims to be the foremost health and wellness brand and community serving the creative industries by bringing a new way of working, training and socialising to London’s creative scene. 
<h2>Industry overview and challenges </h2>
From small independent studios to large multinational corporations, the UK is home to a vast number of film and video production companies. The UK film and TV sector sees constant investments and expansion with generous tax incentives to encourage more business. In 2024, the UK government announced a 40% corporate tax relief for film and TV studios through 2034 [3]. In addition, the UK film tax relief scheme allows companies to claim up to 25% of their budget as a payable cash rebate. This trend is set to continue with the chancellor’s recent budget announcing the UK independent film tax credit designed to boost the production of UK independent films and support UK talent in cinema [4].  
The total amount spent on film production in the UK in 2022 was £1.9bn [5]. Furthermore, in 2022, the UK led Europe as the premier entertainment and media market, netting £97bn in revenue [5]. However, London’s creative elite need a space that affords them the freedom to focus on themselves without constantly keeping up appearances. 
Traditional members’ clubs have long been a stalwart of London’s creative culture, giving their exclusive clients a hang-out spot in the heart of the city’s bustling social scene. However, the expansion of the SOHO House and the influx of a broader membership has seen the attraction of this institution diminish from its founding membership group. In addition, the lifestyle of partying and decadence that was once associated with the creative industry is slowly being replaced with a collective desire to focus on personal wellbeing, a global trend that is being mirrored in other industries. The American Psychological Association conducted a survey in 2022 on work and wellbeing, which confirmed that employee expectations related to mental health support are shifting. Notably, 71% of workers reported that they believe their employers are more concerned about employees’ mental health than in the past [6]. In addition, 68% of senior HR leaders rate employee wellbeing and mental health as top priorities [7]. 
Co-founders George Ashwell, David Hastie and Josh Betteridge met as university students at in 2008 and have been active in the health and wellness industry ever since. Their first company Before The Lights began as a B2B service, providing training and physical therapy directly to film companies. It provided cast training services to the productions including Wicked the movie, Bridgerton, House of the Dragon and Lazarus Project. Before The Lights grew into a small personal training studio which the company claims has become the favoured training destination for many of London’s actors, musicians and creative directors. This led to the conception of The Lighthouse Club.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-5146 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LH-Gym-2-800x487.png" alt="The Lighthouse Club membership" width="800" height="487" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LH-Gym-2-800x487.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LH-Gym-2-1600x974.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LH-Gym-2-768x467.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LH-Gym-2-1536x935.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LH-Gym-2-2048x1246.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
<h2>Introducing The Lighthouse Club</h2>
The Lighthouse Club has firmly established itself as the leading team of health and fitness experts for London’s creative community. Its flagship location will be a one-of-a-kind space where health and creativity come together to benefit members. 
According to the company, Lighthouse has worked with prominent actors, musicians and creative directors in the UK. Members include actor Nicholas Hoult, musician and actor Jacob Anderson and writer and director Sam Freeman. Many of their clients are seeking to make a change to their physical and mental wellbeing. The Lighthouse Club provides the perfect home away from home. The company believes it presents a unique opportunity to build a UK-based wellness brand from its existing loyal client base. 
<h2>How does The Lighthouse Club work?</h2>
The Lighthouse Club will offer facilities that are beneficial to the health and wellbeing of London’s elite creatives. According to the company, the interior of the centre has a relaxing and natural design. It will feature a lounge for the members to relax, and a fully furnished kitchen that offers food and drink. Members looking to arrange meetings can use the club’s meeting room, and the open workspace to brainstorm ideas and to work on creative pursuits. In addition, the company offers an office space for business purposes, such as meetings and presentations.  
To ensure that the company can accommodate every creative urge, The Lighthouse Club offers a state-of-the-art recording studio where musicians and sound engineers can record, produce and collaborate. Members can also use the open gym to work out, where they will have access to personal trainers. The wellness portion of The Lighthouse Club offers an ice bath, a sauna, and health treatments. 
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Josh Betteridge

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Josh

George Ashwell

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George

David Hastie

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David

Josh has over a decade of experience in health, fitness and exercise rehabilitation with his Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation degree. He has worked for professional football and cricket teams prior to consulting for film, tv and the high-end fashion industry. 
Co-founder George has 12 years of experience as a senior performance coach and therapist. During this time, he gained multiple film credits, establishing himself as a prominent figure in consultation for film. George holds a degree in sports therapy and rehabilitation. 
David has 14 years of experience working in the health and fitness industry. In addition, he has worked in the Melbourne and London film and television industries. During this time, he also represented Great Britain playing football.

<h2>The next steps </h2>
The Lighthouse Club has chosen to use Floww’s innovative infrastructure to facilitate their next funding round and help them achieve their future goals. Funds raised, together with revenue from pre-sold memberships, will be allocated to fit out the planned Fitzrovia venue and cover year one overheads. The company is also in talks to secure its second location in the 36 Battersea Square project. 
The Lighthouse Club aims to develop partnerships with like-minded brands in other fields, including media, wellness, clothing and beauty. The company has also been invited to launch its brand at The Gleneagles Hotel and Resort.  
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-5139" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthouse-800x600.png" alt="" width="800" height="600" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthouse-800x600.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthouse-1600x1200.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthouse-768x576.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthouse-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthouse.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
**Floww Markets Limited is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 980098. 
 The information and imagery contained within this article does not represent the opinions of Floww. Floww does not have a view on opinions provided by The Lighthouse Club in this article and elsewhere where they may be expressed, and is not responsible or liable for the information within this article.

<h3>Sources:</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/239180/number-of-film-and-video-production-companies-in-the-uk/">https://www.statista.com/statistics/239180/number-of-film-and-video-production-companies-in-the-uk/</a>   </li>
<li><a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/directors/uk-film-tv-mental-health-crisis-film-and-tv-charity-1203502271/">https://variety.com/2020/film/directors/uk-film-tv-mental-health-crisis-film-and-tv-charity-1203502271/ </a> </li>
<li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/global/uk-government-tax-credit-film-tv-studios-1235931950/">https://variety.com/2024/film/global/uk-government-tax-credit-film-tv-studios-1235931950/</a>  </li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-tax-credits-for-british-film-tv-and-video-game-makers-start-from-today">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-tax-credits-for-british-film-tv-and-video-game-makers-start-from-today</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.socialfilms.co.uk/blog/uk-film-industry-statistics">https://www.socialfilms.co.uk/blog/uk-film-industry-statistics</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/01/trends-worker-well-being">https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/01/trends-worker-well-being</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannemeister/2021/08/04/the-future-of-work-is-worker-well-being/?sh=543997804aed">https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannemeister/2021/08/04/the-future-of-work-is-worker-well-being/?sh=543997804aed</a> </li>
</ol>

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Lighthouse ICON

The Lighthouse Club

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The Lighthouse_Logo_Black (1)

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In today’s economy, ensuring children receive adequate education and information from a young age is difficult. Most households do not have the luxury of a full-time nanny, and nursery and preschool costs are often so high that they are unattainable. Lammy is an AI avatar created by LAMB (Look After My Baby), that will provide educational content for the preschool market. LAMB provides all children with the same access to education – whether in a nursery or home school environment.
<h2>Industry overview and challenges </h2>
The preschool market faces issues from the perspective of businesses and parents. Businesses face higher running costs and staff shortages, while parents struggle to finance nursery fees. On average, nursery fees take up a third of a household’s income [1]. Many parents end up staying at home, which means that children miss out on some of the vital skills that they learn when attending a nursery or creche. In addition, many nurseries are having to shut down or reduce spaces for children as their operating costs increase. In the UK, one in four nurseries are expected to close in 2024 due to rising costs [2]. Despite these facts, the global early education market was valued at $258.9bn in 2021 and is expected to reach a value of $581.7bn by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.43% during the forecast period [3].
According to LAMB, the number of parents choosing to stay at home and teach their children rather than paying for nursery fees is on the rise. Unfortunately, it is difficult for stay-at-home parents to provide their children with the level of standardised education and skills development offered by nurseries. It is not easy to find information on how – and what – to teach young children, and although there is content available on media platforms that is branded as educational, many of the characters have very little educational content. There is a growing demand in the market for high educational content mixed with a high entertainment value. Stay-at-home parents are looking to provide their children with the same lessons and skills that they would get in a nursery environment.
From their experience as first-time parents, Learn with Lammy founders Claudia and Matthew Hurst identified a gap in the market to support both parents and businesses by combining a loveable character with education. Together, they created the character Lammy. Through Lammy, the company aims to lead the charge in how children can be taught, using new technology such as AI and animation.
<h2>Introducing LAMB</h2>
LAMB’s solution, Learn with Lammy, provides a free educational platform for nurseries and parents. It can be accessed daily and features video and support materials to aid a child’s development. Lammy is designed to deliver content in a fun way in which kids can relate. The brand was launched on Youtube in September 2023 and has reached over four million views across its social platforms.
The platform is aimed at preschool children, and promotes educational content with its AI avatar, Lammy. It combines education and a series of animated stories, with Lammy as the star, ensuring every child has the same opportunity to learn – whether they are home-schooled or at a nursery.
Using the latest AI technology, Lammy would be the first of his kind in education. By combining fun, interactive learning with social media, added to the already-produced animated Lammy series, the company will ensure that Lammy continues to be a much-loved and popular children’s companion.
<h2>How Learn with Lammy Works</h2>
The Learn with Lammy platform supports both parents and nurseries. For nurseries, the platform can provide support to staff and additional daily activities and exercises. The AI character, Lammy, will support learning in the home and schools by providing a fun teacher as well as educational supporting material to which everyone can have access. According to the company, Lammy has educational content covering the seven key development stages Learn with Lammy is designed to offer an interactive, educational platform that aids in child development. It combines education with a series of animated lessons, where Lammy teaches children everything from the alphabet to colours.
Along with online content, the platform will provide printable material that children can use to draw and colour as they Learn with Lammy. By using a loveable character, children may relate and interact at their own pace. Parents have peace of mind that their child is learning at the right level for their age group, and being prepared for school, while nurseries have content that they can use to plan lessons.
Lammy is intended to be a gateway to a world of learning for curious minds aged one to four years. The platform uses the latest AI technology to create real-time videos, allowing Lammy to interact individually with each user. When children play, they explore and grasp important concepts naturally. Through music, laughter, and interaction, Lammy creates an environment where learning becomes an inseparable part of having fun.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-5125" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image0-3-1-800x450.jpeg" alt="" width="800" height="450" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image0-3-1-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image0-3-1-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image0-3-1-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image0-3-1.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />

Claudia Hurst

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LAMB Founder (2)

Matthew Hurst

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LAMB Founder

After graduating with a marketing degree from Northumbria University, Claudia went into the corporate world, working in brand marketing at ASDA for seven years. After meeting her husband Matthew, she moved to Portugal to set up several companies. Their little boy Rocco was born in Portugal, which sparked the idea for Lammy.
Matthew set up his first business at the age of 16, with Birds of Prey, and travelled around the country doing displays at country shows, schools and private events. After five years, he sold this business and qualified to be a football agent. Following this, he went back to his roots and began working with his family business, eventually growing it into Mother Hubbards &#8211; a chain of fish and chip restaurants. After meeting his wife Claudia and starting a family with her, he realised the struggles of new parents when it came to early education. The couple decided to address this gap in the market, developing the Learn with Lammy platform.

<h2>The next steps </h2>
LAMB has chosen to use Floww’s innovative infrastructure to facilitate their next funding round and help them achieve their future goals. In 2023, the company launched Lammy on YouTube. It drove brand awareness through social media and gained over one million views.
In 2024, LAMB plans to conduct trials in 10 nurseries, launch its product in nurseries, gain 150,000 unique users and 3 million views, and aim to have 1,000 nurseries and 2,000 childminders signed up onto the platform. The company also plans to develop and launch the AI Lammy avatar, gain sponsors and start selling merchandise.
In 2025, the company plans to create a bespoke app for parents, launch its Lammy retail products, and develop a personalised avatar experience. It will expand into the European Union and the United States and grow its retail line.
**Floww Markets Limited is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 980098. 
 The information and imagery contained within this article does not represent the opinions of Floww. Floww does not have a view on opinions provided by Look After My Baby Ltd in this article and elsewhere where they may be expressed, and is not responsible or liable for the information within this article.

<h3>Sources:</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/childcare-costs-families-a-third-of-income">https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/childcare-costs-families-a-third-of-income</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-22/more-uk-child-care-places-to-close-due-to-rising-wages-lack-of-funding">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-22/more-uk-child-care-places-to-close-due-to-rising-wages-lack-of-funding</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/early-childhood-education-market-102664">https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/early-childhood-education-market-102664</a>,  </li>
</ol>

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Look After My Baby Ltd

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The UK’s annual electricity demand is expected to more than double by 2050 [1]. In 2019, the UK government legislated net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, necessitating replacing carbon-emitting electricity generation technologies with clean alternatives [2]. To meet this daunting target of replacing fossil fuels, governments around the world are looking for alternative sources of renewable power, such as wind and tidal energy. National Geographic defines tidal energy as renewable energy powered by the natural rise and fall of ocean tides and currents [3].  
Richard Parkinson founded Inyanga Marine Energy Group in 2017 with the primary goal of developing the HydroWing device through to commercialisation. The company positions its tidal stream technology at the forefront of the growing global market for renewable energy to meet net zero targets [4]. 
<h2>Tidal energy industry overview and challenges </h2>
Global energy providers and consumers want zero-carbon producing, clean and reliable power. Governments seek energy security and gross added value from energy projects. Tidal power can solve these problems. Unlike solar and wind, tidal energy is predictable. In addition, tidal turbines do not have to spin as fast as windmills to generate power, because water is roughly 800 times denser than air [5]. 
Grand View Research reports that the global tidal energy market was estimated at 127 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2022, with tidal energy generation expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.64% from 2023 to 2030 [6] As the price of electricity fluctuates, these figures are calculated in GWh, which is a unit of energy representing one billion watt hours and equivalent to one million kilowatt hours.[7]. Furthermore, independent research by Inyanga Marine Energy Group suggests that the global market for tidal energy has the potential to reach over $54bn by 2050.  
Tidal energy has the potential to deliver 11% of the UK&#8217;s annual electricity needs [8]. In addition, tidal power generation does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere and is therefore an environmentally friendly energy source [9], However, tidal energy has not yet been commercialised in the UK, and unlocking its full potential to meet net zero targets comes with unique challenges. 
The development and deployment of solutions to harness the power in aggressive tidal streams requires specialist skills and know-how. Very high operational and maintenance costs have held back the commercialisation of the sector. Excessive insurance claims have led to higher premiums, and political support in terms of feed-in tariffs has been inconsistent. In addition, large, cumbersome turbines are expensive to manufacture and install, and require costly offshore vessels. Current designs have not considered subsea grid architecture to harness offshore energy effectively. Inyanga Marine Energy Group believes its next-generation technology can meet these challenges head on.
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-4993 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tocardo-Turbines-800x292.png" alt="Tidal energy " width="800" height="292" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tocardo-Turbines-800x292.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tocardo-Turbines-1600x583.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tocardo-Turbines-768x280.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tocardo-Turbines-1536x560.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tocardo-Turbines.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></h2>
<h2>Inyanga Marine Energy Group’s mission </h2>
Inyanga Marine Energy Group (IMEG) specialises in the delivery of offshore renewable projects. It aims to be the world’s largest provider of tidal energy arrays. The group strives to be at the forefront of the fast-growing global marine renewables industry. The company includes two divisions – Inyanga Maritime, which specialises in offshore engineering and installation, and HydroWing, which develops solutions to harness tidal energy. The company is also a 50% joint owner of Tocardo, the manufacturer of tidal turbines. Inyanga Maritime positions itself as a cost effective and reliable offshore operations and engineering consultancy for the marine renewables sector.  
Inyanga Marine Energy Group claims to deliver environmentally friendly tidal energy solutions. The HydroWing aims to minimise environmental impact. It has zero visual impact, maintaining the seascape, and does not affect marine life mortality [10]. Tocardo has conducted multiple studies on the effects of its turbines on marine life and noise pollution [10]. The study found that large animals such as porpoises are expected to cross the barrier only at and around slack tides, when the turbines are not moving and are thus not producing sound. If sound produced by the turning turbines is audible to sea life in the vicinity, it will either add an extra barrier effect, or help them to locate the turbines and thus avoid colliding with them. Another study on noise pollution near its turbines at the Dutch site of Afsluitdijk showed that the noise was practically imperceptible [10].<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
 In addition, Tocardo strives to produce fish-friendly, innovative turbine solutions. No turbine-related injuries of fish were observed during tests performed by the company, although they clearly interacted with the turbine blades [10].
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-4990 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HydroWing-logo-RGB-800x140.jpg" alt="Hydrowing by Inyanga Marine Energy Group" width="800" height="140" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HydroWing-logo-RGB-800x140.jpg 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HydroWing-logo-RGB-1600x280.jpg 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HydroWing-logo-RGB-768x134.jpg 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HydroWing-logo-RGB-1536x269.jpg 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HydroWing-logo-RGB.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
<h2>Introducing HydroWing </h2>
Inyanga Marine Energy Group has developed HydroWing, which is designed to be a cost-effective and scalable solution to harness the power of tidal streams and convert it into clean energy. The HydroWing tidal energy system is a total ‘all-in-one’ solution that meets the challenges of offshore energy, providing low-cost, clean, predictable and reliable electricity to local power grids. Low-cost operations, low maintenance and power reliability are core to its design. 
The key advantages of the HydroWing include efficient, reliable and proven turbines and a patented passive pitch bi-directional turbine blade which increases yield by 60%. It also enables low-cost operations and maintenance using its unique Quad Hull Barge. There is no need for specialist offshore vessels and the compact nature of the device allows low-cost logistics and handling using standard ISO containers. The HydroWing has a fatigue-resistant substructure. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-4997 size-medium" src="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HW_Comp-800x450.png" alt="Renewable tidal energy with Hydrowing" width="800" height="450" srcset="https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HW_Comp-800x450.png 800w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HW_Comp-1600x900.png 1600w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HW_Comp-768x432.png 768w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HW_Comp-1536x864.png 1536w, https://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HW_Comp.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
<h2>How the HydroWing works </h2>
HydroWing system relies on ocean tides. The UK experiences two high tides and two low tides each day. This movement of water is created by the gravitational force of the moon and sun and the rotation of the earth. Tocardo tidal stream turbines are designed to work in these turbulent waters to generate electricity. 
The Hydrowing is a multi-rotor sub-sea device with turbines mounted in a wing-like structure which is stabbed onto a framework, modular sub-structure, which, in turn, is mounted on the seabed. The &#8216;wings&#8217; which hold the turbines are then lowered into position on this structure, making the HydroWing easy to deploy. The turbines are bi-directional, so they generate power as the tide comes in and as it goes out. The Tocardo turbines are also cost-effective to produce at scale.  
The current configuration consists of two Tocardo T3 turbines that produce up to 880kw with a 14-metre passive pitch bi-directional blade. The power is converted to grid compliance through a turbine control hub and connects via a wet-mate connector.

Richard Parkinson

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4e6ccb98-43df-4971-851c-3a62d330c1ad (1)

Richard conceived the HydroWing device. He is an established offshore professional with extensive experience in executing complex offshore operations in the harshest environments and specialising in solutions for the offshore renewable energy sector. Richard’s offshore career started in 1984 where he worked on BP tankers. He then progressed to Master on anchor-handling tug supply vessels and heavy lift construction barges in the offshore oil industry in the North Sea, Asia and West Africa. In 2004, he acquired the company Mojo as an ongoing marine contracting business. Over the next decade, Richard developed the business into a highly successful international marine project management company specialising in the installation of offshore renewable energy projects, before exiting in 2015. This became the catalyst for the formation of the Inyanga Marine Energy Group.

<h2>The next steps for Inyanga Marine Energy Group </h2>
The company has chosen to use Floww’s innovative infrastructure to facilitate their next funding round and help them achieve their future goals. Inyanga Marine Energy Group plans to use this funding for the manufacturing and onshore testing demonstration of the Tocardo T3 turbine, passive pitch blade development and a full-scale demonstration project.  
The company has already installed 55% of total global tidal energy capacity. In 2023, the UK Contracts for Difference (CFD) awarded IMEG a 10MW project at the Morlais tidal site in Wales, for deployment in 2027. IMEG is also developing a 10MW deal for tidal-energy projects in Southeast Asia for PLN Indonesia Power.  
Inyanga has also won a public tender to decarbonise Capul Island in the Philippines. It was awarded the contract for engineering, procurement and construction. This will be the first ever tidal energy plant in Southeast Asia, expected to deploy in late 2025. 
Inyanga Marine Energy Group’s project pipeline has a combined deployed capacity of 43MW, and includes future projects in Canada, the Philippines, the Channel Islands, Indonesia and Wales.  
**Floww Markets Limited is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm reference number 980098. 
 The information and imagery contained within this article does not represent the opinions of Floww. Floww does not have a view on opinions provided by Inyanga Marine Energy Group in this article and elsewhere where they may be expressed, and is not responsible or liable for the information within this article.

<h3>Sources:</h3>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.oceanenergy-europe.euhttps://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2020/10/OEE_2030_Ocean_Energy_Vision.pdf">https://www.oceanenergy-europe.euhttps://wp.floww.io//wp-content/uploads/2020/10/OEE_2030_Ocean_Energy_Vision.pdf  </a></li>
<li><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6569cb331104cf000dfa7352/net-zero-government-emissions-roadmap.pdf">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6569cb331104cf000dfa7352/net-zero-government-emissions-roadmap.pdf</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/tidal-energy/">https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/tidal-energy/</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.precedenceresearch.com/renewable-energy-market">https://www.precedenceresearch.com/renewable-energy-market</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://fundyforce.ca/learning-portal/tidal-energy">https://fundyforce.ca/learning-portal/tidal-energy</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/tidal-energy-market-report">https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/tidal-energy-market-report</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Glossary:Gigawatt_hours_(GWh">https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Glossary:Gigawatt_hours_(GWh</a>)  </li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/tidal-turbines-could-generate-11-of-the-uks-power-new-research-168890">https://theconversation.com/tidal-turbines-could-generate-11-of-the-uks-power-new-research-168890</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/newsmajor-tidal-power-pros-and-cons-5766117/#:~:text=Environmental%20effects&amp;text=Tidal%20power%20can%20damage%20marine,habitations%20in%20tidal%20power%20locations">https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/newsmajor-tidal-power-pros-and-cons-5766117/#:~:text=Environmental%20effects&amp;text=Tidal%20power%20can%20damage%20marine,habitations%20in%20tidal%20power%20locations</a>. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.tocardo.com/what-is-the-impact-from-tidal-power-on-the-environment/">https://www.tocardo.com/what-is-the-impact-from-tidal-power-on-the-environment/</a> </li>
</ol>

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Inyanga Marine Energy Group

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Inyanga logo boxed

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Tocardo Turbines (1)

With growth and multiple funding rounds comes the increasing need to share information and maintain a dialogue with existing and potential future investors. At the earlier stages, email and file sharing software may suffice but ultimately these can be clunky and don’t always offer all the functionality needed in a fundraise process. This is where data rooms come in.  
A data room is a secure online repository used by startups, scaling businesses and larger companies to store and share confidential information with third parties, be that in private or public market transactions.  Designed to support corporate activities such as fundraising, they offer additional security, collaboration tools, audit trails and efficiencies that other traditional software systems cannot offer.  
With key information and documents in the data room, a company can easily share its documents, financial information and items of due diligence with investors whilst being able to manage version control. Going through multiple funding rounds requires founders and management teams to curate their data rooms meticulously, sharing the relevant information in a timely fashion and therefore maximising the chances of securing funding. 
Here, we take a closer look at the essential data room elements, and how companies can wield these pieces to their benefit:

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<ol>
<li>
<h2> Business plan and executive summary</h2>
</li>
</ol>
At the core of every successful fundraising endeavour lies a compelling business plan, a concise and engaging one-pager about the business and/or executive summary. These documents provide investors with a snapshot of the company&#8217;s vision, mission, market opportunity, and growth strategy. A well-crafted executive summary succinctly encapsulates the essence of the business, enticing investors to delve deeper into the data room for more detailed information. 
<ol start="2">
<li>
<h2> Financial projections and performance metrics</h2>
</li>
</ol>
Investors crave transparency when it comes to a scaleup&#8217;s financial health. Sharing comprehensive financial projections as well as historical performance data – this includes cashflow, balance sheet and P&amp;L as well as non-financial metrics is key. This data offers insights into the company&#8217;s revenue trajectory, profitability potential, and capital requirements, enabling investors to make informed decisions.  
<ol start="3">
<li>
<h2> Market analysis and competitive landscape</h2>
</li>
</ol>
Providing investors a thorough understanding of the market landscape you’re operating in is critical to capture their interest. This covers detailed market analysis, including market size, growth trends, target customer demographics, and competitive landscape assessment. Demonstrating a deep industry expertise and articulating a clear market positioning strategy instils confidence around the company’s growth potential.  
<ol start="4">
<li>
<h2> Product or service overview</h2>
</li>
</ol>
Investors want to know what sets a company apart from its competitors. This requires a comprehensive overview of the product or service, highlighting key features, technological advantages, and unique selling proposition. Including product roadmaps, development timelines, and how intellectual property has been developed will further bolster investors&#8217; confidence in the scaleup&#8217;s innovation and scalability. 
<ol start="5">
<li>
<h2> Team and organisational structure</h2>
</li>
</ol>
Investors invest in people as much as they invest in ideas. Companies should include detailed bios of key team members, highlighting their relevant experience, expertise, and track record. Additionally, providing clarity on the company&#8217;s organisational structure, including roles and responsibilities, can help investors assess the team&#8217;s capabilities and cohesion. 
<ol start="6">
<li>
<h2> Customer acquisition and retention strategies</h2>
</li>
</ol>
Proof of traction and growth is crucial for convincing investors of a company&#8217;s long term potential. This may include detail on customer acquisition channels, conversion rates, retention metrics, and user engagement strategies. Case studies, testimonials, and customer feedback can provide tangible evidence of market validation and the scaleup&#8217;s ability to attract and retain customers. 
<ol start="7">
<li>
<h2> Intellectual property and legal documentation</h2>
</li>
</ol>
Protecting intellectual property assets and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements are paramount. At the appropriate time in the investor discussions and diligence process, the company will need to share documentation related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and any other intellectual property filings. Additionally, providing clarity on legal agreements, contracts, and regulatory compliance measures can mitigate risk for investors and instil confidence in the company’s governance structure. 
<ol start="8">
<li>
<h2> Growth strategies and expansion plans</h2>
</li>
</ol>
Investors are keen to understand the management team’s plans to scale the business further and grow market share. This may require detail on not just the overall growth strategy but specifics into marketing plans, sales pipelines, distribution channels, and expansion initiatives. Demonstrating a thorough roadmap for growth can reassure investors of the company&#8217;s potential for long-term success. 
A curated data room is crucial to success, and as you grow, your business plan, financial projections, market analysis, product overviews, team structure grow with you. Your data room reflects your business evolution and tell a story of continued growth and scalability into the future, in ways that resonate with investors. Your data room gives you the power of transparency and dynamic storytelling that allows investors to make informed decisions at every stage of growth, maximising the chances of fundraising success. 
Floww’s virtual data room technology is an inclusive feature within the Floww fundraising platform. Not only does it allow you to share all of the above, it allows you to manage different permission levels with different investor groups, thus alleviating concern over over-sharing or information falling into the wrong hands.  
With its user-friendly interface, Floww allows you to also tell your story in a dynamic fashion rather than serving as a functional data room for due diligence in a fundraise process.   
As a growing company or founder you can access the platform free of charge.

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Floww fundraising platform and dynamic data room

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Good news: Floww Markets Limited (FlowwMarkets) is Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorised and regulated!
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<h2>What does this mean?​</h2>
In short, it means we can get the ball rolling. We&#8217;ve now launched FlowwMarkets, streamlining the investment process for private market investors, funding partners and high-growth startups.
FlowwMarkets allows UK companies to raise capital faster, more easily and cost-effectively than ever before, while future-proofing themselves for their journeys towards unicorn status and beyond.
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<h2>A message from our Founder:​​</h2>
“Floww exists to enable the seamless movement of private investment capital from those who have it, to those who need it.”
“The recent news of our authorisation is good news for UK businesses and the wider economy. It will allow talent and the UK’s fast growth companies to flourish by opening the door to the professional investment universe, from eligible individuals to large-scale institutions.&#8221;
-Martijn de Wever, CEO and Founder of Floww
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<p data-ccp-props="{&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335562764&quot;:2,&quot;335562765&quot;:1,&quot;335562766&quot;:4,&quot;335562767&quot;:0,&quot;335562768&quot;:4,&quot;335562769&quot;:0}">​​If you know any UK companies looking to fundraise, and you’d like to learn more about how Floww can support them on their journey, get in touch here: <a href="mailto:fundraise@floww.io?subject=Fundraising%20on%20Floww">fundraise@floww.io</a>

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