Invest Well: Venture Capital Firm Pembroke VCT Supports Health & Wellness

In the latest installment of our new series spotlighting the capital providers that are emerging as health and wellness specialists, we’re focusing on Pembroke VCT.

A London-based venture capital trust providing investors with access to a private equity style investment strategy, as part of the Oakley Capital group of companies, Pembroke VCT has a history of supporting wellness brands in realising their vision, by utilising its extensive network and experience.

From start-ups to more mature businesses, since its launch in 2013, the firm has invested in a wide range of founders and management teams with exciting growth prospects.

Investing in companies where it believes it can be most instrumental in their growth, Pembroke VCT continues to operate with a consumer-focused investment strategy. In particular, it seeks out businesses with a consumer focus and strong brand potential, as well as those that demonstrate an innovative and validated business model.

With a strong focus on the health and fitness sectors, read on to discover which wellness brands have made it onto the firm’s rapidly expanding portfolio.

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Boom Cycle

Investing £430,000 in the indoor cycling studio in April 2013, the funds are currently being used to kickstart BOOM Cycle’s proposed expansion from its flagship Shoreditch studio, to approximately nine new sites across London.

Andrew Wolfson, chief executive of Pembroke, said at the time: “We are excited to have invested in BOOM Cycle, a dynamic UK company, and look forward to working with the founders to build the leading indoor cycling studio.”

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KX Gym

Investing £700,000 in the luxury London-based gym in 2013, Pembroke has since worked with the brand to help it  retain exclusivity (minimal volume growth, modest membership fee increase), increase secondary spend (restaurant, spa, personal training), and to continue to build the KX brand by offering other associated products (e.g. KX Life, KX Urban and KX Concierge).

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Plenish

Investing £225,000 in the UK-based cold-pressed juice company in 2014, the funds enabled Plenish to upgrade its manufacturing and distribution and secure major supermarket listings without compromising the production process.

Now stocked at a number of premium retailers including Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Ocado, Selfridges, and Planet Organic, Plenish is one of the UK’s leading premium juice brands.

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Sourced Market

Investing £830,000 in the healthy cafe, restaurant and retail company  in 2014, the funding has since been used for further site expansion across London.

“Everything we do is based on human relationships,” co-founder Ben O’Brien told Fine Food at the time. “And when people are passionate about their products, it rubs off.”

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Dilly & Wolf

Investing £170,000 in premium health snack maker Dilly & Wolf in 2014, the funding has since been used to develop the products and provide funding for launch costs.

Now available at Selfridges, Sainsbury’s and M&S, the range features the  UK’s first, pulse based range of savoury snacks with British grown peas and beans at heart.

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