⚡ How is this Start-Up Turning Waste into Hummus Wonder?

Morning Innovators ⚡ In less than 5 minutes, we’ll cover…

🥳 The best funding opportunities, events and jobs in the Start-Up world this week
📰 This week’s biggest news stories in the Start-Up world
🥫 How this Start-Up has turned waste into hummus wonder
🏃 How to pitch invade for maximum attention
🎥 A tool that enables you to collaborate on video content with ease

✨ Last week’s most clicked link, was this link taking you through to Neel Jain, who is looking to write cheques out of a16z speedrun.

Happy hustling,

Rich

🎤 Opportunities + Events

⌨️ Alt Capital have raised a new $275m fund looking to back Seed - Series A Start-Ups with $1m - $25m tickets - see the team here!

📈 Notion Capital have raised a $130m European growth fund, looking to back growth companies across defence, supply chain logistics, AI, SaaS, Cloud and FinTech - meet the team here!

🌊 Wave Function Ventures have launched a new $15.1m Pre-Seed/Seed fund to invest in early stage Deep-Tech Start-Ups - get more info here!

We now have a community of thousands of Start-Ups and Founders, here are the hottest Start-Up job opportunities from the Innovators Uncensored community on our very own Start-Ups Job Board!

💼 Start-Up Jobs

🛠 Product Manager, ApTap
🚗 Business Development Representative, FinalRentals
👷 Head of Product, SuperFi

😇 Anthropic and Lovable angels back AI recruitment Start-Up Jack & Jill in $20m round. Sifted

🦾 Meta partners up with ARM to scale AI efforts. TechCrunch

🏦 India’s Kuku snags $85m as mobile content wars intensify. TechCrunch
 
🎓 Spinout investment surged to record levels last year. UKTN

Planning a trip for business or pleasure?

Final Rentals, a pioneering car rental fintech headquartered in Wales, has revolutionised the industry with its innovative approach and product-centric strategy. By addressing key challenges within the car rental sector, Finalrentals has experienced remarkable growth, increasing its size sixfold in the past 12 months. The company's expansion is not limited to growth metrics alone; it has also successfully established a robust global presence, extending its footprint across the EU and the Caribbean.

Book your rental here!

Is there any marketing stunt better than a good old fashioned pitch invasion? Or in this case, track invasion.

Ketone IQ is a product aimed at endurance athletes, promising high performance energy in a bottle. They know that not only do their customers carry out intense endurance sporting activities, but they like to watch them too!

So, when the Tour de France came around, their CEO decided he had to get some screen time. Naturally, he gets an inflatable suit that is an exact copy of their Ketone IQ bottles, picks his moment, and unleashes his speed.

Running alongside the pro cyclists in the world’s most famous race, the cameras couldn’t help but pick him up, giving him free advertising to millions of his dream customers.

Whilst I can’t suggest that you pitch invade, how can you capitalise on existing audiences like this?

Each week we highlight our favourite tools - either something we’ve been using in our businesses, or tools that our Start-Up community have recommended.

Flask is a video collaboration platform built by creatives, for how creatives actually work. It’s like a combination of Notion + Loom, but for video. Designed and developed solo (no investors, no team).

ChicP: Turning Waste Into Wonder

Born from a passion for sustainability and great food, ChicP is redefining hummus as both a healthy staple and a solution to food waste. Founded by Hannah McCollum, the brand began with a simple mission: to create delicious, wholesome dips using surplus produce, whilst inspiring people to think differently about what they eat and what they throw away.

From classic hummus to creative flavour twists, ChicP caters to every age and taste. The brand’s latest innovation, Fridge-Free Hummus Snack Pots, has brought convenience to clean eating - balancing flavour, nutrition and portability. Perfect for lunchboxes, commutes, and picnics, these ambient hummus pots don’t even need refrigeration and are made for on-the-go snacking.

A Solo Start With Big Ambitions

Unlike many founders, Hannah chose to go it alone. “At the time, I didn’t really want a Co-Founder - I wasn’t sure how it would work,” she explains. In the early days, she leaned on two trusted advisors who helped her navigate the complexities of starting out.

Looking back, she admits a Co-Founder might have helped accelerate growth: “It would’ve taken some of the pressure off and allowed me to focus on other areas of the business.” But her solo journey has given her a deep understanding of every part of ChicP, from production to partnerships.

From Kitchen Table to Fortnum & Mason

ChicP’s very first sale came from the café next door to Hannah’s flat, she’d make hummus in her kitchen and hand-deliver the product herself.

Her big break came when Fortnum & Mason listed ChicP, validating the brand’s premium positioning. From there, Hannah hustled relentlessly, emailing wholesalers, attending events, and networking at every opportunity. Her persistence paid off, turning homemade batches into a recognised brand on UK shelves.

Scaling Up, One Yes at a Time

Scaling wasn’t straightforward. Without a manufacturer or distributor at first, Hannah had to build credibility step by step - but it all changed when a major wholesaler said yes.

That one “yes” unlocked the domino effect: a manufacturer came on board, followed by larger retailers. “We had all the relationships and agreements lined up, so as soon as we got the green light, we were ready to go,” she says. It was a defining moment - proof that groundwork and patience really do pay off.

Bootstrapped Beginnings

Hannah started ChicP with just £6,000 of her own money. To fund growth, she worked evening cooking jobs, using the income to cover expenses and gather real customer feedback whilst on the job.

ChicP has remained bootstrapped for most of its journey, built on a foundation of smart budgeting and resilience. Recently, the company closed its first external investment, secured through Hannah’s own network and relentless outreach - just trying to open every door possible.

Lessons From the Journey

For Hannah, the biggest learning has been about people. “I wish I’d brought the right expertise in earlier,” she reflects. “The right people can make such a difference, they can help you move faster and unlock investment sooner. But they’re not always easy to find.”

Still, every challenge has shaped ChicP into what it is today: a brand that blends purpose with practicality, sustainability with flavour, and hustle with heart.

Next week I’ll be highlighting another awesome Start-Up, as well as sharing all the usuals including funding opportunities, Start-Up news, plus plenty of awesome tips, tricks and tools.

P.S. Connect with me on LinkedIn…