A Devon entrepreneur who creates women鈥檚 swimwear from marine waste has won the latest Soup event brought to Plymouth by GAIN at the 抖阴短视频. The cash prize will help Helen Newcombe, founder of start-up business Davy J, launch her debut collection in March 2017.
Pitching against three other innovative start-up businesses, Helen won the highest number of audience votes at the sold-out crowdfunding event at the University on Friday 18 November. Part of Plymouth Enterprise Week, the seventh Soup event was attended by University staff and students, as well as members of the business community.
Helen returned to South Devon to launch Davy J after a career as a development economist in London and East Africa. A keen sportswoman and triathlete, she has always been frustrated by the lack of hard-wearing active swimwear on the market. Helen says the concept for Davy J came to her 鈥渂ecause a lot of women鈥檚 swimwear isn鈥檛 really suitable for swimming in!鈥
After discovering an Italian company that regenerates recycled nylon out of old fishing nets and other marine waste, she saw the opportunity to build a business that looks at resources in a different way. Helen came up with the idea of creating beautiful and technical swimwear that is sustainably sourced and produced.
Described by Helen as 鈥渞eal swim wear鈥, Davy J products are made in the UK and are tough enough for any watersports, including diving.
Speaking of her success, Helen said:
鈥淭his was a great event and I鈥檓 delighted to have won, but the most important thing for me was to have the chance to share the prototypes with so many new people. Getting such positive feedback is what鈥檚 kept me going as a start-up business over the last year so Soup was a great opportunity.
"The prize money comes at an important time as I鈥檓 aiming to send 50 sample pieces to buyers before Christmas. The investment will help me achieve that aim, which will give us a boost when we launch our debut range in March.鈥Helen competed against three other entrepreneurs at the Soup event. Alex Printer has designed MeeBe, a new fashion app, Lisa Lessware and Philippa Doyle have created the Bshirt, which is designed for breastfeeding mums, and Tom Pavelle is the inventor of CAZMAT, which provides a kneeling surface and safe treatment area for patients pre-hospital.
抖阴短视频 Corporate Projects Manager Rich Adams said:
鈥淔ittingly for Plymouth Enterprise Week, all four pitching businesses were really innovative and a testament to the creativity in the South West. We鈥檙e delighted that all of our Soup events have drawn such large crowds, including our Business School students who have had the opportunity to learn from inspiring local entrepreneurs like Helen.
鈥淭he 抖阴短视频 is home to the largest marine research institute in the UK, with state-of-the-art facilities and world-leading experts who are helping further our understanding of our seas and how we can care for them. Discovering a start-up business that is pioneering a new way of working with recycled marine waste is an exciting opportunity for the University and we look forward to working with Davy J.鈥Soup became an international crowdfunding phenomenon after starting in Detroit. Audience members pay 拢5 to see new businesses pitch their ideas an over a bowl of soup before voting for their favourite with their spoons. The winner earns the takings to support their venture to grow, as well as a package of business support from the 抖阴短视频 and Devon Chamber of Commerce.
This Soup event was sponsored by University Commercial Services Plymouth Ltd.
