Seven Start-Ups delivered dynamic five-minute pitches to JLP’s sustainability and commercial teams, aligning with the Partnership’s priorities: circularity, responsible sourcing, biodiversity, traceability, and climate action. The event fostered meaningful connections between LUinc. founders and JLP teams, opening doors for future collaboration.
Izzy Mintus, Founder of Forma, was awarded ‘pitch of the day’ for her technology that helps fashion retailers reduce returns and waste by converting customer photos and body data into accurate size guides.
This pilot event is set to become an annual collaboration between Loughborough University and JLP to showcase innovations and strengthen industry connections.
The Loughborough University start-ups that attended were:
- Amora – Jaime Van-Rooyen, Loughborough Graduate: A design-led femtech startup creating Halo, a reusable rinsing pod that enables hygienic, one-handed cleaning of menstrual cups, making sustainable menstrual care more practical and accessible.
- EngiGreening – Owen Jones, Loughborough Graduate: Developing a commercially viable process that fully degrades compostable plastic packaging, helping address waste challenges and advance responsible material innovation.
- Moti Me – Katie Michaels, Loughborough Graduate and Innovate UK Purple Plaque 2025 Awardee: A medically approved, play-based system supporting early childhood development through engaging sensory tools designed for children with additional needs.
- Tzuka – Tom Jelliffe, Loughborough Graduate: Creators of ultra-durable, waterproof sports earbuds engineered for athletes, offering phone-free training and longer product lifespan through robust design.
- Culture Mocktail – Aisha Aldris and Nour Abosaif, Loughborough Graduates: A brand and community creating products and experiences that help individuals with multicultural identities connect with and celebrate their heritage.
- Forma – Isabel Mintus, Charnwood-based Founder: Technology enabling fashion retailers to convert customer photos and body data into accurate visual size guides, reducing returns, cutting waste and improving sustainability in apparel.
- YUMI Sleep – Richard Naylor, Charnwood-based Founder: Makers of the world’s first modular mattress system that is infinitely repairable, upgradeable and recyclable, combining luxury comfort with true circularity.
- Freeater – Kate Alderson, Loughborough Graduate. A platform founded to address the daily struggles faced by individuals managing food allergies, intolerances, and dietary requirements.
- Fuse – Doris Greenwood, Loughborough Graduate. Fusing female physiology and targeted training to optimise performance and reduce injury.
- Sapo – Cameron Ryner, Loughborough Graduate. Creator of a multifunctional sports equipment treatment appliance, aimed at increasing the lifespan of sports equipment which cannot be washed traditionally.
All participating founders have received support through LUinc., based at the Holywell Building at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP). LUinc. Is supported by Shared Prosperity Funding from Charnwood Borough Council and is part of the Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN), which brings together support for entrepreneurial individuals from across the University, and beyond it, to enable Founders to develop skills, test ideas and scale businesses.