FreshCheck’s journey from a research idea in the labs of Imperial College London to a fast-growing startup on the cusp of a Series A investment round is a story of innovation, perseverance, and a relentless focus on solving a critical problem in food safety. Along this path, we have made significant strides, from developing a patented colour change technology to securing key industry accreditations, and we’re now gearing up for the next phase of growth. In this piece we make a reflection on the support we have received from the Imperial White City Incubator how we’ve transformed an academic idea into a commercial venture poised for the next phase of our growth journey.
Building from Imperial College’s Research Excellence
FreshCheck began with 3 PhD candidates discussing the issues of food waste from a purely academic perspective. With Imperial’s support from the very beginning, we have developed into a fast-growing start-up on the cusp of a Series A investment round. We have pivoted our products, secured a global patent, and gained key accreditations all whilst growing our business at the Imperial Incubator.
As FreshCheck’s journey in the laboratory moves away from Imperial, we want to reflect on the support we have received from Imperial College, the White City Incubator and the wider networks. Because without these organisations and the individuals behind them, we would never have transformed an academic idea into a commercial venture poised for growth.
When Food Spoils?
Inspired by The Institute of Chemical Biology’s CDT Den in 2014, we started our own journey of deep tech entrepreneurship. Using our backgrounds in Chemistry, Biology and Physics we started to look for issues that were personal to us, and that we believed we could help alleviate. We landed on food spoilage at first - something that felt close to our hearts given the cost associated with foods, and the risks of getting unwell from food we didn’t know had spoiled. At the heart of the issue, we wanted to know when food has spoiled. We wanted to Make Contamination Visible.
Making Contamination Visible
Traditional methods, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) testing, required expensive proprietary hardware called luminometers, making them inaccessible for many small to medium-sized enterprises. We set out to create a solution that didn’t rely on hardware, and that was cost-effective, simple to use, and highly accurate. The result was our patented colour-changing swab technology, a system that provides a visual, real-time indication of hygiene status, with all the data captured in our cloud system using any standard smartphone or tablet.
Scaling from Academic Idea to Commercial Venture
Moving from an academic lab to a commercially viable product was no easy feat. Our team faced the challenge of transitioning a prototype into a scalable, market-ready solution. Apart from refining and iterating the technology, we also needed to understand the commercial landscape, navigate manufacturing routes, and engage with potential customers.
We were incredibly fortunate to take part in the Venture Catalyst Challenge and work with Imperial College’s Advanced Hackspace and secure a Project Boost Grant. The VCC provided the aforementioned crucial connections, and the £500 grant allowed us to start our initial research. It’s no understatement that FreshCheck would not be where it is today without Imperial’s early-stage report. The support of Imperial is a crucial part of our journey helping us to move beyond the prototype stage, providing mentorship, resources, and access to networks that have proven invaluable in our growth journey.
Key Achievements in our Growth Journey
As we evolved from seed to scale, several key milestones marked our progress. Perhaps one of the most significant was securing a patent for our colour change hygiene verification technology, a breakthrough that set us apart from existing solutions in the market. It’s important again to mention how Imperial helped with this journey. Taking part in the ICB’s DCT Den (our original inspiration!) provided the funding and partnership to file this key patent.
Additionally, achieving BRCGS partnership was a critical step in proving the reliability and compliance of our solution. This accreditation demonstrates that our technology meets the highest standards in food safety, opening the doors to working with larger clients in the food manufacturing and retail sectors.
One of our proudest moments came when we began working with a major UK food producer, using our system to help them streamline their hygiene verification processes. This partnership validated our technology’s effectiveness in real-world, high-volume environments, proving that we could deliver not just in theory, but in practice.
FreshCheck’s Vision Beyond Series A
As we prepare for our Series A fundraising round, we have a clear vision of where FreshCheck is headed. Series A investment will allow us to expand our platform technology, building on the foundation of our colour-changing swabs to offer even more comprehensive hygiene verification solutions. We have a clear road-map to build out our commercial team while also maintaining our R&D programs. One of our goals from the outset was to ensure that these tests are accessible to wider market sectors, where restaurants, hotels, schools and beyond can ensure cleaning processes. Our overall sights are set on innovating healthcare sector cleaning, to curb the rise of antimicrobial resistance by ensuring that good cleaning removes the threat in the first place. After all - it has always been easier to kill bacteria on surfaces than it is inside of a patient.
Harnessing the Data
One of the most exciting areas of growth for us is in the power of data. By utilising the data collected from our hygiene tests, we can provide businesses with deeper insights into their contamination risks and help the drive towards proactive safety and cleaning practices. Our long-term goal is to integrate AI-driven predictive analytics into our platform, giving businesses the tools they need to stay ahead of potential hygiene issues.
Catalyst for Growth
Looking back on our journey, we can confidently say that the support and resources at Imperial and the Imperial Incubator were pivotal in accelerating our transition from concept to commercial success, and we would wholeheartedly recommend the resources offered at Imperial to any start-up looking to scale rapidly and efficiently to use the Imperial community and spaces. From a university lab to the production lines of major food companies, FreshCheck has come a long way in a short amount of time. Our patented technology, industry recognition, and successful partnerships demonstrate that we are ready for the next phase of growth. The Series A round will enable us to accelerate that growth, expand our market presence, and continue to innovate in the critical field of hygiene verification. We look forward to continuing working with stakeholders who share our vision for a safer, smarter, and more efficient food industry.
Appreciation and Acknowledgements
Finally, a few special thank yous to the Imperial (and former Imperial) individuals who have helped us along the way. So a huge thanks to (in no particular order) Graham Hewson, Dominic Falcao, Mark Hammond, Liz McCready, Smita Chauhan, Billy Koltsos, Vicky Kilcoyne, Oscar Ces, Laura Barter, Emma Pallett Liz Choonara, Ben Mumby-Croft, Kristin Martin, Sarah Ranchev-Hale, Nikki Kelly, Simon Hepworth, Brijesh Roy, James Groves, Zoe Reich, Jake Durrant, Hannah Cameron, Jing Sheng Pang, Victoria Nicholl and everyone else who works tirelessly to help uplift individuals with good ideas.