Seedlip founder launches £2m crowdfunding campaign for Pollen Projects
Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip and a leading figure in the non-alcoholic drinks sector, has launched a £2 million crowdfunding campaign on Republic Europe for his latest venture, Pollen Projects.
The independent drinks studio, which Branson founded alongside former Seedlip COO Emma Wykes, has already raised £1.2 million privately from investors including exited drinks founders, distributors, the former chairman of Gozney, and actor Kit Harington.
Pollen Projects develops premium non-alcoholic brands and currently operates two: Sylva, described as the world’s first distillery and maturation lab for aged non-alcoholic spirits made from grain and wood, and SEASN, a range of 0.0% cocktail bitters now available in six markets.
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Funds from the campaign will be used to scale production and marketing for both brands, including establishing a second Sylva site in upstate New York and launching a new 100ml SEASN format to support international expansion.
Branson said the campaign reflects a “structural change” in the way consumers socialise and drink, noting that 71% of Europeans are cutting back on alcohol while US consumption continues to fall.
“People still want to get together and still deserve delicious drinks regardless of the ABV,” he said. “Now is the right time to turn the public’s appetite for this movement into a chance to invest in it.”
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