We love businesses that both do something different and also solve problems- so we love Dash Water, a startup with a product that both addresses food waste and creates a delicious, wholesome product. They're our StartUp of the Week - find out more about them!
1. Explain your business in thirty seconds or less
Dash Water is British sparkling spring water infused with wonky / surplus fruit and vegetables to add a subtle dash of flavour. Dash contains no sugar, no calories or additives - nothing but all-natural ingredients.
2. Where are you based and why is it a good location for your business?
We’re based in South London, which is key for us. London is now one of the food and drinks capitals of the world - long are the days of people looking down on English food. The surge of amazing foodie markets such as Maltby St and Borough Market have been a good source of inspiration for us.
3. How did you come up with the idea?
Jack and I originally started out working in the mainstream soft drinks industry. It's where we developed a daily office ritual of bringing in a water bottle filled with different fruit and vegetables. We'd nerdily compare flavours, but frustratingly couldn’t find anything we liked half as much available when we went out for lunch in the shops...so Dash was born. We come from farming backgrounds and food waste is a core part of Dash. Having seen the vast quantity of food waste that happens in UK, creating our drinks only using fruit &and vegetables that have failed to meet overly stringent supermarket regulations and would have otherwise have gone to waste is a key part of our ethos.
4. What stage was your business at when you applied for the Start Up Loan?
At the concept stage. We’d done around 15 sampling sessions in parks around London testing our infusions, but needed a leg up to produce a drink ready for market.
5. How have you used it to grow your business?
From initial sampling sessions around London, we knew we had a drink people loved. However, it was tricky to create a natural drink with a long shelf life. The loan allowed us to partner with our great flavour development team to deliver our infusions, which could stay fresh for longer.
6. Who helped you get a Virgin StartUp loan?
Ben Keene has been our mentor - he’s an amazing guy, having set up Tribe Wanted and Rebel Book Club, as well as being a Virgin StartUp business advisor. Ben really helped structure Dash’s journey right from the concept stage to our full launch!
7. Biggest achievement so far?
We’re really proud of the fact we’ve used 240kg of cucumbers and lemons that would have otherwise gone to waste!
8. What’s next for your business?
Through Virgin’s support we want to bring our drinks to more people and to keep encouraging people to drink more water and less sugar, as well as raising awareness about food waste.
The information contained in this website is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice on any matter. Use of this website is at users own risk and is not intended to create a lawyer-client relationship between Virgin StartUp and any user. Information displayed on this website is provided “as is” and Virgin StartUp does not provide any express or implied warranty or representation concerning the information, including but not limited to the accuracy or appropriateness of the information. Virgin StartUp recommend that users seek their own legal advice before taking (or refraining from) taking any action and do not accept any liability in respect of any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information displayed on this website to the fullest extent permitted by law.