UCL pet food startup raises over a million pounds

Tuggs was founded by UCL School of Management alumnus Harry Bremner in 2022 when he noticed a growing number of pet owners wanted to feed their pets with healthier, more sustainable food.

Working with an expert team of vets, nutritionists and dieticians, Tuggs developed freshly-made meals for dogs, using insects. The meals are tailored to the needs of each animal and then delivered to each customer’s door.

Making the most of entrepreneurial support at UCL

Harry launched his business after studying his MSc Entrepreneurship at UCL, developing and building Tuggs while on the course.

He also received support through the Hatchery startup incubator programme at BaseKX, UCL’s dedicated entrepreneurship hub, run by UCL Innovation & Enterprise. Here Harry had access to tailored advice, mentors and equity-free office space. 

Harry says: “I was fortunate to have the opportunity to develop the idea for Tuggs while at UCL, surrounded by a range of hands-on mentors who were critical in helping me get the concept off the ground. The added bonus was the facilities that UCL provides, including the support of The Hatchery and the fantastic campus at Level 50 in Canada Square.” 

The funding to take things further

The recent funding, from a mix of institutional and angel investors, will allow Harry to scale Tuggs and help with research as the business continues to innovate with its sustainable dog food products. 

The company has now shipped over 350,000 meals to dogs across the UK. Harry’s success has been recognised by Nestlé, who asked him to pitch at the 2023 Unleashed PetTech Summit in Paris. He was also one of 19 UCL students and alumni to feature in Forbes’ 30-under-30 list this year.

Dr Kathryn Walsh, Executive Director at UCL Innovation & Enterprise, extended her congratulations to Harry, who she described as “a stellar example of the innovative businesses to come out of the university.

“It’s fantastic to see a graduate making the most of everything they’ve learnt on their course at UCL, and as part of our entrepreneurial community. We’ll be watching closely where Harry takes Tuggs from here.”

UCL’s thriving entrepreneurial community produces startups that attract millions of pounds of investment, creating jobs and spearheading innovation that boosts the UK economy. Over the last five years more than 335 new student startups were created at UCL. Collectively they have raised over £327 million in external investment and currently employ over 2,000 people.

Links

Find out more about:

• Tuggs
• UCL School of Management
• UCL entrepreneurial support for students
• Join the Hatchery startup incubator
• Forbes UCL alumni recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe

Photo © Tuggs