LDC Top 50 2024
Kate Prince
Founder
Ancient + Brave
“Being one of the highest scoring B Corp wellness brands in the world is a huge point of pride,” says Kate Prince. “People and the planet are at the heart of our business, and profits are a great side-effect.”
The former media lawyer started Ancient + Brave from her kitchen table in 2018 and her range of sustainably sourced collagen, blends and supplements are now sold via its website and in retailers across 22 countries. The company employs a predominantly female team of 55 in Sussex, including a team of nutritionists. “We won’t be sensationalist about our products, ever. That’s the lawyer in me. We want to educate customers.”
Being one of the highest scoring B-Corp wellness brands in the world is a huge point of pride.”
Q&A
What made you start your own business?
I worked as a media lawyer at Endemol at the start of the reality TV show era. It was a thrilling time to be a lawyer, but I got the biggest buzz from listening to the creatives. I kept thinking, “I want to be on that side of the table.” My husband and I started a tea brand together before I launched Ancient + Brave. Our kids were older by then and I was lucky to have a very supportive partner at home. The balancing act can be fraught.
How have you funded the business?
I raised £350k from angel investors in 2019 and secured £7m from Piper last year, but I am in the minority: only 2% of equity investment in the UK goes to female founders.
How will you grow the business in the next five years?
We’ve just launched in Germany and the plan is to continue expanding internationally and innovating new products. We’re investing around £0.5m over the next few years on clinical trials, research studies and a sponsored PhD at Loughborough University.
What’s your sustainability strategy?
I looked into becoming a B Corp early on and that process shaped every business decision I made, from sourcing the most sustainable ingredients to using FSC-certified packaging. Those decisions are vital for our planet and are in our DNA as a mission driven wellness brand.
