For CuanTec this process of idea to commencement of operations started in 2012 with the earliest considerations of what could form a business and then took 2 ½ years work to build the plan and get funding. This resulted in the launch of a biopolymer manufacturing company researching innovative methods of biological extraction of chitin from the shells of langoustines and from that creating a chitosan-based biodegradable, compostable, antimicrobial food packing initially aimed at the fresh seafood market.

SSC was there from the very beginning and continued involvement with the company post-launch by providing CEO (Cait Murray-Green) and Head of Marketing (Andrew King) through the first 4 years of operations. This enabled further grant funding to be obtained, successful research projects to be completed, providing value inflection points for the company and a successful SEED funding round securing interest of Sky Ocean Ventures as leading investor alongside Scottish Investment Bank (part of Scottish Enterprise). In total over £2.5m in grant and equity was secured.

Cait and Andrew provided all the strategy and PR for CuanTec themselves and this included success in competitions including Scottish EDGE, HIGGS EDGE winner (150k, June 2017) RSPB Nature in Scotland Awards and Pitching events at the RSC in London, and JLAB an innovation program which brought them to the attention of Waitrose and John Lewis.

Now with a new CEO in post, CuanTec will go forward as a fully formed company capable of taking on the world.