When a brand captures the imagination of willing investors, there’s no holding back the crowdfunding. Such is the case with Cauli Rice, the lower calorie rice alternative that hit its £400,000 funding target in under a week, and continued to raise funds through the roof. This is the London-based firm’s fourth equity crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube and is set to close mid-March. Funds will be used to create new flavours and international expansion.

This cauliflower rice is a low-carb, preservative-free, shelf-stable, microwavable alternative to pasta or rice. ‘It’s a direct swap-out with rice but you get the calorific advantage; you’re saving up to 73% of calories on a white rice,’ explains co-founder Jamie Harris. Investors are clamouring for a stake in his business; 1.2 million pouches were sold in its first year with listings in over 2,800 supermarkets. Cauli Rice has clocked up numerous awards, including ‘Top 3 UK Startups’ in Richard Branson’s business competition, Pitch to Ritch and named The Grocer’s ‘Product Launch of the Year.’ It is now available in the frozen and chilled sections of supermarkets and is set to be listed in 250 jumbo supermarkets.

Cauli Rice is currently overfunding; its target was £400k for 9.21% equity. At the time of publication, the firm had raised £1,215,410. Safe to say, theirs is a crowdfunding success story.

February 2017