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Collider
WHATS THE PROBLEM?
The decision for drinkers is overly binary: either consume alcohol with its associated negative side effects or abstain entirely.
Currently, there's a lack of credible options for beer drinkers wanting relaxation and relief from social anxiety without suffering the drawbacks linked to alcohol consumption.
This week’s company, Collider, is creating the world’s first non-alcoholic beer to contain both adaptogens and functional mushrooms👇


Solution in a sentence: A non-alcoholic beer, infused with a variety of adaptogens, providing drinkers with the sensory and mood-boosting benefits of its alcoholic counterpart, along with its flavour profile, but without any negative side effects.
Features:
The beer: Collider is available in both lager and session pale ale varieties, crafted similarly to alcoholic beer but with special yeast strains, adjusted malt profiles, and precise temperature control, resulting in a final liquid with a maximum alcohol content of 0.5%.
The adaptogens:
Ashwagandha: Reduces cortisol, the stress hormone.
L-Theanine: Increases dopamine and serotonin production, promoting relaxation and improving cognitive function.
Lion’s mane: Increases production of nerve growth factor, which can reduce stress levels.

Company breakdown:
Industry: Non-alcoholic beer
Headquarters: London
Year Founded: 2024
Team Count: 2
Investors: Eamon Jubbawy (founder Isometric and Onfido), Charles Delingpole (founder ComplayAdvantage), Nik Haukohl (co-founder Butter (acquired)), various other angels.
Raised to date: £200k
Currently raising: £115k SEIS remaining
Business Model: DTC, flagship retail (Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason, etc.), wholesale (restaurants, cafes, bars), and chain retail & supermarkets (John Lewis, Tesco, etc.).
Early Traction: First production batch sold out, pre-order available for the second. 15k+ mailing list.
Website: https://www.drinkcollider.com/

Due Diligence
WHAT WE LIKE
Large and growing market:
The UK non-alcoholic beer market is currently worth $184 million and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.68% over the next three years.
The global non-alcoholic beer market is set to grow from $16.65 billion to $25.31 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 8.5%.
Distribution network:
Harry’s (founder) previous sparkling wine business currently sells into John Lewis and Morrisons and has connections with the relevant buyers.
The incoming Young’s Pub Group chairman will be joining the Collider board providing important connections.
Product and branding: The beer, proprietary blend of adaptogens, brand and packaging together provide a unique and attractive offering.
Early-adopter mentality: Anecdotally, we see a high level of early adopter behaviour in the non-alcoholic beer space, with consumers open to trying innovative or unconventional products.
First-mover advantage: Collider will be the world’s first non-alcoholic beer to contain both adaptogens and functional mushrooms.
POTENTIAL RISKS
Incumbent advantage: Leveraging their extensive resources, infrastructure, and market reach, larger brands may exploit established distribution networks and relationships, swiftly expanding their product offerings to imitate Collider and dominate the market.
Time discrepancy for effects:
Ashwagandha: A risk is the time it takes for consumers to feel Ashwagandha’s relaxing effects. Studies measured these effects after many doses over weeks, so drinkers may not sense the intended benefits after just a few beers.
Lion’s mane: Similarly with Lion’s mane, reduced subjective stress was observed following 28 days of supplementation, and improved cognitive function was observed after 8 weeks of supplementation. However, increased speed of mental performance, reaction times, and subjective ratings of happiness have been observed just 60 minutes after dosage.

Founding Team
Harry Cooke, CEO - also co-founder at Pale Fox Wines, and previously director at The Sustainable Spirit Co.
Matthew Denham, Head of Product - founder at Good Yield and previously founder at UBREWCC.
Steve Cooke, Non-executive director - Senior Partner at Slaughter & May, and joining the Young’s pub group as Chairman in April.
To request an introduction to the founders, please reply to this email.

Comparables
Lucky Saint - backed by Beringea, JamJar Investing, and various other angels
Big Drop - backed by crowdfunding
Days - backed by Adam Keary (ex-Camden Town Brewery MD), Giles Humphries (Mindful Chef founder) and Ryan Kohn (Propercorn founder)
Fungtn - backed by crowdfunding
Impossibrew - backed by crowdfunding and angels
Differentiator: While some similar products boast strong brands and share certain ingredients, Collider distinguishes itself with its highly unique branding and first-mover advantage, blending adaptogens and functional mushrooms in beer.
Have your say:
Written by Monty
If you’d like to 🎙️pitch to us or 📣 partner with us, please respond to this email