Armaros raises £100k from British Design Fund to commercialise equestrian body armour.
The Buckinghamshire start-up secured the backing to bring its flexible protection technology to market following rigorous safety testing.
Buckinghamshire equestrian start-up Armaros develops flexible body armour for horse riders using biomimicry design techniques inspired by the human spine.
Armaros has secured £100k in investment from British Design Fund to help bring its flexible body armour product to market.
Founded by former Finnish showjumper Esmeralda Tuomi, the Buckinghamshire-based company developed a new type of protective material inspired by the human spine, aiming to offer comfort without sacrificing safety for riders.
The capital will support the company as it undergoes rigorous safety testing and prepares for its initial commercial launch targeting the equestrian sector, with longer-term plans to expand into other sports and industries.
From the founder
"I had always found body protectors to be very uncomfortable, but my accident really hit home to me the importance of wearing one. When I started asking fellow riders about their experiences, I quickly found that most riders don’t wear one because they find them incredibly stiff and restrictive. That was a lightbulb moment for me."
Esmeralda Tuomi
at Armaros
Investor perspective
"The investment committee were really impressed by Esmeralda’s strong knowledge of the equestrian sector, which makes up a large percentage of Armaros’ initial market."
Damon Bonser
CEO, British Design Fund