CRESS secures £234k pre-seed funding led by GC Angels to expand its uniform platform.
GC Angels led the pre-seed round alongside One Planet Capital and angel investors to help CRESS expand its uniform platform.
CRESS operates a digital marketplace connecting schools and parents with affordable, pre-loved school uniforms. The Manchester-based social enterprise helps families reduce clothing waste and generate revenue for local schools.
Manchester-based pre-loved school uniform platform CRESS has secured £234k in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by GC Angels, with participation from One Planet Capital and several angel investors.
The company will use the capital to scale its digital platform and expand its partnerships across the country. The funding supports the platform's mission to make school uniforms more affordable for families while addressing the environmental impact of textile waste in the UK.
From the founder
"We are joining sustainability with affordability, supporting schools to sell pre-loved uniforms through an online, customer-friendly platform. Our model helps parents save money, supports schools with vital funding, and reduces waste and carbon emissions – all whilst making sure no perfectly good uniform item goes to waste. By encouraging donations of pre-loved uniforms, we’re not only helping families, but we’re also reducing the environmental impact of school clothing waste. The UK sends thousands of school uniform items to landfill or incineration every year, but with CRESS, we can decrease this waste, provide children with books and plant trees all in one go. We’re so passionate about making a difference, and we’re really grateful to Ranvir and GC Angels for their support. By introducing us to the likes of GMCA and Carma, along with their financial investment, GC Angels is helping to propel CRESS into our next stage of growth. This will mean we can support even more schools across not only Greater Manchester, but also country wide."
Carl Morris
Co-founder at CRESS
Investor perspective
"We were so impressed by the potential of CRESS to create both social and environmental impact at scale. The business model is innovative and the team’s ability to work closely with schools ensures that CRESS will reach thousands of families, providing real value to local communities. After connecting CRESS with the GMCA and Carma, the team has forged strong partnerships, clearly demonstrating the growing confidence in the platform."
Ranvir Singh
Investment Manager, GC Angels
Use of funds
- 01Continue product development
- 02Expand into international markets