Follo secures £215k in pre-seed funding led by Jenson Funding Partners to expand marketing and product development.
The pre-seed round was led by Jenson Funding Partners with backing from angel investors.
Follo provides a mobile application that automatically monitors walking journeys and sends alerts to nominated contacts if unusual activity is detected. The platform is designed to offer personal safety features without requiring constant manual check-ins.
Follo has secured £215k in pre-seed funding led by Jenson Funding Partners, with participation from angel investors. The fresh capital will support brand awareness and marketing initiatives, alongside the development of a premium app tier featuring customisable settings and expanded safety options for activities like running and cycling.
Co-founded by Chris Miller and Charlie Pothecary, the company developed its automated safety tool in response to heightened national conversations around pedestrian safety. The application monitors movement patterns on iOS and Android devices, issuing automated check-ins and emergency alerts if users fail to confirm their safety after deviating from expected routes or stopping unexpectedly.
From the founder
"When researching investors, I avoided the usual route of trawling through VC lists and instead searched for startup news. Encountering stories of Jenson’s high level of activity supporting innovative apps and services like ours was really encouraging and I got in contact immediately, resulting in a great partnership already. It’s fantastic to have them on board alongside our angels as we plan to take Follo to the next level."
Charlie Pothecary
Director at Follo
Investor perspective
"While there are pre-existing personal safety apps on the market, they can scaremonger. Charlie and Chris were mindful of this and have created a beautiful, positive brand that can fit into the user’s lifestyle, whether it’s women or men, or the old or young, out walking alone. This ubiquitous usage, coupled with the smart personal safety and security market being forecast to grow at around 11% CAGR to $5.5bn in 2025, presents a really compelling journey ahead."
Sarah Barber
CEO, Jenson Funding Partners
Use of funds
- 01Invest in sales and marketing
- 02Continue product development