Skip to main content

Success Stories

With the support of Venture Lab, Durham University students and graduates are creating innovative and ambitious startups that positively impact the world. They are tackling issues ranging from food poverty to environmental sustainability. 

Meet some of our inspirational founders below:

 

Luke Young and Rory Hornby of Alora

Alora is revolutionising agriculture by growing salt-tolerant crops using seawater, not freshwater. Their ocean farming technology restores ecosystems, reduces carbon, and expands sustainable food production without extra land use. By turning the ocean into a source of nourishment, Alora aims to feed billions while healing the planet.

Key achievements:

 

 

Mark Wong of IMPOSSIBREW

IMPOSSIBREW has a mission is to create the world's most complete alternative to alcohol that offers an experience beyond taste. It brews top quality, enhanced non-alcoholic beers developed for relaxation to offer a real alternative for those who don't want to drink alcohol, but still want to unwind with a pint. 

Key achievements:

  • Hailed as ‘the most credible 24 year old’ to appear on BBC’s Dragon’s Den
  • First and only non-alcoholic beer to be awarded the Gold Medal at London Beer Competition 2022
  • The first Venture Lab startup to have raised over £1m and reached £1m annual turnover

Mark Wong

 

 

 

 

Natasha Boulding, Scott Bush and Phil Buckley of Low Carbon Materials

Low Carbon Materials (LCM) is a UK climate tech leader creating carbon-negative aggregates for concrete and asphalt. Their innovative materials cut embodied carbon without altering existing processes, helping the construction industry decarbonise at scale. LCM transforms infrastructure into a force for climate restoration through science, innovation, and circular design.

Key achievements:

  • Earthshot Prize Finalist 2022
  • BE100 SCALE winner at the Blue Earth Summit 2025
  • CEO, Natasha Boulding won Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Award
  • Co-Founders, Natasha Boulding and Scott Bush, included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 List

Low Carbon Material with Prince William

 

 

Headshot of Saffron Gilbert-KalubaSaffron Gilbert-Kaluba of The Corporate Law Journal

The Corporate Law Journal is one of the first digital newspapers dedicated to the political, technological, financial and environmental regulatory shifts in the changing world of business and their influence on international deals. It has grown into a large community of legal professionals and enthusiasts.

Key achievements:

  • Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 2023
  • Amassed over 165,000 members
  • Worked with over 100 companies
  • Partnered with the United Nations

 

 

 

Beth and Leo of Local Energy Systems

Beth Holloway and Leo Thomson of Feasibly

Feasibly is transforming renewable energy development with AI-powered geospatial tools. Their no-code platform automates site selection, analysing land, grid, and environmental data to identify optimal, grid-ready locations fast. By simplifying complex feasibility studies, Feasibly helps developers accelerate clean energy projects with smarter, data-driven decisions.

Key achievements:

  • Received two grants from Innovate UK, being recognised from a total of over 2,100 applicants.
  • Graduated from competitive startup programmes: Praeseed and Geovation Accelerator

 

 

 

 

 

Mohammad Alansary of VT Treatment Headshot of Mohammad

VT Treatment has changed the world of skincare and the treatment of skin conditions; manufacturing patented skincare products with a particular focus on eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo. The company also has other UK-registered brands that offer high-quality cosmetic and organic products. The treatments are now found in pharmacies and skincare clinics across the UK and are registered in many countries worldwide.  

Key achievements: 

  • VT Treatment has developed four brands in less than a year and has built a factory in Durham. 
  • Established the first vitiligo and psoriasis skin care centre in the North East of England, and together with Zephyr Skin Clinic, supported patients in the UK and internationally. 
  • Won the High Growth Award in the UK First Start-Up Award in 2023 and finalist in 2024

 

 

 

 

Yuk Chi Chan sat on a stool with his arms clasped wearing a white shirt and dark trousersYuk Chi Chan of Charter Space 

Charter is scaling spaceflight with the system of record for spacecraft manufacturing to enable superior space engineering and space insurance globally. It has created engineering and manufacturing software tools to enable more teams to build spacecraft faster and more safely, so they can tackle challenges like climate change, natural disasters, agriculture and sustenance, and geopolitical security. 

 Key achievements: 

  • The First British Company to be accepted on to the Techstars Space Accelerator
  • Partnered with NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. 
  • Charter’s software is deployed with several space companies and is actively supporting the development of cutting-edge space systems.  
  • Raised several million dollars of venture capital investment from some of the world’s top investors. 

 

 

 

 

Rhea Dabriwala and Naveen Shivalingam of Ground Up

Ground Up is revolutionising Indian agriculture through industrial hubs of biochar production. They aim to make biochar accessible to every Indian farmer by 2040 to improve soil health and permanently remove carbon.

Key achievements

  • Winners of the Blueprint Startup Challenge 2024
  • Delivered a successful pilot with farmers in India
  • Are preparing to fully launch having raised a significant pre-seed round of investment and built a core team

Aaron Morris and Zara Paul of Choppity

Choppity is an AI-driven video editing platform created by Durham graduates Aaron Morris and Zara Paul. The service enables users to edit videos in seconds, with endless flexibility and customisation options. It is 10x faster than traditional video editing software and 35x cheaper than outsourcing video editing.

Key achievements:

  • Won the 'One to watch' prize at the Blueprint Startup Challenge 2023
  • Successfully pitched on BBC’s Dragon’s Den, regarded by Peter Jones as ‘The best we’ve seen in the Den’.
  • Bootstrapped their way to success and have a client list that includes AutoTrader, Turtle Bay and Geneva Airport.

 

 

 

Yuru Guo of Hey! Food is Ready

Hey! Food is Ready is a catering marketplace connecting you with local chefs who share authentic dishes from their own cultures. Discover global flavours and stories through food made with passion and tradition - perfect for any event, from intimate gatherings to large celebrations.

Key Achievements

  • Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 2025
  • Clients include Google, Vogue and Condé Nast
  • Supporting chefs from over 40 nationalities, 85% of which are women