DXV - Pitch Night
Join us for our first-ever Diversity X Ventures Pitch Night.
An invite-only online event bringing together our syndicate of impact angels (and other aligned angels/syndicates) to hear from three of the most exciting early-stage ventures in our current pipeline.
We've reviewed 20+ ventures. Our syndicate voted. These three made the cut.
Expect sharp pitches, honest Q&A, and the kind of founders who make you wish you'd backed them sooner.
The Agenda
Opening Remarks: 10 mins A brief welcome from the DXV team, a reminder of how we invest, and what to expect from the evening.
Pitches: 5 mins pitch | 5 mins Q&A from Papcup, Sequinova, and Mat Zero.
Closing Remarks: 5 mins Next steps, EOI process, and how to get involved if a deal excites you.
Please find investment decks here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1M12ZGzuNyab8fGF0vy8PfYyjKGAdcbBC?usp=sharing
Note - this event is only for High Net Worth or Sophisticated Investors under UK FCA rules? (find out what that means here - https://ukbaa.org.uk/resources/what-is-certified-hnwi-and-a-certified-sophisticated-investor/)
Papcup | FemTech | Pre-Seed | Raising £1M
30 million women in the UK and US live with an undetected condition. Menstrual blood reflects systemic health, yet no one has built the infrastructure to turn it into data — until now.
Papcup is the first point-of-care platform to turn menstrual blood into a multi-biomarker health check — starting with iron deficiency and HPV, with clinical-grade results on your phone in under 5 minutes. No speculum. No blood draws. No lab.
Founded by Sanziana Foia (Imperial College biosensor engineer, Forbes 30 Under 30), who previously developed a biosensor for liver cancer prevention. Papcup has 500 organic waitlist subscribers, LOIs from two distribution partners, and coverage from the BBC, Telegraph and Cancer Research UK - all with zero PR spend. Raising £1M pre-seed (SEIS eligible), with £40k already secured from Oxford University Innovations.
Sequinova | Sustainable Materials | Pre-Seed | Raising £1.5M
Plastic sequins and glitter face full legal enforcement across the EU and UK by 2027, and every existing biobased alternative fails to meet industry performance standards. Sequinova has cracked it. Their proprietary cellulose and bioengineered protein technology produces high-performance biobased sequins that are durable, washable, heat-resistant, and price-competitive with plastic.
Founded by ex-John Lewis and Primark buyer Clare Lichfield and biotech entrepreneur Dr Mark Wheeler, whose combined track record spans a $500M IPO and two M&A exits. Sequinova has completed a paid pilot with Stella McCartney, who said "without you, I'm screwed", and has active discussions with Chanel, LVMH, H&M and Inditex. Raising £1.5M pre-seed (SEIS and EIS eligible), with £600k already secured.
Mat Zero | CleanTech | Seed | Raising £500K
4.5 million deaths per year are linked to cold temperatures. Conventional heating requires infrastructure, grid power, or poses safety risks, leaving vulnerable households, field hospitals, and humanitarian operations without reliable warmth. Mat Zero is a patented low-voltage heated mat built on proprietary carbon heating architecture: battery powered, solar compatible, certified, repairable, and built to last.
Founded by Women In Innovation Award winner Sri Hollema, Mat Zero has 50 units deployed across UK energy networks, 60 in rural Nepal, 20 on the frontlines in Ukraine, and 6 tested on Everest by professional mountaineers. The company has generated £241k in revenue with one DNO contract secured. Raising £500K at a £3M pre-money valuation (EIS eligible), with £112k already secured.