- Perkii receives $1.53 million from Queensland Government BDF program
- Follows on Perkii’s $4 million round led by Uniseed, Brisbane Angels and sophisticated high net worth investors, in which Uniseed invested $1 million
Brisbane, Australia, 13 October 2017: Uniseed investee PERKii Pty Ltd has used a $1.53 million investment from the Queensland Government’s Business Development Fund to increase production and expand sales of its probiotic drink across Australia and internationally.
The low-calorie water and juice based probiotic drink was developed at the University of Queensland and launched in 2016.
PERKii Chairman and Uniseed CEO, Dr Peter Devine, said that “after launching just over a year ago, PERKii has made great strides into the Australian market with drinks already available in hundreds of selected supermarkets, cafes and health stores”.
“The funding also highlights the commercial potential of Uniseed’s research partner technology and entrepreneurship to the wider economy”.
The BDF program, administered by Queensland Treasury, is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $420 million Advance Queensland suite of programs designed to create knowledge-based jobs of the future.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, The Honourable Curtis Pitt, said “PERKii, uses a uniquely-treated probiotic linked to immunity and gut health, is a home-grown success story”.
“The Business Development Fund Investment is helping the business expand PERKii’s market share, with a view to expand into lucrative overseas markets in the United States and across Asia.”
PERKii CEO Matthew Kowal said the funding is a game-changer for the company.
“Our product has enormous potential and this investment is helping realise the vision we have for our company – to help improve the health and wellbeing of people around the world,” Mr Kowal said.
Mr Kowal said the support would also help PERKii improve the production capacity of its Queensland-based encapsulation process.
“We are thrilled to see PERKii’s success in the short time since its launch, and look forward to seeing it flourish through further product development and expansion nationally and internationally.”
ABOUT UNISEED:
Uniseed is a venture fund operating at the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland, New South Wales and Sydney, as well as the CSIRO. Uniseed’s mandate is to facilitate the commercialisation of research partner generated intellectual property by targeted investment in highly promising technologies. Uniseed’s investments cover a range of technology sectors. For more information, go to www.uniseed.com
ABOUT PERKII PTY LTD:
PERKii™ is a new start-up company from the University of Queensland and has released the world’s first water and juice drink with 1 billion microencapsulated probiotics and 26 calories. PERKii offers consumers an option to control weight, improve gut health and boost immunity with 1 Billion live Lactobacillus casei with proven health benefits in a refreshing, light and great tasting low calorie drink. Derived from the ProGel technology, also invented at the University of Queensland, this drink protects and improves probiotic stability by encapsulating them in tiny natural beads called Microgels. Microgels keep the probiotics alive in drinks and the acidic stomach resulting in improved health benefit for consumers. PERKii comes in five flavours, Raspberry & Pomegranate, Elderflower & Green Tea, Lime & Coconut, Strawberry & Watermelon and Mango & Passionfruit. For more information, go to www.perkii.com.au.
ABOUT BDF:
The $40 million Business Development Fund is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $420 million Advance Queensland suite of programs designed to create knowledge-based jobs of the future. The Fund makes investments ranging $125,000 up to $2.5 million, which must be at least matched by private sector co-investors, to assist businesses turn their ideas and innovations into commercial realities. https://advance.qld.gov.au/industry/business-development-fund.aspx
For more information:
Uniseed
Peter Devine
Chairman – Perkii Pty Ltd
CEO – Uniseed