UK's first mobile charging network unveils £1.2m seed investment surge

ChargedUp, the UK’s first mobile charging network, is applying the bike-sharing model to mobile device charging, after closing a £1.2m seed investment.

It was led by Sir John Hegarty’s fund The Garage, and ex-Innocent Smoothie founders fund JamJar.

Addressing consumer frustrations of being caught out with a dying phone battery and nowhere to charge it, ChargedUp has built the UK’s first mobile phone charging network.

For 50p, users can rent a power bank to charge devices while on the move and return it at a different location.

Hugo Tilmouth, ChargedUp’s founder, said: “We’ve become so dependent on our mobile phone and devices that, when we’re caught short of charge, it affects our work and social lives.

“That’s why we want everyone to be never more than five minutes away from a charge. Today’s investment along with the M&S launch is the stepping stone to achieving that goal.”

Today’s investment goes towards developing and growing ChargedUp’s platform across the UK and international expansion in a drive to become Europe’s largest phone charging service.

In the coming six months, ChargedUp will expand its network of over 250 vending stations in London’s bars, cafes and restaurants across to other large metropolitan areas in the UK.

This January, ChargedUp partnered with Marks and Spencer to trial the platform in its central London stores, which if successful could lead to providing the phone charging solution to all M&S customers by the end of 2019.

Investor Jon Wright, co-CEO of JamJar, added: “ChargedUp has delivered on what is now a basic human need - to be always on.”

ChargedUp also aims to become the leading provider of in-venue offers and rewards for their customers. Some of the UK’s leading brands and retailers are already utilising this new platform (the app and the physical power bank) to engage with users and increase brand loyalty within ChargedUp venues.