Gloriah raises £600k for UK growth and US expansion

Gloriah has raised £600,000 in an oversubscribed funding round to expand its UK retail presence and prepare for growth in the US.

The Scotland-based female health company focuses on supporting women through hormonal changes and intimate health concerns.

Founded in 2021 by Jessica Rose Watson and Isla Wynne Thomas, Gloriah was created in response to a category they felt had been overlooked.

The business combines Wynne Thomas’s experience in NHS high-dependency and menopause clinics with Watson’s background in product launches and commercial strategy at Sky.

Watson said: “Gloriah exists because too many women are still expected to tolerate discomfort, embarrassment or dismissal when it comes to their intimate health.

“We want to change that by giving women products, education and language that help them feel seen, informed and able to advocate for themselves.”

The £600,000 round exceeded Gloriah’s £500,000 target.

It was led by Gabriel Investment Syndicate alongside Highland Venture Capital, Investing Women Angels, Apollo and Scottish Enterprise.

Gloriah is due to launch on Boots.com this month and has secured a QVC UK slot. It has also attracted interest from US distributors and is preparing to launch on Amazon US later this year.

The company said it generated 7.5m social media views in a single month and has built a community of more than 16,000 women.

The company was inspired by a close friend of the founders who experienced surgical menopause aged 25.

The founders identified a lack of modern, non-clinical products for the treatment of vaginal dryness, one of the most common symptoms of menopause.

Gloriah had previously received an initial £100,000 from sources including Scottish EDGE, Young EDGE, Zero Waste Scotland, NatWest Pitch and Amazon Sustainability Accelerator. AccelerateHER supported the founders in building networks, developing their business plan and creating an investment pitch.

Wynne Thomas said: “AccelerateHER and Investing Women Angels’ Women to Women and Ready to Raise programmes helped us connect with women across the ecosystem who have opened doors, creating opportunities and giving us access to advice and support.”

Alex Lusty, who led the deal for Gabriel Investment Syndicate, said: “Gabriel members were hugely impressed and engaged by Jessica and Isla, and the business they have built to date at Gloriah.

“This first investment round is oversubscribed, a testament to their passion for improving women’s health and the company’s growth potential.

“The success of Gloriah’s fundraise reflects a significant market shift, with experienced early-stage investors from diverse backgrounds viewing vaginal dryness solutions as a mainstream investment opportunity.”