FreshCheck receives £150k funding to advance hygiene verification technology

London startup FreshCheck has received £150,000 funding from the British Design Fund (BDF) to accelerate the rollout of its patented colour-change hygiene verification system.

Founded in 2015 by Imperial College London PhD alumni Alex Bond and Dr. John Simpson, FreshCheck has transformed their lab side project into a rapidly growing hygiene innovation company.

Its globally patented colour-change swab system provides instant, visual confirmation of surface cleanliness. The swabs require no expensive hardware, no lab work, and no waiting for results, challenges which limit widespread adoption.

Validated by Campden BRI (a globally recognised food innovation testing body), the system combines a simple swab with an integrated app and web platform that enables users to record, analyse and verify hygiene standards in real time. The technology is already in use across major UK food producers and is now being trialled by leading international brands.

John Simpson, CEO of FreshCheck, said: “Microbial contamination is a global issue, from food safety to antimicrobial resistance. For too long, reliable hygiene testing has been limited to those who can afford the complex or costly tools. Our mission is to make contamination visible with easy-to-use, affordable products that anyone can use to protect consumers and patients with easy to interpret results and cleaning data analytics.”

He added: “With growing demands for antimicrobial stewardship and data-driven auditing, FreshCheck is redefining what hygiene verification looks like. This investment allows us to expand our range of patented active and passive testing processes, accelerate adoption of current tests, and take our technology into healthcare and other high-impact sectors.”

The funding from BDF is intended to support the company’s plans to expand its product range and explore new applications in healthcare, where hygiene monitoring remains a persistent challenge, as seen with the rising cases of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs).

Damon Bonser, CEO of British Design Fund, said: “FreshCheck exemplifies the kind of purposeful innovation we look for, where practical design meets real-world impact. Their approach to hygiene verification is timely, scalable, and rooted in solving a genuine challenge. We’re pleased to support their journey and see how their technology and services continue to evolve.”