AKT London invites community to invest in next chapter with crowdfunding campaign

Personal care brand AKT London has launched a new crowdfunding campaign, giving members of its community the opportunity to invest in the company and participate in its next stage of growth.

Pre-registration for the campaign is now open, allowing early supporters to register ahead of its official launch. It currently has over 1,000 sign ups from 24 hours.

“When we founded AKT London, we were West End performers solving a problem we experienced every day. We had no background in beauty, retail or fundraising - just a belief that performance deserved better bodycare,” said co-founders Andy Coxon and Ed Currie.

“That belief has grown into a global, award-winning brand, with more than two million products sold, an internationally recognised bodycare range, launches in Sephora US and Space NK UK, and a community that has supported us every step of the journey.

"Today, we’re excited to announce the next chapter as we enter a new AKT."

The founders have described the crowdfunding campaign as their “Final Encore”, saying they do not intend to offer another community investment round of this kind. If the campaign proceeds as planned, this would therefore be the final opportunity for members of the public to invest in AKT through a community funding round. Andy Coxon (left) and Ed Currie (right)[/caption]

Currie and Coxon first met in 2015 while performing in a West End production in London. During this time, they experienced difficulties finding deodorants that could meet the physical demands of performing both on and off stage. They subsequently began developing a natural alternative, testing products over a three-year period with friends and fellow cast members.

AKT officially launched in 2020. In its early stages, the founders focused on the theatre community, distributing samples among performers and backstage crews across London’s West End. This helped introduce the brand to its initial customer base and established a connection with the performing arts community that remains part of AKT’s identity.

AKT products are now used in theatres across the UK, as well as on television and film sets internationally. The company has also expanded into the US market, including a presence on Broadway in New York.

This latest development comes as AKT continues its growth trajectory, with an average of one product sold every 30 seconds. It also launched at premium beauty retailer Space NK earlier this year.