AN Edinburgh start-up focused on specialist dental products is targeting £1 million in sales by 2015 after raising £140,000 in seed funding.
Bedi OralCare is the brainchild of Raman Bedi, a former chief dental officer of England and Wales and chairman of the Global Child Dental Fund.
The dental expert created the firm to capitalise on the growing market in dental products for young children, people with disabilities and dementia sufferers. Bedi's first product, Dental Shield, is designed make it easier for health professionals to open patients' mouths to allow for examination and routine procedures such as teeth cleaning or placement of fluoride varnish.
It will be launched later this year to be followed by a second product in 2014.
The Bedi Tray will allow dental impressions to be taken from pre-school children without the need for the patient to be restrained.
The company, which will sell its products to consumers and businesses, plans to add to its product range as its brand grows. It also aims to build sales overseas, having targeted the emerging economies of Brazil, India and China as export destinations.
Mr Bedi said: "We are delighted to received this vital seed funding. At present, the mainstream dental market does not cater adequately for the growing ageing population or those with special needs, for example people suffering from dementia.
"Bedi OralCare aims to make good oral health accessible to everyone, regardless of age or disability."
Bedi OralCare was advised by law firm Harper Macleod to help it secure the seed capital.
The funding has come from Glasgow-based investment syndicate Kelvin Capital through the Seed Enterprises Investment Scheme (SEIS), which offers investors tax incentives while raising funds for start-up enterprises, and the Scottish Investment Bank, a division of Scottish Enterprise.
Jim Hall, co-founder of Kelvin Capital, said Mr Bedi's profile had been a key factor in tempting his organisation to invest, alongside its talented chief executive, Saltire Fellow Sandrine Sienche.
He said: "There were a number of things [why we invested]. Number one, they have a very solid business plan [with] two excellent products with a clear market need.
"The big differentiator with this one was the founder, Raman Bedi. Raman has extremely high credibility within the dentistry world globally, not just in the UK. He was the chief dental officer of England and Wales and plays a key role on a charity for the United Nations in children's dental care."
Mr Hall added that Kelvin Capital intended to provide further investment for Bedi OralCare as it develops.
He said: "I would anticipate that as the company grows it will need additional funding.
"Provided they do what they say they are going to do, which I am sure they will, we would be keen to support the growth of that company going forward."
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