27 May 2025, 10:20 | Updated: 27 May 2025, 10:21

By James Vyse

I grew up on a council estate. No silver spoon. No safety net. No family business to fall back on - just grit, belief, and a determination to build something from nothing.

Years later, I’ve done just that.

I’ve invented and developed a world-first piece of hardware - a patented self-cooling beverage can; A breakthrough that global beverage giants have pursued for years. We’ve filed international patents, raised private capital, and entered commercial conversations with some of the biggest brands on the planet.

And yet, not a single pound of meaningful support has come from the UK government.

For all the slogans “Startup Nation,” “Levelling Up,” “Science Superpower” - the reality is stark: if you’re building hardware, from a modest background, without the right connections, the UK isn’t set up to help you. In fact, it feels designed to hold you back.

I’ve been rejected for grant........

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