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Gloucestershire Business News

Gloucester start-up founder aims to win big in Vegas

A young female entrepreneur from Gloucester is heading to Las Vegas to try and win big for her new businesses.

Ciara McGurk is crossing the pond to pitch for a share of £5million from James Watt, the controversial CEO and co-founder of Scottish based brand Brewdog.

Her laundry product firm Tallow + Ash is one of five companies shortlisted from 750 entries across Europe in his search, The Next Unicorn, to find the world's next billion-dollar company.

Tallow + Ash, which has its headquarters The Laundry Lab in Barton Street, impressed the judges with its range of laundry products.

They are vegan and cruelty-free, containing no sulphates or dyes and have been developed to smell like perfumes with base, mid and top notes.

Ciara has worked with suppliers in Northampton and Manchester, as well as an army of consumers who act as collaborators and product testers to make the range which officially launches on June 23.

The other finalists heading to Vegas at the start of June are Mous, Baket, Yum Bug and UNCOUTH.

Anyone who wants to support the businesses will be able to invest as part of The Next Unicorn through deals on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube.

Ciara, who was born and raised in Gloucester, wrote on LinkedIn: "Tallow + Ash has been shortlisted by Crowdcube and James Watt in 'The Next Unicorn' competition!!

"The team could receive the funding and mentorship to potentially become the next business with a £1bn valuation!

"So far, we've developed this brand and its products with the people that actually use them.

"This next step means we could take that philosophy even further, and give those exact people the chance to own the business with us."

Ciara's entrepreneurial spirit is in her genes. Her father is local businessman Eamonn McGurk, owner and director of McGurk Group and a director of Gloucester City AFC.

He wrote: "My daughter Ciara is off to Las Vegas as part of the last five presenting to James Watt, Brewdog CEO & Co Founder.

"Please wish her well on her journey, she's a very talented, disciplined, hardworking young lady."

Mr Watt made headlines last year after being accused of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by former staff in a BBC Disclosure programme.The father-of-two later admitted to pushing "people "too far".

He said the exact amount to be invested in each company will be revealed at the Las Vegas final, with a minimum of £100,000 set to be injected into each of the winning businesses.

He added: "It has been amazing so far - so brilliant to see so many fantastic entrepreneurs and outstanding businesses."

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