They are current residents of the UCL’s start-up incubator having been selected for a cohort in March 2023. The idea for eNOugh originated when Ina was attacked by four men attempting to steal her belongings during a walk home from dinner in London. This experience planted the seed for the creation of eNOugh.
The eNOugh badge is designed not only to enhance personal safety but also to deter all forms of harassment. As the founders explain, “Think of it as your miniature personal bodyguard.” The badge boasts features such as private evidence collection, a defence light mechanism, specialised audio threat detection, a situation de-escalation system, and much more. However, its primary strength lies in its deterrence effect, made possible by its visible and easily recognisable design.
The start-up has just completed its first angel/pre-seed funding round, raising £240,000. The round was led by PurposeTech VC and included contributions from several angel investors worldwide. Notably, one of the angel investors is a successful founder whom Ina had interviewed for a degree assignment during her time at UCL, long before the idea for eNOugh. Ina describes this as a “true full-circle moment.” In total, her UCL degree directly contributed to securing 7 individual investments, demonstrating the power of UCL’s network.
When asked about her experience raising investment for the first time, Ina shared: “At first, it was challenging, especially since we had never done it before, but once we understood the process, it became much easier. What made it easier for us was that many people we spoke with could relate to the problem we’re addressing, whether as women who have experienced street harassment or as fathers and husbands concerned for their loved ones.”
On raising funds from venture capital, she added: “We initially planned to raise only from angel investors, but we’re thrilled that the process exceeded our expectations, and we were approached by an incredible VC, which, of course, adds even more credibility.”
Her co-founder, Gaelic, added: “We are now super excited to get to the next stage. We keeping our heads down and we are putting all our efforts on getting the badge out there to start protecting people and creative positive impact.”
To follow their journey, visit their Instagram page (enough.badge) or sign up for their waitlist to be the first to know about the launch and receive an exclusive “first supporter” offer (link).
