GoodBox raises £2.4m on Seedrs to help charities accept contactless donations

GoodBox, a Manchester-based start-up that helps charities accept contactless donations, has raised £2.4m in exchange for 23.21% equity on crowdfunding platform Seedrs – in a round led by PNFT Social & Community Investments.

An ever increasing cashless society, cash spending in the UK has dropped by £14bn over the last ten years. However, the charity sector is still staggeringly dependant on cash donations – with 55% of all donations still made in coins or notes.

Founded in 2016 by ex-Credit Suisse investment banker Andrew O’Brien and Francesca Hodgson, who has over a decade of experience in the charity sector, GoodBox looks to modernise a dated form of donating – the charitable coin collection box.

Replacing the traditional large glass coin boxes or counter-top collection jars, GoodBox’s 21st century donation box plays plays specially curated content for its chosen charity on a 12” screen, holds one week battery and accepts donations via contactless cards.

Designed to better engage visitors and increase overall giving, The Natural History Museum, since launching with GoodBox in June, claims its enjoyed a 20% increase in overall donations.

Having recently signed partnerships with the Church of England and Imperial Health Charity, the Manchester start-up’s tech-infused donation boxes have now launched in 12 Church of England cathedrals, five hospitals, including St Mary’s Hospital London, and seven museums – including the Natural History Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.

Part of the ever-growing tech scene in Manchester, Startups recently traveled to the North East city to visit a range of co-working spaces, accelerators and laboratories.

Andrew O’Brien, CEO and co-founder at GoodBox, said:

“It has been three years in the making but we’re finally there. We are building a business that fulfils charity needs, but also addresses some of the major inefficiencies that persist within the sector.

“Although our journey begins with the charity sector, we’re by no means limited to it.

“From conversations with the English National Ballet to Manchester City FC, Royal Parks to Chichester Cathedral, GoodBox is ready to take off. We are excited about the next phase of our journey with this round of investment on Seedrs.”

Ian Lush, CEO at Imperial Health Charity, said:

“This is a very exciting time for NHS charities. We’re seeing more and more people willing to support their local hospitals through cash donations and with the 70th anniversary of the NHS coming up next year we believe contactless giving will enable even more people to give back.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with GoodBox to introduce a box in the children’s outpatients department at St Mary’s Hospital this week and we look forward to rolling out the boxes across the other hospitals we support in the coming months.”

Thinking of starting a business in Manchester? Read our start-up cities guide here.