ONE of the biggest ever investments in a new angling company has been announced.
Dangler is the brainchild of three angling-mad brothers. They have just secured a £500,000 ‘seed’ investment in their online marketplace for anglers.
Dangler has been launched by Daniel, Kane and Harry Hughes, to let anglers buy and sell secondhand tackle, as well as retailers to sell
brand-new kit.
The trio first had the idea of a selling platform uniquely for the angling community back in 2017.
Last year they approached the start-up support lab, Shout About Suffolk, and secured a £30,000 initial injection.
Shout About Suffolk then led a determined push for investment, enabling the brothers to secure further funds of between £5,000 and £100,000 from a number of investors.
A total ‘seed’ investment of £500,000 has now been raised, allowing Dangler to push forward with the development of its prototype app.
Dangler journey of development
Harry Hughes, co-founder of Dangler, said: “We are delighted to have secured this important investment, and are already underway with the development of our unique platform.
“We’re really proud to be working with a Suffolk-based development house for this crucial piece of work, and are now looking to begin recruitment of talented individuals from across the region who feel that they would be a great asset in the Dangler journey.
“Ours is very much a social marketplace, unique to anglers. It’s being developed by anglers, for anglers, and our market research suggests that it’s very much needed.
“With the user experience work currently taking place and content being prepared, we will be aiming to have the platform live by the spring of 2020.”
Paddy Bishopp, co-founder of Shout About Suffolk, applauded the brothers on achieving the investment.
He said: “It was clear that they had researched the opportunity, understood their audience, and were 100 per cent committed to putting in the effort necessary to achieve their goal.
“This is a great story for three passionate Suffolk entrepreneurs.”
You can sign up on the website to register your interest in the new platform in advance of it going live in the spring.
The birth of Dangler comes after a testing period for the traditional fishing tackle trade. Casualties have included Fishtec, the mail order brochure and online giants. And Erics Angling Centre, noted for two superstores plus online sales, sold up to Angling Direct as part of that group’s ongoing expansion.
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