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PREPD, a new hydration-boosting sports drink developed by Flinders University startup Preserve Health, has secured more than $500,000 in seed funding to launch its first products.
With money now in the bank, thanks to angel investors and other high net-worth individuals, PREPD is set to launch in the market and take on the big players in the competitive sports-drink sector.
The drink is backed by more than 20 years of medical research conducted by Flinders University, which was originally aimed at improving severe dehydration in children living in developing countries.
The research was then used by Preserve Health to develop PREPD to meet the specific hydration needs of athletes, both elite and amateur.
The initial research team identified a special resistant starch which promotes fluid absorption in the gut, tapping into an unused hydration potential in the body to absorb up to 6 litres of fluid a day.
David Vincent, the CEO of Preserve Health, says the drink will dramatically increase the potential of sportspeople.
"PREPD is a two-part system of drinks designed to boost hydration, allowing athletes to perform at their peak and stay there," says Vincent.
"The drink tastes like a smoothie due to the special starch, which delivers a hydration boost unlike anything else currently available."
Preserve Health teamed up with Steric Trading, which owns and manufactures the popular Staminade sports drink brand, to prepare Preserve's research and development into a marketable drink.
Managing director of Steric Richard Brownie says the drink has the potential to revolutionise the industry.
"As a complement and enhancer to electrolyte drinks, PREPD has the potential to drive incremental revenue and grow the entire category."
Initially, PREPD will be marketed to professional and semi-professional athletes, but Vincent says this drink would be useful for anyone who trains for an hour or more a day.
"Having trailed PREPD with over 100 athletes across a broad range of sports, the typical feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with athletes feeling more energetic and suffering less cramps towards the end of sport, and noticing less bodyweight (fluid) loss and less headaches afterwards," says Vincent.
Following the injection of seed capital PREPD will launch in October and will be available online and in speciality sports stores and gyms.
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