Preserve is set to launch a sports drink in October 2018 based on Flinders University research into hydration.
Preserve Health, an Australia-based sports hydration drink supplier based on research at Flinders University, has obtained more than $500,000 in seed capital from unnamed angel investors, Business News Australia reported on Thursday.
Preserve Health has formulated a sports drink regimen called Prepd that is designed to improve the performance of professional and amateur athletes.
The regimen consists of a pre-workout drink containing a resistant starch linked to promoting fluid absorption in the gut and a low-sugar electrolyte product intended to help athletes rehydrate after exercising.
The business commercialises 20 years of research at Flinders University initially focused on tackling severe dehydration in children living in developing countries, which Preserve later reformulated for sports purposes.
The funding will support Preserve Health as it prepares for Prepd’s launch in October 2018, initially targeting professional and semi-professional athletes through an e-commerce platform as well as sports retail outlets and gyms.
Preserve has joined forces with food and drink manufacturer Steric Trading to convert its recipe into a packaged product.
David Vincent, chief executive of Preserve Health, said: “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.”