Edinburgh-based wearable tech start-up UNA Watch has secured over £300k in funding from London-based SFC Capital to accelerate the development of its repairable sports smartwatch. 

The investment will support the company’s patent-pending technology ahead of its upcoming Kickstarter launch.

UNA Watch is pioneering a new category of sustainable smartwatches, allowing users to repair, replace, and upgrade individual components rather than discarding entire devices. The innovation aims to combat the growing e-waste crisis, with 62 million tonnes of electronics discarded annually.

SFC Capital, which has backed several high-profile UK start-ups, saw immediate potential in UNA’s modular design. UNA Watch founder Lewis Allison, a former chief technology officer at wearable golf tech brand Shot Scope, said investors grasped the concept instantly when testing the device. “We knew funding for consumer hardware was tough, but when SFC saw our watch in action, everything clicked,” he said.

The company has already secured early industry contracts, including a six-figure deal with IHF Digital Limited for fatigue monitoring. With a four-person team, UNA Watch is preparing to launch its first GPS-enabled modular smartwatch, attracting significant consumer interest, with over 7,000 registrations and nearly 1,000 deposits.

SFC Capital’s Ed Stevenson said UNA’s innovation stood out in the crowded consumer tech space. “UNA is a bona fide disruptor in wearables, with the potential to make a real impact,” he said.

This latest funding marks a rare win for consumer hardware start-ups, reinforcing private equity’s role in supporting innovative solutions within the growing sustainable tech sector.