VitaeGum, a new product from Oxford University, wins WLOUNGE

The delegation included politicians, decision makers, VCs, CVC, family offices, German influencers and startups, all under the umbrella of the WLOUNGE network, led by founder Mali M Baum.

The Gen Z category 1 of the 10 categories winners was Health and Food Tech start-up VitaeGum, a revolutionary product from three dynamic Oxford University female entrepreneurs.

VitaeGum is a social impact, UK based start-up that focuses on solving vitamin deficiency and dental health issues by delivering UN approved vitamins including B 12, B6, B 1, C, Zinc, Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin D via a chewing gum solution.

VitaeGum is currently going through the pilot phase.

Gum is already popular. How can I make sure my consumption is regular instead of chewing gum as a delivery mechanism? Co-Founder and Commercial Lead VitaeGum, 24 years, is a head delegate to the Hague International Model UN THIMUN of Internat Solling, Germany.

Janine accepted the award in Waldorf Astoria Berlin armed with prototype products of VitaeGum, which was handed over to guests including Sandra Yvonne Stieger, Vice Mayor for Economy, Tourism and Regional Cooperation State Capital and Michael Biel, Secretary of Berlin State for Economic Affairs, Brigitte Mohn, from Bertelsmann Foundation and Mali M Baum, founder of WLOUNGE.

Patron Brigitte Mohn, the renowned German businesswoman and a member of the Mohn family, has a significant influence on the Bertelsmann Group, and was rubbed shoulders with awards by Janine.

Janine says German footballer Arne Friedrich managed to talk himself into receiving a VitaeGum sample, which means I will now hunt him for partnerships with VitaeGum s other co-founders, including Harriet Lester, an Oxford PhD Researcher in BioChemistry, who had conceived the idea while volunteering in Calais for a refugee aid organisation Care 4 Calais.

VitaeGum has previously won the Oxford Impact Award for Enterprises and InnovationOxford Impact Award for Enterprises and Innovation. Oxford foundry Oxford hub social enterprise award, Oxford inspires, Oxford interdisciplinary bioscience impact award for enterprise and innovation.

In terms of early funding, VitaeGum received seed funding from the CVC Capital Partners Foundation and The Oxford Seed Fund OSF, a student-led fund run by the Entrepreneurship Centre at Sa d Business School, University of Oxford.

The reward and recognition for VitaeGum was an honour.