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SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness leads funding round for Healf. * 1 hr ago * SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness leads investment in Healf, the personalized wellbeing platform helping consumers make more confident decisions about their health. * Healf combines expert curation, diagnostics, wearable technology and personalized recommendations to help people understand what works for their own biology and lifestyle. * The investment will support Healf's next phase of growth, including continued platform development and international expansion. PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, Aug. 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness today announced a minority investment in Healf, the personalized wellbeing platform helping consumers make more informed decisions about their health and long-term wellbeing. Founded in 2020, Healf has rapidly become one of the UK's most trusted wellbeing platforms. Built around the Four Pillars(TM) of Wellbeing: Eat, Move, Mind and Sleep, Healf combines expert curation, blood biomarkers, wearable technology, practitioner guidance and customer data to help people discover what works for their own biology and lifestyle. The company has surpassed £100 million in annualized revenue with a team of fewer than 100 people and was recently named the fastest-growing company in Europe in the Financial Times' FT1000 rankings. For SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness, Healf reflects a clear shift in the consumer landscape. People are not simply looking for more wellness products; they are looking for trusted, personalized and intelligent ways to understand what is right for them. Healf's combination of brand trust, technology, data and expert guidance aligns closely with SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness' focus on backing high-growth businesses shaping the future of beauty, health and wellbeing. Vasiliki Petrou, Managing Partner of SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness, said: "The team has built a trusted consumer platform with a clear vision for where personalized wellbeing is heading. They combine strong execution with a deep understanding of the consumer, and that's exactly the kind of high-growth platform we're looking to partner with at SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness." The investment will support Healf's next phase of growth, including the continued development of its personalization platform and international expansion following its recent launch in Germany, its first market outside the UK. Lestat McCree, Co-Founder and CEO of Healf, said: "Wellness has a decision problem, not a product problem. There's more noise, more opinions and more options than any one person can ever hope to make sense of, which makes finding what works for your own wellbeing more challenging than ever. This investment allows us to build on the trust we've already earned and continue developing a more personalized approach that helps people make better decisions about their health." The investment includes participation from Pentland Ventures, part of Pentland Group, Ami Capital, IRIS, Active Partners, Sequel, Dara5, Claudia Schiffer, Natalia Vodianova Arnault and more than 40 high-performing athletes including Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah. The investment builds on SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness' commitment to partnering with ambitious teams building trusted, high-growth consumer platforms at the intersection of beauty, wellness, health and technology. About SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness partners with high-growth businesses shaping the future of beauty, health and wellbeing. The platform backs brands with strong consumer trust, differentiated positioning and the potential to scale with clarity, discipline and long-term value. About Healf Healf is the personalized wellbeing platform that combines expert curation with data to help people discover what works for their own biology and lifestyle. Through a combination of practitioner expertise, diagnostics, wearable technology and personalized recommendations, Healf empowers consumers to make more informed decisions about their long-term wellbeing. In 2026, Healf was named the fastest-growing company in Europe in the Financial Times' FT1000 rankings. Media Contacts: SEMCAP Beauty & Wellness Michelle Musburger Daniel Teweles Head of Communications This release is provided for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities to any person in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This material may contain estimates and forward-looking statements, which may include forecasts and do not represent a guarantee of future performance. This information is not intended to be complete or exhaustive and no representations or warranties, either express or implied, are made regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. The views expressed are as of August 31, 2026 and are subject to change without notice. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader. Investing involves significant risks.

Private equity firm Semcap has made a minority investment in UK wellness e-tailer Healf. Financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2020 by brothers Lestat McCree and Max Clarke, Healf sells wellness products including supplements, beauty items and wearables. It also offers home blood-testing kits through its Healf Zone service, providing customers with bespoke guidance based on test results. The company will use the funds to expand Healf Zone and grow internationally, having launched in Germany in July. Healf previously raised £5.5 million from investors including Iris Ventures and JamJar. Vasiliki Petrou, managing partner of Semcap's beauty and wellness division and former head of Unilever Prestige, led the investment. In March, the Financial Times ranked Healf as Europe's fastest-growing business.

Unplugged launches first seafront cabins as Digital Detox travel demand grows. By Iuliia Tore / Jun 1, 2026 / 3 minutes of reading Digital detox hospitality brand Unplugged is expanding beyond woodland retreats with the launch of its first-ever seafront cabins, betting on growing demand for technology-free escapes and coastal staycations. The new properties, located along Somerset's coastline, mark the latest expansion for the UK startup as travelers increasingly seek experiences centered around wellness, mindfulness and disconnection from daily digital habits. Named Barclay and Wilfred, the new cabins bring Unplugged's off-grid concept to the coast for the first time, combining ocean views with the company's signature no-screen philosophy. Unplugged Expands Beyond Woodland Escapes Since launching in 2020, Unplugged has built its identity around remote cabins designed to encourage guests to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature. The company now operates more than 50 cabins across the UK and reported occupancy levels of 83% during 2025, reflecting strong demand for short wellness-focused getaways. Executives say moving into coastal locations represents a natural next step for the brand. "Nature has always been at the heart of where we chose to locate our cabins," said co-founder Hector Hughes. "That started with woodland locations and now we're delighted to expand to the coast." Designed For Travelers Seeking A Digital Detox The new cabins maintain the same philosophy found across Unplugged's existing portfolio. Guests are encouraged to lock away phones upon arrival using dedicated device lockboxes while replacing screen time with books, games, instant photography and outdoor experiences. Each cabin includes essential comforts such as hot showers, log burners, premium bedding and compact living spaces designed to encourage simplicity rather than excess. The concept reflects growing interest in hospitality experiences that prioritize wellness through disconnection rather than additional technology. Ocean Views Become Part Of The Experience The new cabins are positioned high above the Somerset coastline near Porlock, offering uninterrupted sea views and direct access to surrounding walking routes. Nearby attractions include the coastal village of Porlock Weir and numerous trails that connect visitors with the region's beaches, hillsides and coastal landscapes. Executives believe access to the ocean strengthens the appeal of the brand's digital detox positioning. According to Hughes, the sound of waves and visual connection with the sea naturally complement the off-grid experience the company has spent years building. Wellness Travel Continues To Drive Growth The seafront expansion follows Unplugged's recent launch of Helix, its first dedicated wellbeing cabin created in partnership with wellness company Healf. The company says continued growth reflects broader changes in travel behavior, particularly among consumers looking for slower experiences centered around wellbeing and mindfulness. With UK staycation demand remaining strong and wellness travel continuing to grow, Unplugged believes the new coastal locations could become some of its most sought-after properties. For travelers overwhelmed by constant notifications and endless scrolling, the company is making a simple bet: sometimes the best luxury is switching everything off.