Watercress Research

What Watercress Research does

Watercress Research is a UK-based phytochemical technology company spun out of the University of Exeter in 2019 and headquartered at Skypark, Exeter. The company specialises in extracting and commercialising bioactives from watercress (Nasturtium officinale), with a portfolio of 10 patent families covering urease inhibitory compounds and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) chemistry, alongside a branded Watercress Protein-Fibre ingredient.

The business operates a dual commercial model. On the B2B side, Watercress Protein-Fibre is sold as a functional ingredient to food, beverage, and cosmetics formulators, with product development co-executed alongside partner ADSL and raw material supplied under a partnership with The Watercress Company (the UK's largest watercress grower). On the DTC side, the company launched Prof & Doc, a direct-to-consumer cosmetics brand built on its watercress-derived actives and distributed via its own e-commerce site. Leadership combines a GP-CEO (Dr Kyle Stewart), a co-founder with 300+ peer-reviewed publications (Professor Paul Winyard), and operators drawn from F&B, chemistry, and horticulture.

The company has received investment from QantX and won the Venture Fest South award in 2023. Its addressable end-markets span agricultural inputs (urease inhibitors for fertiliser efficiency), functional food ingredients, and consumer skincare. Revenue scale, customer concentration, and headcount are not publicly disclosed, placing it firmly in the early-stage commercial phase.

Name

Watercress Research

Legal name

Watercress Research Ltd

Website

https://watercressresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Watercress Research is a UK phytochemical spin-out from the University of Exeter that extracts urease-inhibiting bioactives and protein-fibre from watercress, selling B2B ingredients to formulators and DTC skincare under the Prof & Doc brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Phytochemical Products & Plant-based Cosmetics

NAICS

Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (32562), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Treatment & Process Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAN)

Keywords

• Phytochemical extraction
• Urease inhibitors
• Plant-based skincare
• Protein fibre supplements
• Watercress cosmetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consumer Cosmetics (Prof & Doc Brand): Direct-to-consumer sales of cosmetics products containing watercress extract, including Watercress Serum, Everyday Skin Cream, and Novel Mist, sold through profanddoc.com.
2. Contract Manufacturing and Collaboration: Creating a range of own-brand products and open to contracts and collaborations for urease inhibitory products in continence care, cosmetics, food and drink sectors.
3. Agricultural Products: Watercress Protein-Fibre being developed as a urease inhibitor for agricultural fertilisers to reduce environmental hazards of urea-based fertilizers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Watercress Research develops and sells urease inhibitory products derived from the watercress plant (Nasturtium officinale) for continence care, cosmetics, food and drink applications. The company operates two commercial lines: a B2B contract/collaboration business supplying proprietary extracts and a B2C consumer cosmetics brand (Prof & Doc) selling skincare products (Watercress Serum, Everyday Skin Cream, Novel Mist) plus a Watercress Protein-Fibre nutritional ingredient.

Product overview

Watercress Research is a phytochemicals-based company spun out from the University of Exeter in 2019, developing urease inhibitory products from the watercress plant (Nasturtium officinale) for use in continence care, cosmetics, food and drink. The company operates two product lines: Watercress Protein-Fibre (a nutritional supplement with 39.4% protein content) and the Prof & Doc consumer cosmetics brand (Watercress Serum, Everyday Skin Cream, and Novel Mist). Research areas include urease inhibition applications for medical conditions and agricultural fertilisers, PEITC (phenylethyl isothiocyanate) for potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prof & Doc: Consumer-facing brand for cosmetics products containing watercress extract, including Watercress Serum, Everyday Skin Cream, and Novel Mist.

Products and services

• Watercress Serum (Prof & Doc) Flagship skincare serum product from the Prof & Doc consumer cosmetics line containing watercress extract; sold directly to consumers via profanddoc.com for anti-inflammatory and plant-based skincare benefits.
• Everyday Skin Cream (Prof & Doc) Daily moisturising cream containing watercress extract from the Prof & Doc cosmetics line, sold directly to consumers via profanddoc.com.
• Novel Mist (Prof & Doc) Facial mist product containing watercress extract from the Prof & Doc cosmetics line, sold directly to consumers via profanddoc.com.
• Watercress Protein-Fibre A novel plant protein/fibre product derived from watercress with 39.4% protein and 33.8% fibre content, high in essential amino acids, vitamins (Vitamin C 46.5mg/100g) and minerals (calcium 17,000mg/kg, potassium 16,000mg/kg). Positioned for nutritional supplementation and as an agricultural urease inhibitor for urea-based fertilisers.
• Watercress Extract (Watercress Tonic) Proprietary urease inhibitory extract derived from the watercress plant (Nasturtium officinale) with demonstrated urease inhibiting properties targeting bacterial urease enzymes. Sold/offered to B2B partners for use in continence care, cosmetics, food and drink applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Watercress Protein-Fibre is 39.4% protein - very high for a plant product
• +7 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ADSLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADSL (founded by Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, team member) is involved in product development, focusing on toxicological aspects of ingredient technology in skincare. Mark is a Chartered Chemist with 27 years experience in cosmetics formulation.
• The Watercress CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Watercress Company is the UK's largest grower of watercress with beds in Hampshire and Dorset. Tom Amery, their Managing Director, serves on the Watercress Research team, providing supply chain access and cultivation expertise.
• University of Exeter Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatercress Research was spun out from the University of Exeter in 2019. Professor Paul Winyard has been at the University of Exeter Medical School since 2002. The company maintains academic research ties.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tropic Skincare: UK-based direct-to-consumer skincare brand founded by Susie Ma, focused on plant-based, naturally-derived ingredients with science-backed formulations. Comparable to Watercress Research's Prof & Doc brand in plant-based skincare positioning, D2C model, and science-credentialled marketing approach.
• Drunk Elephant: Premium skincare brand founded by Tiffany Masterson, acquired by Shiseido for $845M, built around biocompatible, science-backed formulations with strict ingredient standards. Directly comparable to Prof & Doc's evidence-based claim strategy and premium skincare positioning.
• The Ordinary (Deciem): Science-led skincare brand built around transparent, research-backed formulations, acquired by Estée Lauder for ~$2.2B. Most comparable peer to Prof & Doc given its science-first marketing, transparent claims, and rapid scaling of botanical active ingredients.
• Codex Beauty Labs: Plant-based skincare brand built around a "Codex Plant Stem Cell Science" platform with evidence-based claims and biotech credibility. Comparable to Watercress Research in combining academic R&D credentials with a plant-derived skincare product line.
• Dr. Botanicals: Plant-based skincare brand offering natural and organic skincare products positioned around botanical active ingredients. Similar D2C model and botanical positioning as the Prof & Doc consumer brand.
• Gaia Herbs: US-based herbal wellness company growing, extracting, and producing botanical health products (tinctures, supplements, skincare) with vertically integrated farming. Directly comparable to Watercress Research's model of vertical botanical sourcing, extraction, and finished product commercialisation.

Emerging players

• Kuli Kuli: Plant-based nutrition startup focused on moringa with comparable protein-fibre positioning and supplement applications. Similar size, stage, and plant-derived nutrition focus to Watercress Research's Protein-Fibre product line.

Others

• Sabinsa: Global manufacturer and supplier of standardised botanical extracts and nutraceutical ingredients, including cosmeceutical actives. Comparable as a botanical extraction and ingredient supplier that could partner with or compete against Watercress Research's watercress extract ingredient business.
• Indena: Italian-headquartered leader in botanical active ingredient extraction and supply to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Comparable as a potential supplier/partner or benchmark for scaling phytochemical extraction IP into B2B ingredient revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Koch Agronomic Services: Major agricultural inputs company producing NBPT-based urease inhibitor products (e.g., AGROTAIN) for urea fertiliser coatings globally. Directly comparable as the dominant incumbent in the agricultural urease inhibitor market that Watercress Research is targeting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/watercressresearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Watercress Research