SUBSTANCY LTD
Substancy LTD is a UK-based social enterprise that builds AI-powered harm reduction tools, including the Drugbot chatbot and Drugs and Me platform for people who use drugs, and the Smart Drugs Hub for harm reduction professionals, alongside AI integration consultancy for charities, NGOs, and governments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What SUBSTANCY LTD does
Substancy LTD is a UK-based social enterprise that combines curated knowledge about psychoactive substances with AI-powered digital tools to deliver harm reduction services. The company operates two complementary product lines: free consumer tools for people who use drugs (the Drugbot AI chatbot, launched in late 2023, and the Drugs and Me information website, which has served over 1.5 million people globally), and a professional-grade platform (Smart Drugs Hub, currently in development) for harm reduction workers, offering AI-augmented Q&A, case management, drug alerts, training simulations, and interaction checking. The technology stack is built on large language models grounded in an internally curated, evidence-based substance database, with capability spanning multilingual NLP, knowledge retrieval, generative AI, and recommendation. The Smart Drugs Hub extends the same underlying domain expertise into structured professional workflows.
The company earns revenue through three streams: consultancy services helping harm reduction organisations integrate AI and data-driven frameworks (including NSP vending machines, naloxone programmes, and AI chatbot deployments), the emerging Smart Drugs Hub SaaS subscription for professional users, and free consumer tools that serve as reach drivers. Distribution is hybrid: free tools use a product-led-growth model with organic global reach (70+ countries, 20+ languages), while consultancy and Smart Drugs Hub use direct sales targeting charities, NGOs, local authorities, and governments. Key named partners include Cranstoun (delivery partner for Drugbot) and Harm Reduction Malta and reLeaf Malta (Bloom Festival 2025 deployment).
The company is a bootstrapped, founder-led team of four core members, structured as a UK private limited company by shares (company number 14974626), headquartered in London. Substancy has experienced rapid organic user growth on its consumer tools but has not disclosed external funding, revenue, or enterprise customer scale.
SUBSTANCY LTD firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SUBSTANCY LTD
- Legal name
- Substancy LTD
- Website
- https://substancy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Substancy LTD is a UK-based social enterprise that builds AI-powered harm reduction tools, including the Drugbot chatbot and Drugs and Me platform for people who use drugs, and the Smart Drugs Hub for harm reduction professionals, alongside AI integration consultancy for charities, NGOs, and governments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SUBSTANCY LTD industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Harm Reduction Software
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD) & Addiction Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAD), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Remote Monitoring (HLACAFAD)
Keywords
Where SUBSTANCY LTD is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SUBSTANCY LTD business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Consultancy Services: Professional consulting services helping organisations integrate AI and other technologies in their operations to increase productivity, service quality and impact. Services include NSP vending machines, naloxone implementation programmes, and AI chatbots. Team brings over 40 years of combined experience in the harm reduction sector.
- Software for Professionals: Innovative platform (Smart Drugs Hub) being developed for professionals who support people who use drugs. Professional-tier software with structured case management, training simulations, and organisational guidance features.
- Free Consumer Tools: Free digital tools for people who use drugs including the AI chatbot and Drugs and Me website. These serve as reach drivers and align with the company's social mission to make drug use safer.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
SUBSTANCY LTD product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Substancy develops AI-powered harm reduction software and provides technology integration consultancy for organisations in the substance use sector. Its portfolio includes free consumer-facing tools (the Drugbot AI chatbot and the Drugs and Me information platform) and the Smart Drugs Hub professional platform, alongside bespoke consultancy services covering NSP vending machine rollouts, naloxone programmes, and custom AI chatbot deployments for charities, local authorities, and governments.
Product overview
Substancy is a social enterprise developing solutions by combining knowledge about psychoactive substances with digital technology. The company offers three interconnected service lines: (1) Software for Professionals featuring the Smart Drugs Hub platform with modules for Ask, Cases, Warnings, Train, Interactions, and Explore; (2) Software for People Who Use Drugs including the AI Drug Chatbot (Drugbot) and Drugs and Me information platform; and (3) Consultancy Services helping organisations integrate AI and data-driven frameworks. The product portfolio is designed to extend harm reduction support beyond physical service hours through AI-powered tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Drugbot: A free, anonymous AI chatbot that provides accurate, non-judgemental drug information 24/7 to people aged 18+, supporting safer decisions around substance use. Developed by Substancy and delivered by Cranstoun.
- Drugs and Me
- Smart Drugs Hub
Products and services
- Smart Drugs Hub A professional software platform for harm reduction workers combining substance knowledge, structured reasoning, and AI-powered learning tools. It includes Ask, Cases, Warnings, Train, Interactions, and Explore modules designed for commissioners, service managers, and team leads delivering smarter, faster, and better interventions.
- Drugbot (AI Drug Chatbot) A free, anonymous AI chatbot providing accurate, non-judgemental drug information 24/7 to people aged 18+, accessible in 70+ countries and 20+ languages, with access to a comprehensive curated drug database. Developed by Substancy and delivered by Cranstoun.
- Drugs and Me A reputable harm reduction information website providing accessible tools and information about psychoactive substances to individuals globally, helping them maximise benefits and minimise short- and long-term harm.
- Consultancy Services Bespoke AI and technology integration consultancy for harm reduction organisations, including charities, NGOs, local authorities, and governments. The team helps integrate AI and data-driven frameworks into operations, including NSP vending machine rollouts, naloxone programmes, and custom AI chatbot deployments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Drugs and Me website has helped over 1.5 million people worldwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SUBSTANCY LTD
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SUBSTANCY LTD technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
SUBSTANCY LTD partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Harm Reduction MaltacorePartnered with Substancy at Bloom Festival 2025 in Malta to offer 24/7 harm reduction support via AI chatbot. Collaboration to extend reach of harm reduction services at community events.
- reLeaf MaltacorePartnered with Substancy at Bloom Festival 2025 in Malta alongside Harm Reduction Malta. Part of the harm reduction coalition providing 24/7 chatbot support at the festival.
- CranstouncoreCranstoun is a UK-based social justice and harm reduction charity supporting individuals since 1969. They partner with Substancy to deliver Drugbot, a free, anonymous AI chatbot providing 24/7 drug information. The chatbot is hosted at drugbot.cranstoun.org.
- Reagent Tests UKminorReagent Tests UK offers affordable, legally compliant drug testing kits using color-change reagents. Listed as a Substancy partner supporting harm reduction through accessible testing solutions.
- Drug ScienceminorDrug Science is an independent, science-led drugs charity in the UK providing evidence-based information on drug harms and benefits, free from political or commercial influence. Listed as a partner organisation.
- Clean GrowthminorSubstancy is a member of Clean Growth, committed to growing sustainably as part of their corporate social responsibility approach.
- Harm Reduction ExchangeminorHarm Reduction Exchange is an independent, cross-sector network bringing together people with an interest in harm reduction across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Listed as a partner.
- PadaminorPada offers preparation and integration kits for psychedelic experiences - physical kits and digital guides for solo journeyers. Listed as a partner with link exchange arrangement.
- Kaleidoscope ProjectminorSubstancy interviewed Martin Blakebrough, CEO of Kaleidoscope Project, for blog content on AI and diversity/inclusion in harm reduction. Represents thought leadership collaboration.
- Prism (Bristol LGBTQ+ Drug Service)minorPrism is Bristol's LGBTQ+ drug and alcohol service providing one-to-one support, harm reduction information, safer injecting equipment, and chemsex support. Substancy conducted interview for Pride Month content exploring queer harm reduction.
- LGBT FoundationminorUK organisation providing support through recovery groups including ChemSafe, sober socials, and PrEP sessions. Referenced in Substancy's queer harm reduction timeline content.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SUBSTANCY LTD competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Erowid: Erowid.org is a long-established online library providing detailed, evidence-based information about psychoactive substances. Like Drugs and Me, it serves as a consumer-facing drug information resource supporting harm reduction through education.
- DanceSafe: DanceSafe is a US-based harm reduction organization providing drug checking services, education, and fentanyl test strips. It is comparable as a harm reduction services provider with overlapping consumer and event-based outreach models.
- The Loop: The Loop is a UK drug safety testing charity that operates at festivals and events. It overlaps with Substancy's event-based harm reduction outreach, including their Bloom Festival collaboration, and shares a UK harm reduction charity ecosystem.
- Bunk Police: Bunk Police sells affordable, easy-to-use drug checking kits and provides harm reduction education at events. It is comparable as a harm reduction product/services organization targeting people who use drugs with consumer-grade safety tools.
- Bluelight: Bluelight.org is a harm reduction community and information platform for people who use drugs. It overlaps with Substancy's consumer-facing education mission and community-driven approach to drug safety.
- TripSit: TripSit operates TripSit.me, a harm reduction platform offering a drug interaction checker and chat-based support including a chatbot assistant (TripBot). It is the closest direct peer to Substancy's Drugbot as both provide AI/chat-based drug information for safer use.
Broad incumbents
- Release: Release is a UK-wide drugs charity providing legal and harm reduction services. It is comparable as an established UK harm reduction organization working with people who use drugs, though it operates a broader service portfolio than Substancy.
- Drug Science: Drug Science is a UK-based independent science-led drugs charity providing evidence-based information on drug harms. It is comparable as Substancy's listed partner and shares the evidence-based drug information mission, but operates as a broader nonprofit.
Regional players
- Crew 2000: Crew 2000 is a Scottish harm reduction charity providing drug information and outreach services. It is comparable as a UK-based harm reduction organization serving people who use drugs through education and direct service delivery.
- Kosmicare: Kosmicare is a psychedelic harm reduction organization primarily operating in Europe. It overlaps with Substancy's substance use support mission but serves a different geographic focus and predominantly psychedelic context.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SUBSTANCY LTD social profiles
Digital presenceSUBSTANCY LTD financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SUBSTANCY LTD leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
SUBSTANCY LTD funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SUBSTANCY LTD M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SUBSTANCY LTD
What does SUBSTANCY LTD do?
Substancy develops AI-powered harm reduction software and provides technology integration consultancy for organisations in the substance use sector. Its portfolio includes free consumer-facing tools (the Drugbot AI chatbot and the Drugs and Me information platform) and the Smart Drugs Hub professional platform, alongside bespoke consultancy services covering NSP vending machine rollouts, naloxone programmes, and custom AI chatbot deployments for charities, local authorities, and governments.
Is SUBSTANCY LTD a public or private company?
SUBSTANCY LTD is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SUBSTANCY LTD founded?
SUBSTANCY LTD was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SUBSTANCY LTD based?
SUBSTANCY LTD is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does SUBSTANCY LTD make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consultancy Services are the primary driver. The others are software for Professionals and free Consumer Tools.
Who are SUBSTANCY LTD's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Erowid, DanceSafe, The Loop, Bunk Police, Bluelight and TripSit. Broad incumbents are Release and Drug Science. Regional players are Crew 2000 and Kosmicare.
Does SUBSTANCY LTD have an API?
No public API is recorded for SUBSTANCY LTD.
What industry is SUBSTANCY LTD in?
SUBSTANCY LTD's product category is Harm Reduction Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAO, Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services, with a secondary code of HLALAEAD, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) & Addiction Teletherapy Platforms. Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8300.