The Bristol team behind the UK’s first female urinal has raised £250,000 in their first funding round, including investment from the co-founder of online bank Monzo, as they aim to pioneer ‘pee-equality’ for women.
The PEEQUAL, invented by University of Bristol graduates Hazel McShane and Amber Probyn, pictured, is six times faster to use and produces 98% less carbon than traditional portable toilets. 
The pair hope their flatpack portable urinals, which are made from recycled sea plastics, will become a common sight at British festivals and events.
Some 250 units currently under construction and several deals are expected to be signed with large-scale festival operators in the coming weeks. Deals are also underway with European festivals for the 2023 season.
And because PEEQUAL’s urinals are modular and flat packed, just one of its festival orders this summer will take 70 lorries – or 140 lorry trips – off the roads.
PEEQUAL is also working with social enterprise PEEPOWER, which uses technology developed at UWE Bristol, to turn the urine into electricity. PEEQUAL also has plans to convert the urine into fertilizer in the future.
The investors in PEEQUAL are Monzo co-founder Tom Blomfield, the British Design Fund, Sarah Jones, the former COO of dessert brand Gü, and angel investors Chris Stamp and Elaine Groenestein.
Hazel described the funding, which will be used to grow the business, was not only a huge vote of confidence in PEEQUAL but also “a big moment for pee equality the world over”. 
She added: “We want PEEQUAL to empower women to take back their time and break the taboo around female urination.
“We are building a team to bring our urinals to festivals, sporting events, outdoor shows and more.
“We’re really proud to be changing the way women pee, and doing it in a safe way which reduces time spent in queues.”
Tom Blomfield said he was proud to invest in PEEQUAL as it was important that women had access to toilets that were quick, safe and sustainable.
“I was really impressed with Hazel and Amber’s drive and determination, and the progress they’ve made with the business is magnificent. I’m sure you’ll see more of their urinals at UK festivals this summer,” he added.
Amber and Hazel came up with the initial design for PEEQUAL while studying at the University of Bristol’s award-winning Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with their idea winning them £15,000 from its start-up competition. 
Since graduating last year they have toured UK festivals, gaining user feedback and tweaking their design.
Among the festivals was Shambala, whose site manager Christine Dent described the urinals as “excellent” and “the best solution I have seen”.
She added: “We look forward to having PEEQUAL back next year.”
According to a recent review of female entrepreneurship less than 1% of UK venture funding goes to all-female teams and 48% of investment teams include no women at all.
Amber said: “Being part of the 1% of women who successfully raise funding, I feel humbled and passionate about helping other female founders do the same.”
PEEQUAL now has offices in Runway, the University of Bristol’s student and graduate start-up hub.
Photo of Hazel and Amber courtesy of Charlie Mays
