British mushroom grower Urban Farm-Produce (previously Urban Farm-It) has entered a £1.9 million seed round to accelerate its lion’s mane growth strategy.

The company, based in Kent, UK, cultivates and transforms functional mushrooms into fresh, dried, ready-to-eat and ingredient-grade formats without synthetic ingredients and heavy processing.

Its vertically integrated supply chain aims to provide retailers and manufacturers with a domestic, transparent and reliable solution at a time when provenance and food security are becoming increasingly crucial for industry and consumers across the nation.

Investment raised through the seed round, set to close in May 2026, will fund revenue generating infrastructure, expand production capacity and fuel the launch of new lion’s mane formats for retail, foodservice and the health sector.

Specifically, the company plans to expand its fruiting room capacity, establish a substrate production facility for full vertical integration, enhance operational efficiency to drive margins toward a 24% target, and fuel brand expansion through premium retail and D2C channels.

Lion’s mane – a trending functional mushroom associated with a range of health benefits including cognitive and nervous system support – can help to meet consumer demand for minimally processed and locally sourced foods, as well as providing a significantly less carbon-intensive alternative to meat products.

Elliot Webb, founder and CEO, commented: “Consumers now expect better food security, stronger sustainability and exceptional flavour, and Lion’s Mane delivers all three. We’re not trying to imitate meat or mask ingredients, we're delivering whole food nutrition in its purest form, grown right here in Britain.”

The company announced its rebrand to Urban Farm-Produce last month, reflecting its shift from a grow‑your‑own brand into a vertically integrated supplier delivering certified‑organic lion’s mane at national scale.

Urban Farm-Produce has reported £1.6 million in committed revenue for 2026 as demand accelerates and the company continues to strengthen its retail position. Webb said the business’ structure and partnership with supply solutions specialist Oakland International give the company a head start putting it “years ahead of the market”.

“We’ve built something incredibly difficult to replicate,” he added. “This investment round isn’t about experimentation; it's about accelerating a proven model with real world traction and strong commercial demand.”