Incentifi raises GBP £150,000 for wellbeing rewards pilot

London-based workplace rewards platform Incentifi has raised GBP £150,000 in phase one pre-seed funding and appointed James Hardy, former Deliveroo executive and Co-Founder of Bioniq, as an investor and strategic advisor. The company links everyday activity, such as steps and workouts, to rewards including travel benefits, with a focus on employee wellbeing.

The funding will support a pilot programme across multiple businesses, including independently run Specsavers branches. The pilot will test how rewards tied to movement and healthier habits can improve staff wellbeing while delivering lifestyle value, such as reducing holiday costs.

Incentifi frames the product around absenteeism and presenteeism, citing an average economic cost of GBP £4,000 per employee and an estimated GBP £150 billion annually for the UK economy due to poor employee health and wellbeing.

"What really stood out to me was the strength of the team and the clarity of the model," said James Hardy. "Incentifi is built around improving healthier lives while delivering a clear return for employers and partners. Having seen first-hand at Bioniq how impactful it can be when wellbeing and business objectives truly align, incentifi delivers exactly that. I'm excited to be part of the journey ahead."

The company is preparing a GBP £500,000 funding round with SEIS assurance in place. Co-Founder Paul Kelbie said the pilot will help refine the platform through employer feedback. "From our own personal and professional experiences, we started Incentifi with one mission and purpose in mind, to incentivise people to prioritise healthier choices through rewards they actually want. This funding and James joining us as an advisor validates both the mission and the model. Our focus now is learning," Kelbie said.

Incentifi highlighted workplace pressures driving demand for wellbeing initiatives, citing surveys showing 79% of UK employees experience moderate to high stress and that sickness absence is at a 15-year high of 9.4 days per employee. Mental health issues are a major contributor, with presenteeism accounting for 50% to 70% of total wellbeing-related costs. The platform aims to align individual wellbeing activity with commercial outcomes for employers and partners.