POTR, the Glasgow maker of the “world’s first self-watering origami plant pot” has secured a $670,000 investment from JARS Capital, following a chance encounter at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show.
When Andy Flynn, founder of sustainable design brand POTR, set up his stand at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show, he thought he was there to sell a few plant pots. He didn’t realise that he was pitching his entire company – and in doing so changing the trajectory of his business.
Among the thousands of visitors weaving their way through the prestigious horticultural showcase were Steve and Julie Chapin of JARS Capital. They weren’t in London to invest – simply to visit the show – but after a conversation with Flynn, they knew they wanted more than just a plant pot. They wanted to help accelerate POTR’s growth and get it in the hands of as many consumers as possible.
The result was a $670,000 investment into POTR, fuelling the next stage of growth for the start-up, which operates out of one of Scotland’s entrepreneurial hubs, the Smart Things Accelerator Centre in Glasgow.
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Chapin said: “It’s not like any investment we’ve made before. But the sustainable innovation, commercial potential, and the genuine connection I felt as a gardener and consumer made it one of those rare products that is special and we wanted to support it.”
“People buy from people – whether it’s a plant pot or an investment. We believed in Andy from the moment we met him.
“They’ve already had early success in the United States, but we believe there’s huge potential to make this a truly global product. This funding will enable the team to do that.”
As well as securing investment, the product attracted the attention of another seasoned investor – Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden – who named POTR’s origami self-watering plant pot the Chelsea Flower Show’s Sustainable Product of the Year.
“I thought I was just selling our product,” said Flynn, who is also a lecturer at Glasgow School of Art. “I didn’t realise I was selling the company. Being a designer, I never thought selling would come naturally to me, but I’m so passionate about the product – I believe in the change it can make to people, both by bringing a small slice of joy into their lives and by making them think about sustainability in every act – that it comes easily.
“It just goes to show, you never know who’s walking past your stand. The important thing is to believe so much in what you’re building that it comes across naturally – because the right people can spot that. They’re not just buying what you’re selling, but what you stand for.”
Founded in 2019, POTR’s hero product is a flat-packed, self-watering plant pot made from recycled materials. The concept is simple yet powerful: beautifully designed, sustainably made products that help customers care for plants with less waste and less effort. The company also sells a popular letterbox vase.
The brand has been on a strong growth trajectory since Flynn and his wife, Eilidh – an experienced marketing leader – quit their jobs to focus on POTR full time. It has secured partnerships with major retailers including Uncommon Goods in the U.S., Bloom & Wild and John Lewis in the UK, and Bloomee in Japan.
Flynn recently returned from the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, with the company continuing to build momentum ahead of another appearance at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, where it is in contention for further awards.
In addition to its Chelsea accolade, POTR has captured a GIMA Award and a Spotlight Award at Top Drawer. Flynn and his team have exhibited at major trade shows such as AmericasMart, New York Now, and Shoppe Object, bringing on more than 40 new American retailers. Their first major U.S. order with Uncommon Goods sold out within five days.
The new investment will be used to scale impact-led production, expand the team, deepen the brand’s presence in the U.S. and Asia, and accelerate product development.
“JARS Capital really believe in what we’re trying to do,” added Eilidh, now chief commercial officer. “They’re investing in the bigger vision of sustainable, design-led innovation. That belief is just as important as the funding.
“Our focus is on creating products that genuinely make a difference – and doing that at scale, without compromising our values.”
POTR is forecasting 70 per cent year-on-year growth for 2025, with a sharpened focus on building its position as a category-defining sustainable brand within the home and garden space. A key part of that ambition is a collaboration with Waterhaul, another circular economy innovator, to help scale positive-impact production.
