Natalie Armstrong
Hive-Five designs innovative beekeeping equipment that protects hives and cuts the physical labour requirements.
Project
Hive-Five Beekeeping Equipment
URL
Year founded
2023
Business stage
Series A
High-growth sectors
Life Sciences
Sector
Agrifood
Location
South East England
Funding
Funded Award Winner
The problem and opportunity
Beekeeping still relies on physically demanding, outdated methods. Hive-Five’s Multi-Guard already tackles hive protection, replacing short-term, improvised fixes like Gaffer tape. We’re now targeting honey extraction: before spinning, bees must be cleared from frames, requiring two hive visits within 24 hours. This is physically onerous and time-consuming, especially for multiple hives, and no equipment on the market currently solves it.
The solution and innovation
Our new innovation significantly reduces the time and physical effort needed to clear bees from frames before extraction. Full technical details remain confidential at prototype stage to protect our IP, but the design builds on proven customer insight from the Multi-Guard, combining hands-on beekeeping experience with structural engineering and CAD expertise. We’re refining it using a trusted beekeeper network.
Market and ambition
We sell to hobbyist and commercial UK beekeepers. Our extraction innovation targets the same base, enabling cross-sell and opening opportunities with larger commercial operations. Over three years, we aim to become the UK’s leading beekeeping equipment producer, expanding sales internationally.
Founder perspective
Natalie Armstrong co-founded Hive-Five in 2023 after growing frustrated protecting her hives with improvised fixes. With engineer Colin and CAD specialist Michael, she turned that frustration into the Multi-Guard. She’s now applying the same first-hand insight to honey extraction, beekeeping’s most physical task.
Women in Innovation Award
Recipient of an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award 2025/26, receiving tailored business support, and access to specialist training and networks. View all winners and highly commended applicants from the Women in Innovation cohort 2025/2026.