Stingfree Share Success
Billionaire entrepreneur Erik Selin has increased his ownership stake in Stingfree AB as part of a new share issue, demonstrating strong confidence in the company’s future
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by Dave Cross
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Stingfree AB, an innovative snus startup company based in Sweden, has successfully completed a new share issue of 5 million SEK in November, resulting in a company valuation of 40.6 million SEK (around £3 million). With its unique innovation, Stingfree is at the forefront of snus and nicotine pouch technology. The whole board participated in the share issue, and billionaire entrepreneur Erik Selin, through his private investment company, Erik Selin Fastigheter AB, increased his ownership stake from 15.8% to 21.9%, demonstrating strong confidence in the company’s future.
Stingfree says it offers the only nicotine pouch product in the world that features patented integrated gum protection, effectively reducing burning, corrosion and irritation of the gums and thus enabling nicotine pouch use without any discomfort.
Stingfree nicotine pouches have integrated gum protection - The blue protected side is placed towards the gum.
In the Spring 2024, Stingfree AB conducted a world-first pilot study with 23 snus and nicotine pouch using Swedish dentists, yielding very positive results regarding the participants’ oral health. Typical snus and nicotine pouch related oral health problems, such as oral lesions and irritated, inflamed gums, were significantly reduced when participants switched from their regular brands to a Stingfree nicotine pouch product for a test period of five weeks. The results were so positive that 20 out of the 23 participating dentists now recommend Stingfree nicotine pouches to pouch using patients who cannot or do not wish to quit, especially those suffering from snus lesions and/or irritated gums due to their pouch use.
Injuries to the oral mucosa and gums are a very common consequence of pouch use, regardless of whether the snus contains tobacco or is tobacco-free (nicotine pouches). Independent dental studies in Sweden and Norway published in 2022-2023 indicate that the prevalence of snus lesions affects as many as 70-90% of all users, which corresponds to over 1.2 million users in just Sweden and Norway.
Bengt Wiberg, founder and president and Daniel Wiberg CEO of Stingfree AB
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“While other manufacturers compete on flavour and strength, we offer something truly unique – a solution that can actually improve the user’s oral health,” states CEO Daniel Wiberg.
“Our goal is for Stingfree nicotine pouches to become a new alternative standard for this category of oral nicotine products, as natural as light beverages are for soft drinks and GoreTex is for clothing and shoes.”
Company founder Bengt Wiberg added: “Our surveys with over 1,000 participating Swedish snus and nicotine pouch users also show that 67% of women and 53% of men dislike the burning sensation and the irritation on the gums.”
Stingfree AB says its vision is a smoke-free world where those who already use snus or tobacco-free nicotine pouches can do so without burning, irritation, and common oral health issues. Stingfree products have been sold in Sweden since 2023 and are available to adult nicotine users in 100 countries through retailers and e-commerce. The technology for snus products with gum protection is patent approved in the United States and Europe and valid until 2035. The inventive shield function is ProTex®.
Photo Credit:
Images from https://stingfreesnus.com/
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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