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A lifestyle application called vVoosh, which had financial backing from Sarah Ferguson, received over £1 million in public funds but ultimately collapsed without ever launching its product, according to recently filed documents. The app was established by Manuel Fernandez, a close associate of Ms. Ferguson, who referred to herself as an “ambassador” of the firm and also invested in it. vVoosh aimed to empower users to “Find, Plan, Share, Live, and Remember all the things you love to do – and those you’re yet to try.” Attempts to get comments from Ms. Ferguson and Mr. Fernandez were unsuccessful.
Last month, vVoosh entered administration, prompting renewed scrutiny of the former duchess’s business decisions and the partnerships she forged. This follows other controversies, including revelations that she had agreed to act as a “brand ambassador” for a cryptocurrency mining company that promised to pay her up to £1.4 million. That enterprise also failed, reportedly causing substantial losses for investors, though its co-founder denied any wrongdoing and said efforts are underway to reimburse supporters. Earlier this year, several charities ended their relationships with Ms. Ferguson after an email from 2011 surfaced, showing her referring to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as her “supreme friend” and expressing regret over her public criticism of him.
Manuel Fernandez, now 57, attended school in Billericay, Essex, and served as a soldier in the Royal Anglian Regiment, according to his LinkedIn profile. Following his military career, he took on senior sales roles at various technology firms before launching vVoosh in 2010. Photographic evidence from 2015 and 2016 shows him accompanying the then-duchess, including their attendance at Sir Bob Geldof’s wedding; however, Ms. Ferguson denied rumors of a romantic relationship, stating they were simply “good friends.”
Over its lifetime, vVoosh raised about £9 million, including more than £1 million obtained from UK government research and development tax credits, as outlined in administrator files. The company employed teams in the UK and India to develop the app but failed to release it, resulting in no revenue to support ongoing work. Development halted after an Indian contractor threatened legal action. The administration report points to a “breakdown in communication” between the company’s directors, major creditors, and Mr. Fernandez, who resigned as director earlier this year and ceased communication thereafter. The report also indicates that the company is owed £324,609 by a former director, believed to be Mr. Fernandez, who last year sold a North London property for £1.3 million and is thought to have left the UK. Meanwhile, vVoosh owes £50,000 to La Luna Investments, a firm connected to Ms. Ferguson that held nearly 1% equity in the business.
Ms. Ferguson, now 66, lost the duchess title following the Duke of York’s relinquishment of his royal title amid his own links to Epstein; he has also been stripped of his prince title. The company had more than 60 additional small shareholders, mainly based in Essex and London, though some were from the United States. Administrators have expressed “significant uncertainty” regarding the potential returns for creditors once the company is liquidated. One American investor, Mark Guzy, contributed over £400,000 to maintain “certain essential services” and safeguard the software platform, which remains the principal asset of vVoosh.
The app had initially planned to allocate 10% of its profits to a charitable foundation. However, the BBC understands the Charity Commission is currently taking steps to remove the vVoosh Charitable Foundation from its register, stating the organization is no longer operational. Its reporting is over four and a half years overdue, with its most recent accounts, from 2019, showing a gross income of £1.28 million against just £18,240 spent on charitable activities. When approached for comment, HMRC declined to respond regarding the tax credits, while Mr. Guzy and other vVoosh directors also chose not to comment. Earlier this month, Mr. Fernandez denied allegations that he had taken money from the company, telling The Times the accusation would be “disproven in the course of legal proceedings.”
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