Unsuccessful Sarah Ferguson-endorsed app funded with £1m of taxpayers' money

A lifestyle app supported by Sarah Ferguson received over 1 million from taxpayers but collapsed before launching any product, according to recent documents.

vVoosh was established by Manuel Fernandez, a close associate of Ms. Ferguson, who previously referred to herself as the app's "ambassador" and also invested in it. The app promised users the ability to "Find, Plan, Share, Live, and Remember" the activities they enjoy and those they hadn't yet tried.

Both Ms. Ferguson and Mr. Fernandez declined to comment on the matter. Last month, vVoosh entered administration, with its failure raising further questions about the business choices made by the former duchess. In a separate incident, it was revealed that a cryptocurrency mining firm had agreed to pay Ms. Ferguson up to 1.4 million for her role as a "brand ambassador." This company also failed, reportedly losing investors millions. The co-founder of the firm denied any misconduct and stated that efforts are being made to reimburse the investors.

In September, multiple charities severed ties with Ms. Ferguson after a 2011 email surfaced, in which she referred to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as her "supreme friend" and appeared to apologize for her past criticisms of him.

Manuel Fernandez, 57, attended school in Billericay, Essex, and served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, according to his LinkedIn profile. Afterward, he held senior sales positions at various tech companies before founding vVoosh in 2010. He and Ms. Ferguson were frequently photographed together in 2015 and 2016, and they attended Sir Bob Geldof's wedding, although she denied rumors of a romantic relationship, describing him as a "good friend."

Over the years, vVoosh raised nearly 9 million, including more than 1 million from the UK government through research and development tax credits, as per documents filed by the administrator. Despite the funding, the app was never launched and failed to generate any revenue to continue its development. Progress was halted when an Indian contractor threatened legal action. The administrator's report indicates a "breakdown in communication" between Mr. Fernandez, the directors, and major creditors, following Mr. Fernandez's resignation earlier in the year. The report also reveals that Mr. Fernandez is owed 324,609 by the company.

Last summer, Mr. Fernandez sold his house in North London for 1.3 million, according to Land Registry documents, and is believed to have left the UK. Additionally, vVoosh owes 50,000 to Ms. Ferguson's company, La Luna Investments, which also held just under 1% of vVoosh's shares. Ms. Ferguson, 66, lost her duchess title when her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, renounced his Duke of York title following his association with Epstein. He has since been stripped of his prince title as well.

Documents show that the company had more than 60 minor shareholders, many of whom were based in Essex and London, though some had American addresses. The administrators have indicated that there is "significant uncertainty" regarding the amount creditors will be able to recover once the company is liquidated. One American investor, Mark Guzy, has invested over 400,000 to maintain "certain essential services" and safeguard the value of the company's software platform, which remains its primary asset.

Originally, vVoosh intended to donate 10% of its profits to a charitable foundation. The BBC has learned that the Charity Commission has initiated the process of removing the vVoosh Charitable Foundation from the register of charities due to its inactivity. The foundation has failed to submit any reports in over four and a half years, with the last accounts from 2019 showing a gross income of 1.28 million, but only 18,240 was spent on charitable activities.

HMRC declined to comment on the tax credits. Mr. Guzy and the other directors of vVoosh also declined to make any statements. Earlier this month, Mr. Fernandez denied allegations that he withdrew money from the firm, telling the Times that such claims would be disproven in upcoming legal proceedings.