University of Bath spin-out business Earsoft, which is developing an innovative loudness control for audio devices, is in the running to win one of Lloyds TSB’s Enterprise Awards.
The firm, based at Bath’s Innovation Centre, is one of 10 businesses challenging in the regional heat of the awards tomorrow.
The awards aim to find Britain’s best student and graduate entrepreneurs in two categories – Best Start-Up, awarded to a business in its early stages, and Best Enterprise, awarded to the business judged to show real potential to grow over the next five years.
The best start-ups in the regional heats win £1,000 each plus two years’ mentoring from senior Lloyds Banking Group representatives, with the best enterprises receiving £5,000 each plus two years’ mentoring from senior Lloyds Banking Group representatives
The national best start-up gets £10,000 and the best enterprise £50,000 with both receiving two years’ mentoring, a business session with a Lloyds Banking Group executive and free legal advice
Earsoft created its Level produce to ensure that listeners can hear everything – from whispered dialogue to loud explosions – by setting a volumn range on their device.
It can help a range of consumers, from the hearing impaired, to those wearing headphones on public transport, and from home-based users with small speakers to enthusiasts watching a film on an expensive home cinema system.
Unlike a normal volume control, Level – which uses slider controls – allows the listener to set the loudness to exactly where they want it within their range, no matter what they are listening to – from films, music and radio to podcasts, amateur video, games and TV.
All audio is then kept within this range – for instance, in a movie preventing whispers from being too quiet but also explosions from being too loud.
Lloyds TSB Commercial area director Martin Racher said: “We have been so impressed with the calibre of the entries we have seen since the awards opened and look forward to meeting the finalists at the next stage.
“Having seen the diversity and talent amongst the businesses which applied for the Enterprise Awards, Lloyds TSB is more determined than ever to make sure that we are doing all we can to support young enterprise across England, Wales and Scotland.
“We understand how difficult it can be to get a fledgling business off the ground, and we’re delighted to be able to offer recognition to those who have achieved this. We hope that by offering a cash injection as well as a mentoring programme, we will be able to nurture the talent coming out of the UK’s universities to make the most of their varied offerings.”
Tomorrow’s regional final takes place in the University of Bristol’s Wills Memorial Building.
