Six high-growth tech start-ups from Bath are hoping for funding after taking part in a high-profile investment event staged by SETsquared, the global number one business incubator backed by the University of Bath.
SETsquared’s annual Accelerating Growth Investment Showcase in London gives entrepreneurs based at its centres the chance to pitch to more than 200 investors and corporates.
In previous years these investors have backed businesses to the tune of £35m.
The six Bath firms pitching for investment were:
- Kinderly, which has developed an app for childminders and nurseries to help reduce the amount of paperwork and time spent in adhering to a statutory government framework regulated by Ofsted
- Jook, which has developed the world’s first – and only – peer-to-peer fashion and beauty marketplace where users can buy outfits they love on Instagram, meaning users are only three taps from inspiration to purchase
- Move, which has created a subscription marketplace platform for the $500bn healthy living market. The platform is created by a second-time successful fitness tech entrepreneur and offers easy access to gyms, classes and activities
- Event Halo, which has developed a free-to-use event management system, the first designed especially for outdoor events
- Ordoo, which is determined to make someone’s day by saving busy people time ordering food and drink
- Propagator, which is developing a suite of digital products for people living with a long-term condition which will help reduce the costs of care for public and private healthcare providers and improve outcomes for patients with conditions such as back pain, arthritis, lung cancer and mental health issues.
The six are based at the SETsquared’s innovation centre at the University of Bath. SETsquared, which is also backed by the universities of Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey, provides mentoring support and comprehensive pitch training to enable member firms to pitch to potential investors.
The six Bath firms were joined by others from around the SETsquared network. All the firms also exhibited at the showcase, giving them the chance to talk to would-be backers face-to-face.
SETsquared Bath deputy head of enterprise Ali Hadavizadeh said: “Yet again, I was delighted and very proud to see huge enthusiasm and commitment from the companies that SETsquared supports at this year’s Accelerating Growth investment showcase.
“There is a real appetite among investors to partner with SETsquared’s high-growth potential technology companies and their engaging pitches really created a buzz at the event.
“It was promising to see many positive conversations taking place between the start-ups and investors at the showcase. We hope this networking opportunity will result in even more success stories for Bath’s budding entrepreneurs over the next year.”
The event was the 13th investment showcase staged by SETsquared. Over the past 14 years SETsquared has helped more than 1,000 businesses raise £1bn-plus in investment, as well as contributing over £3.8bn to the economy. The figures contributed to it being named last year as the top university business incubator in the world by UBI Global
Pictured, from left: Dr Agnieszka Janecz of Renovos; Simon Bond, innovation director at SETsquared; Monika Radclyffe, SETsquared Bristol centre director and Dr Matt Butcher of Inductosense
