INSIGHTS / News

Seven high tech start-ups are being skilled up to the next level with help from a new digital business acceleration hub in Basingstoke.

Since February, over 114 digital companies in total from the region have benefited from an award-winning, intensive two-day entrepreneurship programme, specially designed for entrepreneurs with a new idea for a digital technology product or service. The programme covers all elements of starting a business, from identifying a solution to a problem and sizing the market opportunity to building a solid financial plan.

At the end of the course, the best entrepreneurs are selected to receive a fully-funded place for up to one year with SETsquared Surrey’s digital business acceleration hubs.

The hubs, which are supported by the University of Surrey and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council via their partnership in the global number one university business incubator SETsquared and are funded by £2.4m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and are nurturing new talent in the digital sector to turn entrepreneurs into the next British tech success stories. As well as Basingstoke, growth towns of Farnborough, Guildford and Woking are also home to digital business acceleration hubs.

In Basingstoke, seven high growth potential start-ups have been signed up to support services with SETsquared Surrey, which is part of the enterprise partnership between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey.

The start-ups receiving support from SETsquared in Basingstoke are:

• Hectopix – has developed a state-of- the-art, super-resolution technology for CCTV security that enhances the imaging to enable intruders to be recognised by law enforcement.
• Fixxr –has produced a solution for the social housing sector to proactively manage repairs and maintenance that avoids the wasted maintenance calls or unsuccessful repairs caused by poor intelligence.
• HOLM –has developed personalisation software for fashion retailers to recommend clothes that are highly suited to their customer by taking account of their personal shape, resulting in better sales outcomes.
• Trackener –has created intelligent, remote horse monitoring technology that relieves stress for the owner by delivering continuous intelligence of the horse’s current well being.
• Digital Appointments Company – has produced a solution to book, pay and provide feedback for any business that operates by making appointments with their customers such as doctors, dentists and tradespeople.
• RazorSecure – which offers an advanced cyber-security solution designed to detect and protect critical infrastructure systems such as transport, energy plant and factories from cyber attacks and hackers.
• AroundThen – which produces a solution that enables Universities to track whether students are attending lectures using Bluetooth proximity technology to automatically log their presence in the actual lecture theatre or classroom.

Adrian Braine, entrepreneur in residence at SETsquared’s hub in Basingstoke, said: “The programme has had an incredible start, to have had such a huge uptake and effect in just six months. The calibre of start-ups and entrepreneurs we’ve seen applying for the programme has been very high, showing that there is an enormous amount of technological talent in the region.

“The programme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of digital high-tech entrepreneurs across the M3 region, and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to provide significant support to over 114 start-ups in such a short amount of time.”

In total, more than 360 high growth digital entrepreneurs will receive backing from the programme over the next three years. In addition to access to experienced mentors, the start-ups will be able to use specialist services connected to the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre.

Jemma Hillyer, from start-up Fixxr Ltd, said: “I really appreciated being accepted on the course. Having access to the amazing bank of SETsquared mentors and angels was the highlight for me. I took 20 pages of notes!”

James Mannion, from start-up Leo Care Technologies, said: “I have never experienced a programme like this before, or rubbed shoulders with so many successful people. I have learnt more in two days on the course than I have since I started up my company. The course was extremely educating and massively beneficial.”

James Hill, director at start-up Fudge Productions, which is now supported by SETsquared through its Woking hub, said: “The course was exceptional, and I wish there had been something like this available 10 years ago when I first went into business.”

Through ERDF funding, the programme is funded by the Enterprise M3 LEP and the Department for Communities and Local Government. The programme is also supported by a number of partner organisations and councils, including Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Guildford Borough Council and Tannery Studios Innovation Centre for Creative Industries.

Entrepreneurs interested in applying to the programme or to learn more about the digital business acceleration hubs can visit: http://www.setsquared.co.uk/start-support/digital-business-acceleration-hubs