INSIGHTS / News

(Image: Kalish Manohara Selvan (right) showcasing Spatial Cortex’s wearable bio-mechanical manual vest at Investment Futures 24)

Four SETsquared-supported companies have secured a slice of £6m funding from Innovate UK’s Unlocking Potential: Build Award

The competition is investing a combined £6.2m into 233 innovative projects with the power to transform society. Building on programmes like Women in Innovation and Young Innovators, it aims to level the playing field and unlock potential for innovation by supporting and funding innovators from groups that are currently underrepresented or overlooked in innovation.

Now, four SETsquared-supported companies are included in this cohort: Eleria, Inclued, My CoPilot and Spatial Cortex Technology, who have each received grants of £50k and access to tailored mentorship and support programmes.

Eleria

Eleria has been awarded £50k to start production of their novel menstrual cleaning cup. Founders Kira Goode and Monica Wai, former students from the University of Bristol, have developed a portable cleaning and sterilising menstrual cup to offer a more convenient and discreet solution for women around the world.

As members of SETsquared Bristol, the pair have received support through the incubator’s Enterprising Women programme – a fully-funded programme supported by Natwest to help female founders take their business or idea to the next stage. The duo also recently won another national competition hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineers, which will see them receive mentorship from Dragon’s Den star, Deborah Meaden.

Kira Goode, Co-Founder, Eleria said, “This funding will allow us to start building our team as well as begin some manufacturing to star bringing the product to life. We are very excited for what this grant is unlocking for our business and how it will accelerate our growth.”

Inclued

Inclued has pioneered an innovative AI-powered inclusivity tool poised to revolutionise the marketing landscape.

The SETsquared Bristol member joined the incubator in 2021 thanks to Bristol’s Breakthrough Bursary, a programme designed to grant UK tech entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds access to business support to take their innovations to the next level. Through this, Joyann Boyce, Inclued’s Founder and CEO received access to Entrepreneurs in Residence, advice clinics and training workshops to help refine her investment strategy.

By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, her cutting-edge solution empowers marketers to connect with their target audience on a deeper level by swiftly pinpointing and mitigating unconscious biases embedded within digital content. It also serves as a comprehensive resource hub, furnishing marketers with invaluable data and analytics, actionable insights, and educational materials to foster the seamless integration of inclusive strategies into their campaigns.

MyCoPilot

My CoPilot helps users create healthier digital habits, with intelligent real-time support. Designed for those with ADHD, it will also help anyone struggling with distractions in our ever-increasing digital world, promoting a more balanced relationship with technology.

Whether it’s curbing impulsive browsing, managing time more effectively, or fostering greater focus, this innovative solution is tailored to empower individuals to reclaim control over their digital experiences.

The company has been supported by SETsquared Bristol throughout its journey, receiving bespoke business support, workshops, training and mentorship from the incubator’s Entrepreneurs in Residence.

Spatial Cortex Technology

Another recipient of the funding is SETsquared Bristol member Spatial Cortex Technology, which has developed a revolutionary bio-mechanical system that enables quantitative assessment of injury risks in the workplace. With manual handling injuries costing the industry £6 billion every year, its technology and AI analytics help health and safety teams protect staff from injury before it occurs.

Spatial Cortex recently pitched for investment at our Investment Futures 24 event in London, and has been supported by SETsquared Bristol through its Propel incubation programme, which includes fully bespoke business support services.

Kalish Manohara Selvan, CEO, Spatial Cortex said, “I’m delighted to have won this prestigious Innovate UK award. It will help us to develop key functionalities, accelerate our route-to-market and strengthen our collaboration with trial partners. The support also provides opportunities to inspire the next generation of innovators and make an impact too.”

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See the full list of winning companies