Hub Happenings March 2024:?? should we be chasing unicorns? ??

In the papers ??

?????? Dr John Lazar CBE FREng, Chair of the Enterprise Committee at the Royal Academy of Engineering, discusses the UK's obsession with unicorn?startups and the importance of diversifying the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It highlights the need to support various business models beyond unicorns, emphasising contributions from different companies, like Notpla, addressing sustainability challenges. The author argues for a broader perspective to achieve a thriving entrepreneurial environment with societal benefits from diverse startups and SMEs. Read more here>>

From our Hubs across the UK

Northern Ireland

The Enterprise Hub team in Belfast welcomed Kathryn McKenna into her new role as Senior Enterprise Manager, Ireland. Kathryn will be working to promote Enterprise Fellowships and support innovative and exciting engineering enterprise across Ireland’s university and enterprise ecosystems. On 5 March, we hosted the 'People's AI Stewardship Summit', which brought?

together local researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to discuss how AI could be developed to meet social needs. The programme included interactive sessions on positive and trusted use of AI, led by the Academy’s Engineering Policy team, and a reflective panel discussion of how these visions can be delivered and implemented.

Wales

Our Senior Business Development Manager, Mike McMahon, represented the Enterprise Hub at the ‘Invest in Future Wales’ business showcase in Mansion House, London, hosted by British Business Bank, Welsh Government,?

City of London Corporation and UK Governments Department for Business and Trade in partnership with Tramshed Tech, M-Sparc and Fintech Wales. He was also present for the ‘BioWales in London’ conference on the 4?- 5 March?focusing on innovation within Welsh Life Science and Healthcare.

Regional Talent Engines Graduations?

We celebrated the graduation of the newest cohort of #RegionalTalentEngines this month at the Royal Academy of Engineering’s headquarters in London. Regional Talent Engines is a six-month pre-accelerator programme for early-stage founders in Northern England, Northern Ireland and Wales to transform great ideas into new engineering startups. The programme brought together a diverse mix of innovations, get to know all the innovators from North East England, North West England,??Northern Ireland,??and Yorkshire & Humber cohort. The inaugural Welsh Regional Talent Engine cohort began on 8 March in Tramshed Tech, Cardiff delivered by St Johns and BIC Innovation.

?? IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: We are pleased to confirm that the launch of our Scotland Hub is scheduled for May. Further details to follow. ??

Hub Members in the news ??

• ? Congratulations to Hub Member James Finlayson of Impact Recycling for partnering with Syklo and taking their BOSS & PRE technologies to Finland. The plant using those recycling technologies will increase Finland’s recycling rate of plastic packaging by up to 20 percent
• ?? Exciting news. James Roberts, Founder of Hub Member company momincubators, is highlighted on Thinking of Oscar's Not Mini Adults Podcast. Tune in to discover the latest updates on the impactful projects they've funded in the past year
• ?? Hub Member company, Signapse, have received a nomination in the category of Digital Equity and Accessibility for their collaboration with CVG Airport. Cast your vote to support them>>
• ??♀? Hub Member company Movetru is highlighted in the Sports Business Journal,? SBJ Tech Startup Series, showcasing the innovative research on ACL mitigation that they are currently undertaking. This feature underscores the commitment and enthusiasm of their team.

Funding and deals ??

• ?? Hub Member company Nyfasi UK who have secured an Innovate UK ￡50,000 grant for the pilot production of their Deluxe Detangler.
• ??Big congratulations to Hub Member company Koalaa Soft Prosthetics for successfully raising almost ￡1 million from investors. This substantial funding will play a pivotal role in fueling the global expansion efforts of their business.

• ?? Huge news from Hub Member company Quantum Dice as they partner with HSBC to elevate financial Monte Carlo simulations using their QRNG. This follows the successful completion of an Innovate UK-funded project with HSBC and the Hartree Centre.

Awards ??

• ?? Congratulations to Hub Member company Unmanned Life won the GSMA Foundry Excellence Award for Digital Transformation in collaboration with Liberty Global and Amazon Web Services.
• ?? Congratulations to Hub Member company PBD Biotech who are finalists for the #BioNowAwards Social Impact Award for their work to #EndTB.
• ??? Congratulations to Hub Member company Skin Analytics who have been shortlisted for the Health Tech Company of the Year award. This award recognises leading companies that are paving the way for success in the health tech landscape in 2024.

External opportunities???

• ?? ?Calling all UK and Irish founders: Sifted is launching the inaugural Sifted 100: UK & Ireland on March 27, ranking the region’s 100 fastest-growing startups in partnership with Marriott Harrison. Submit your startup >>
• ?? Rising Stars, Tech Nation's pitch competition, offers early-stage tech startups a valuable platform to showcase innovations locally, regionally, and nationally. Apply now>>

• ?? Innovate UK launched a new digital platform called No Limits to help better support innovative talent across the UK by connecting innovators and businesses to talent and skills opportunities. Find out more>>
• Join Management Today in celebrating trailblazing women in business and contributing to the movement for gender equality. Showcase your inspiring story, challenge persistent disparities, and stand a chance to be honored in our 2024 Hall of Fame alongside industry leaders like Stella McCartney, Martha Lane Fox, and Karen Blackett. Enter here>>

Jobs ??

?? The Enterprise Hub is seeking two Senior Enterprise Managers to serve the Newcastle region and Liverpool region, respectively. You will be joining our ambitious Regional Engagement team, helping to promote the Enterprise Hub's mission across all nations and regions of the UK.

See the full job descriptions for:

?? Senior Enterprise Manager, Liverpool>>

?? Senior Enterprise Manager, Newcastle>>

For further details contact [email protected] or Head of Regional Engagement, Gillian Gregg.

We're reading???

• What Do Angel Investors Look For??Find out what investors look for through this series of exclusive interviews with active angel investors.
• Patterns of Successful Startups, Co-Founder Yes or No, Advisor Equity Benchmark & More: Digest the most relevant startup research & reports.
• Beauhurst new "Start Up Index" report:?A report, conducted in partnership with NatWest, investigating new company incorporations in the UK since 2019.

Opening soon ?

Shott Scale Up Accelerator

A twelve-month programme that develops, nurtures and strengthens the leadership capabilities of senior decision-makers in high-growth engineering and tech SMEs to scale their business to the next level. Opening soon>>