Seven start-up teams with the potential to scale businesses have been chosen for the latest Ignite Accelerator programme.
The Newcastle-based scheme, which over 11 years has helped start-ups raise more than £150m investment, has chosen the group that will benefit from investment coaching, support from entrepreneurs and a trip to San Francisco to meet investors. The eight-week accelerator is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and will run from September to November this year.
Successful applicants include online marketing training business Fabric Academy run by Unwritten Group founder Lisa Eaton; sim racing community Grid Finder, founded by Tom Bunten and supported by chief technology officer Nikhil Patel; and home renovation drawings provider Peek Home founded by Roland and Jaemi Glancy.
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Also joining the cohort is Rapid Fluidics, a consultancy founded by Paul Marshal and specialising in 'microfluidics' - the control of tiny amounts of liquids; tech firm Rove, founded by Alex Ventisei and Will Rogers, which helps developers integrate with third party health and fitness data; medical proteins measurement firm Turbinia. founded by Will Dracup; and AI and advanced linguistics tech business, Wordnerds, founded by Steve Erdal and Pete Daykin.
Jo York, programme manager at Ignite, said: "With over 50 applications, it was incredibly difficult for us to select the successful teams. But I think we’ve ended up with a really good mix, and I’m looking forward to working with all the founders. The seven companies that were successful in applying operate in a range of industries, from research-driven biotech to architecture and practical marketing.
"So it’s a real mix, which will contribute to the sharing of knowledge between peers and alumni. We’ve seen this ‘cohort effect’ make a real difference in previous Ignite programmes."
Ignite is also set to open applications for its Pre-Accelerator programme this autumn, which is designed to support early stage founders who are looking to validate their business models and build initial traction.
Having launched in 2011, Ignite has delivered start-up programmes in Belfast, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Dublin and Cambridge. It returned to the North East in 2021 thanks to a partnership with the North of Tyne Combined Authority, as part of the NTCA’s Digital Economy and Innovation programme.
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