BetaDen, the award-winning Worcestershire-based organisation providing support for innovative technology-based businesses, has welcomed the first intake of start-up technology and digital businesses to its new incubator programme, delivered in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership. BetaDen Incubate will deliver support for up to 60 start-up businesses over four intakes from its dedicated co-working space at The Kiln in Worcester.
The first ten businesses winning a place on the incubator are:
- Access Support – online platform meeting the increasing need to work remotely, operating in the Disabled Student Allowance sector
- B13 AI – AI-powered software to de-risk software development projects
- Bid Essentials – Bid Management intranet system for private sector businesses bidding for public sector tenders
- Connor Hay – mobile apps and website development service
- Doopee Doo – a gamified discovery app to provide new experiences and interactions in the tourism sector
- GraftAR – Augmented reality app allowing customers to visualise products in their homes and linking tradespeople to customers
- LostLamb – technology-led system to reunite parents with children if they wander too far/get lost
- Make Life Better – AI tool helping citizens realise benefit and grant entitlements
- Ocius Consulting – software to help organisations manage business change effectively through improved planning, workflow and communication
- Silvflame – a system designed to contain and protect against wildfires caused by natural phenomena and human-induced events
Donston Powell, external affairs director at BetaDen, said: “We’re excited to welcome our first ten businesses to Incubate. The ‘BetaDen Accelerate’ programme has repeatedly proven there is a wealth of entrepreneurial technology talent in our county, and we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of emerging early-stage tech startups in the last year, so we’re excited that we can now bring the benefits of our award-winning programme to young businesses right at the beginning of their commercial journey.”
All participants in BetaDen Incubate will benefit from face-to-face workshops on key topics, 1:1 tailored business support from BetaDen’s team of experienced coaches, access to dedicated office space at The Kiln, a programme of specific networking events, support and access to PR opportunities, and exposure to BetaDen’s extensive partner and alumni network.
Alex Brookes, centre manager and director at The Kiln added: “We are so excited to partner with BetaDen by hosting the Incubate programme from The Kiln.
“Collaborating with BetaDen is a great opportunity for us to support innovation, budding entrepreneurs, and to drive technological advancement within our community, which is a huge part of what we are all about here at The Kiln.
“There is a natural synergy between The Kiln and BetaDen that we thought was definitely worth taking advantage of.”
Karen Nolan, founder of Bid Essentials, said: “I was really pleased to be accepted onto the programme. The workshops we’ve done so far have been brilliant – there were a lot of things I didn’t know, and I’m glad I have the opportunity to learn and progress.
“It has been an exciting experience so far with a real community feel – it is good to be around other founders who are at the same stage as me, facing the same challenges. I feel really supported by the BetaDen team, mentors and my peers in the group. “
The next intake of businesses to join BetaDen’s eight-week Incubate programme will join in September 2024. To register your interest, visit https://beta-den.com/incubate/