Tees Valley start-ups showcase innovations after £4m investment
The exclusive Demo Day event, held at Boho X, was organised by Tees Valley Labs in collaboration with Alt Labs and the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
It marked a ‘significant milestone’ for the innovative founders whose projects have collectively secured the funding this year.
Over the past year, Tees Valley Labs has been working with 33 early-stage and scaling businesses through The Stable (incubator programme) and The Forge (accelerator programme).
Left, Oz Harbottle and Imran Anwar (Image: Supplied)
Dan Watson, head of ecosystems and operations at Alt Labs, said: “Tees Valley has a fantastic pool of highly talented and skilled entrepreneurs.
“It’s great to see so many of this year’s cohort today and witness not only their successful projects but how they are working with industry to take a design concept to market.”
Some of the highlights of the day included Oz Harbottle, a military veteran, who has developed a ground-breaking design for body armour and protective wear applications.
His innovation has already led to introductions to private and academic institutions for potential future investment.
Victoria Burnip, founder of Cognitive HealthTech, also presented her app for individuals with autism and ADHD, which is already making waves in the tech sector.
The app streamlines daily organisation and reduces cognitive overload, offering invaluable support to neurodiverse individuals.
Ms Burnip has secured a place on the Catalyst AI in Health Accelerator Programme, run by Pioneer Group and Innovate UK, to further develop the market traction of the app in the HealthTech sector.
Keynote speeches from Angela Hart, of Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Bill Scott OBE, DL, of Wilton Engineering, celebrated the achievements of these founders and connected them with potential investors and key stakeholders.
Imran Anwar, CEO at Alt Labs, said: “The impact of the programme is already evident, with many start-ups securing contracts, generating new jobs, and driving innovation in diverse sectors.
“Tees Valley Labs is proud to report above-average participation of female and minority ethnic founders, reinforcing its commitment to diversity in entrepreneurship.”
Tees Valley Labs is delivered on behalf of the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.