Darlington mum-of-four on Tees Valley Labs Stable scheme

From an experienced chemist taking on the offshore paint industry to a Darlington mum-of-four vying to break into new markets with her ball-projecting machine, the Tees Valley Labs Stable programme has welcomed 24 business owners to the scheme.

Designed for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and scale-ups, Tees Valley Labs gives expert guidance and mentorship to business owners.

And its Stable, funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, offers a six-month incubator focused on taking firms from early ideas and discovery through to market traction and funding.

A workshop at FLOK, Middlesbrough (Image: Supplied)

The scheme is now taking on its third cohort after launching last year.

Claire Budge created The Orbitor, through her start-up Orbitor Performance Ltd.

From a background in education, the mum-of-four has created a multi-sport ball launcher for netball, basketball and football – including goalkeeping.

Now she’s taken a place on the Stable programme to boost her product to the next level.

Claire Budge (Image: Supplied)

Claire said: “It was because I couldn’t kick a ball.

“My youngest daughter is a goalkeeper – she plays for Durham Women’s Under 16 and was on the high-performance pathway.

“She had a really important trial and asked me to train with her.

“She spent the full hour laughing at me because I just could not kick the ball straight.

“I thought there had to be something out there that would help.

“I found a gap in the market and The Orbitor was launched.”

Claire wanted to create a machine which was affordable for families in back gardens.

To take The Orbitor forward, she found out about the Stable programme through a business advisor and successfully applied.

She added: “I just think the support here is second to none.

“I don’t think there is anything like it in the UK – having the access to the mentors and the business expertise means I’ve spent the whole week so far in awe of the support we’re going to get.

“It was a family idea and for the first time, I think it’s going to become a reality.

“I really believe that anything is possible.

“We’re really digging deep into what the customer wants, the pitfalls and we’re really drilling down into that.

“Watch this space in six months’ time.”

Entrepreneurs can access significant grant funding as part of the Stable, including a monthly grant of up to £2,200 and the opportunity to apply for a top-up grant of up to £4,800 on successful completion of the programme.

Claire added: “It’s all new to me.

“I’ve a teaching background and I own my own business – I own nurseries – but this is just completely different, the learning curve made me hungry for more and I can’t wait for what the six months bring.”

After relocating from Nigeria to the UK for his studies, Ajibola Agbaje experienced disconnection and social isolation.

Determined to find a solution, he sought a way to help people like himself rebuild their social circles and feel a sense of belonging in unfamiliar environments.

That personal challenge sparked the birth of Japaflex, a social app that redefines how people connect when they move to new cities.

Unlike traditional social media platforms which focus on global content, Ajibola’s creation is designed to be hyperlocal, enabling users to instantly integrate into their new surroundings.

He explained: “When you relocate – whether for work, studies, or even tourism – our app’s advanced location-switching feature allows you to instantly connect with your new city.

“You can meet people nearby, discover local businesses, get real-time information, and find exciting events happening around you.”

Previously part of Teesside University’s Launchpad scheme, Ajibola has now taken Japaflex to the Stable, which also gives participants access to the high-quality FLOK Co-Working Space, on Albert Road, Middlesbrough, run by Tees Valley Labs delivery partner Alt Labs.

“It’s eye opening because there are a lot of things that you would not naturally think about in your business.

“They have opened my eyes to things that I have overlooked.

“They also validate your business ideas and make sure that you’re not just building a lot of features without them being useful.”

Ryan Watson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Voodink – a Pickleball equipment start-up.

Now in its pre-launch phase, Voodink is looking to learn about how it can market its products.

“We’ve got a 5-tier paddle range locked in ready to go,” said Ryan.

Learning about Intellectual Property rights and establishing more connections are already proving key benefits from the programme.

Ryan added: “This is only the second week and I think there’s been a lot of value and understanding.

“I was talking to somebody else from the cohort before – a game developer.

“You wouldn’t necessarily think there’s a crossover between a sports brand and a game developer, but there are areas of crossover which are beneficial for both of us.”

Chemist Lynn Chikosha is the force behind Kona Clean Teknologies which is looking to develop sustainable coatings for high-performance structures – particularly in the wind energy sector – to better cope with erosion and also improve efficiency.

With 19 years’ experience in the coatings and chemical sector, Lynn wanted the autonomy of developing her vision in a fast-growing sector in the region.

Lynn explained: “We’re looking at coatings that don’t have any VOC’s – coatings that are better for the environment.

“There’s a lot happening in the North East around the wind energy sector.

“So, it’s really exciting to be developing products for that sector but also developing eco-friendly products that support in the renewables industry, which is already contributing to the net zero targets for the UK.”

New this year is a two-day Pre-Flight programme which the cohort took on before the Stable programme kicked off – offering a taster of the support and expertise on offer through Tees Valley Labs.

Lynn said the Stable had, so far, helped her set out goals for her business.

“It’s given my thought process some structure in terms of what we’re going to deliver over the next six months,” she added.

The Stable is run by Middlesbrough innovation consultancy Alt Labs on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Stable and the Forge – a separate 12-week accelerator designed to take businesses from market traction and revenue through to significant investment funding – have supported more than 30 Tees Valley businesses with more than £1.5million before the latest cohorts began this autumn.

Steve Dougan, Head of Venture Support at Alt Labs, said the latest Stable cohort was already a tight-knit group with exciting start-ups interrogating their own business ideas and offering peer-to-peer support over the next six months.

He explained why Tees Valley Labs was special.

Steve said: “Six months is a real deep dive.

“It’s a brilliant mix of funding with a monthly stipend and grant support, plus access to our co working space and community here at FLOK, and uniquely, our in-house Alt Labs tech team, to help founders build minimal viable products and prototypes.

“It’s a unique combination of support.

“I think the Stable and the Forge are two of the best start up and growth support programmes currently running anywhere in the UK.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: “Teesside has a track record of turning new ideas into success, and today our region is full of local people with the talent and drive to turn their ideas into real growth for our area.

“Our job is to give them the backing, funding and expert support they need to grow and thrive – and it’s fantastic to see the difference Tees Valley Labs is already making.

“These entrepreneurs are proving that our region is the best place in the country to start and grow a business – and I can’t wait to see how this latest group gets on over the next six months.”