Midlands entrepreneurs took business to 'next level' after support of incubator programme, networking event hears
Three entrepreneurs have described how the support from a business incubator programme helped them to move to the ‘next level’ at an event in the region.
The University of Warwick Science Park’s Ignite Alumni network held its latest meet-up at the Venture Centre on the main university campus.
The network was launched just over a year ago to bring together businesses and associates that have been supported by or involved with Ignite, which offers starter space to innovative start-ups as well as targeted support and guidance.
It now has well over 300 members in the network and three of those were chosen to tell their story at the most recent event.
Alistair Foster, who founded Ademen – which has created medical technology including a pioneering bowel monitoring system, described the barriers he’d faced from an early age as an entrepreneur.
He was told by careers advisers that the word entrepreneur wasn’t on their list and described how he needed to ‘follow the normal way of doing things’ in his first full-time job.
Ignite and the Science Park, he said, gave him the support to ignore those voices and launch the business.
Manish Pillay, of Dock-Y Tech – which has developed sensor systems for vehicles such as e-scooters and bicycles – gave an overview of his company’s journey from the first ideas behind for the tech through to travelling to India at short notice to get a prototype made.
Paul Boyes, from Transform IOT, demonstrated his product that offers up-to-the-minute air quality measurements for places of work and how he is setting about recruiting a team to market and sell the device.
Joy May and Amy Martin, of Ignite’s new sponsors Absolute Works, gave an overview of the specialist outsourced HR consultancy and employment law consultancy that can help companies with HR and employment issues.
Dirk Schafer and Victoria Lynch, both of the Science Park, also gave an update on the Ignite Alumni network and attendees were informed of an exciting new development.
Dirk said: “The reason for starting the Ignite Alumni network was we had all of this knowledge and experience that we knew we could harness by bringing people together.
“The buzz in the room from conversations where people are either looking to do business with one another or simply giving advice and tips to each other is really amazing and makes all of the work behind the scenes worthwhile.
“Our presentations from Ademen, Dock-Y and Transform IOT are testament to the work that Ignite has been doing over many years in supporting entrepreneurs to move their business to the next level.
“And it’s a case of ‘watch this space’ for some exciting new developments on that front very soon!”
The network is supported by DFA Law, PLMR Advent, Edwards Chartered Accountants and new sponsors Absolute Works.
Dirk added: “We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and the additional expertise they bring to the network and the businesses within it, and we are delighted to have attracted the Absolute Works as our latest sponsor.”
For more information on the Ignite Alumni network, email ignite@uwsp.co.uk.
