Innovative start-up founders join the university's Incubator programme

An exciting year lies ahead for innovative graduate entrepreneurs in Birmingham city centre. Last week, 22 new businesses joined the UoB Elevate start-up incubator programme at The Exchange in Centenary Square. Joined by existing start-ups from the first cohort, there will be a total of 38 businesses working in the updated space inside The Graham Turner Entrepreneurship Centre. 

Each business has at least one University of Birmingham student or graduate founder or co-founder; and this year there have been seven successful applications on the £15,000 scholarship programme, kindly funded by University of Birmingham alumni donors.

Get to know the 38 start-up businesses based at UoB Elevate

New businesses coming into the programme offer a range of innovative ideas which include; new inventions, virtual reality, web3 social media, theatre and performance, computer game design, education, student marketplaces, international consultancies, medical apps, FinTech and furniture design...

Over three days, the latest additions took part in their induction facilitated by John
Cooke and te B-Enterprising Team. It was a chance for entrepreneurs to meet with one another, share their ideas and get tips about taking their business forward.

I love meeting new people and there is so many amazing founders here who have so many insights that I didn't really think about. I think we can learn so much from each other so I am just excited to make new friends and new business relationships and see where they take me in the next twelve months and beyond.
Louise Lyons-Appiah from Breathe Union

I have a medical background. The main thing I want to get from the Elevate programme is to understand the fundamentals of business. 

Here there are great network opportunities and I think when you have a community to support you in a journey they can guide you and that's what I'm really looking forward to. Mentors, experts and people to help us get where we want to be. Dr Jeevan Swamy - Master Q Ltd

It's been brilliant so far I can already see how I can start to build my network. I've spent a lot of my time around the incubator already. Just by being around here you can bump into someone and they might not have the answer but they might know someone who knows someone who does, and everyone is friendly and helps one other. 
Andrew Morrin - Elmdon Studios

I'm a Birmingham alumni and co-founder of NovNat, and our idea is an inventive solution to global water poverty. It's really been interesting to be part of this, it's been insightful and there is a lot of support to help us.

Abdulbari Belouafi - NovNat

The final day of the induction ended with a networking evening with food and drinks and with luck the start of some long lasting connections. 

Looking ahead, the entrepreneurs will be guided by the B-Enterprising team and will gain access to a range of programmes and opportunities including mentors, advisors, alumni networks, internship programmes and investment opportunities.

Our latest video showcases our innovators and features alumni and business engagement partners. Watch the video below and find out how you can get involved by visiting the UoB Elevate website.

UoB Elevate

Added by Bob Lee