Loughborough University: Latest group of local startups complete free LUinc. business accelerator
Sixteen more business founders have completed the LUinc startup accelerator for emerging enterprises in Leicestershire.
It brings the total number of businesses which have been through the Loughborough University accelerator – which launched last year to test and develop the ideas of new businesses in Charnwood and beyond – to 34.
The second wave saw a total of 23 emerging businesses start the free six-month programme.
Of those, five pitched to a panel of three experts and a live audience during a Demo Day at the Careers and Enterprise Hub in Loughborough town centre on June 8. They were:
Sab Bham, founder of Naked Indian, which provides premium spice packets, has a product range which is ready for launch.
Jayden Cooke, founder of Jayden Cooke Virtual Assistant+, which provides virtual project management, launched in late 2021 and has since grown. Its founder is now considering expansion.
Charlie Fitzroy, founder of Vendr Delivery, which provides eco-friendly vegetable delivery. After testing the local market, he is now pursuing an alternative idea.
Spyros Iatropoulos, founded early-stage app Runner Coach. His company is now established and reviewing the market.
Idi Karon, founded Bold Analytics Ltd, which digitises stocktaking of laundry products. He is now working with a partner to test his technology.
LUinc team members and were joined by others from the local startup community to watch the new businesses present to, and gain feedback from, an expert panel which included:
Janette Pallas, Royal Society Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Loughborough University
Steve Hobbs, facilitator, mentor and coach
Anastasia Sagaidachna, Private Equity Investment Manager at Foresight
The Business Startup Accelerator Programme provides entrepreneurs and early-stage companies with free training, resources and connections to help them establish, grow and succeed. Anyone can apply and online applications are being accepted now.
The project is supported by Charnwood Borough Council and Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) to help develop a new generation of businesses which are rooted in Loughborough and more resilient to future challenges.
LU inc. manager Pete Hitchings said: “It was fantastic to be able to use the Hub for the purpose for which it was intended – helping local people test ideas and launch businesses.
“Omicron limited many of our Cohort 1 businesses from using the space and I’m looking forward to seeing what it can be used for by the next group of start-ups.”