Eight tech start-ups join technology accelerator BetaDen's programme

Published by

Giles Gwinnett

Left to right: Donston Powell, Catherine Goodwin, Samantha Cadman, John Forshaw, Kate Snell, Tony Seaton, Christian Dangerfield, Jeremy Holden, Jon Downes, Vihtori Lehtonen, Duncan Knight, Paul Clarke, Alex Lawrence-Berkley, Ahmed, Bill Stock, Siraj Shaikh, Jack Stansfeld, Alison Skidmore, Elliott Davies, mike Thomas, Ben Coldrick, Emma Whitehouse celebrate the start of a new era at BetaDen - contributed

BetaDen, the technology accelerator based at Malvern Hills science park in Worcestershire, has welcomed eight new early-stage businesses onto its nine-month programme this September.

They include tech firm Anionix, which is working to develop the next generation of electrolysers powered by renewable energy, and Secure Elements, which is advancing an automotive cybersecurity management system.

BetaDen was started in 2018 and has a proven track record of nurturing technology startups. Its alumni have raised over £7.2 million in investment and funding, supported over 170 jobs and developed a number of world-first technologies.

It was named ‘Best in the UK’ by the UK Business Tech awards and has secured a £630,000 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Its nine month accelerator programme is divided into three stages - framing, proof of concept and route to market.

The package includes access to a proof of concept grant and a dedicated co-working office space, along with marketing funding and specialist mentoring.

"We are thrilled to welcome these exciting early-stage businesses into our programme," said Donston Powell, marketing and communications manager at BetaDen.

"One of the strengths of BetaDen’s offer is the diversity of the technologies it supports, which creates real opportunities for cross-sector learning and commercial development.

"This has never been more true than for our new cohort, which includes founders developing technologies across the envirotech, automotive, manutech, security and retail tech spaces."

Donston added: "As we enter a new era for BetaDen, we have every confidence our new cohort will have a host of opportunities to learn from and build on their predecessors’ successes, developing some truly game-changing technologies, right here in the heart of the country."

The full list of new joiners is:

Anionix - a green, hydrogen energy technology company working to develop the next generation of electrolysers powered by renewable energy to enable our net-zero future.

Care4Futures - a revolutionary technology for buckles and harnesses used by emergency services and motorsport industries

MotoCargo - developing rapid, low-emissions goods delivery vehicles.

Optimec - an advanced measurement and inspection technology for contact and intraocular lens manufacturers.

Missing Link – an advanced software platform revolutionising business processes and workflow automation, promoting data-driven decision-making.

Secure Elements - automotive cybersecurity management system accelerating the adoption of future mobility systems.

Shop Our Turf – e-commerce platform bringing together independent stores with local communities.

Treadcheck – automated, data-driven platform transforming tyre management for Heavy Goods and Public Service vehicles

Giles Gwinnett

Giles Gwinnett is a writer at The Business Magazine. He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and covered a vast array of topics at a range of media settings - in print and online. After his NCTJ newspaper training, he became a reporter in Hampshire before moving to a news agency in Gloucestershire. In recent years, he has been covering the financial markets along with company news for an investor-focused web portal. His many interests include politics, energy and the environment. He lives in Dorset.