Sustainable startups scoop £30k in University of Bristol competition

A startup that’s fighting fast fashion by digitising customers’ wardrobes has won a share of £30,000 in funding.

Weaving Change’s app will model users’ clothes on a personalised avatar and use an algorithm to suggest outfit ideas.

It was one of four businesses to win in the University of Bristol’s New Enterprise Competition.

Fifteen student and graduate startups pitched their business plans to a panel of business experts and the winners were announced at a special event last night.

Weaving Change won £7,500 and a six-month membership at the University of Bristol tech incubator, SETsquared Bristol – also one of the competition sponsors.

The team behind the startup, who met at the University of Bristol, say their app will ‘connect people with their wardrobes’ and encourage them to buy fewer clothes by giving them fresh outfit ideas.

Weronika Stelmach, CEO of Weaving Change, graduated top of her MSci in Chemistry.

“It makes me feel optimistic and encouraged that funding is going toward sustainability, and sustainable fashion in particular”, she said.

“We’re mission-driven and it’s exciting to see there’s a space for impact driven businesses.”

Among the others winners was SLANT, which is building electric trolleys – called ‘e-carriages’ – to help people and businesses reduce their car dependency.

They want to reduce unnecessary car journeys and help those who do not drive to move their shopping, children or cargo easily and sustainably. 

SLANT was started by a team of five who met on the University of Bristol’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship master’s programme.

They won the top prize of £15,000 and 12 months’ membership at SETsquared Bristol, as well as a bonus £3,000 funded by Engineers in Business.

SLANT co-founder Artemis Fragkopoulos said he was ‘ecstatic’, adding: “It’s amazing.

“We’ll use this to develop a minimal marketable product, to get preorders and to start generating revenue.”

Another winner, Accommodeep, is developing the first wearable deep pressure device, suitable for people with breasts.

Started by University of Bristol economics graduate Louisa Billington, it builds on research that shows deep pressure – such as weighted blankets – can relieve anxiety, particularly for people with ADHD and autism.

Accommodeep says the market doesn’t currently provide deep pressure vests that fit women’s different body shapes.

And finally there’s Lettus Digest, winner of this year’s People’s Choice Award, which offers a ‘comprehensive solution to reduce landfill refusals, improve waste flows and foster sustainable resource management’.

The judging panel of the University of Bristol’s New Enterprise Competition comprised university staff, alumni and local business leaders.

The competition was organised by the University of Bristol Careers Service.

Rob Taffinder, assistant director of the Careers Service, said: “We were incredibly impressed by the creative and innovative pitches that these students and graduates brought to the New Enterprise Competition.

“No doubt they’ll go on to achieve business success.

“Thank you to our generous sponsors and judging panel, and all of the staff in the University of Bristol Careers Service and Basecamp Enterprise Team who made this possible.”

Kim Brook, director of SETsquared Bristol, added: “The New Enterprise Competition has in its 24-year history spotted some amazing entrepreneurial talent including Ultraleap (then Ultrahaptics), iCOMAT, Lettus Grow and Peequal.

“We’re delighted this year to offer incubation support to SLANT and Weaving Change and look forward to working with the founders to take their business ideas to the next level.”