Tech panel shines spotlight on South East’s rising stars
Our new feature focuses on the up-and-coming technology companies that are breaking into new markets through their innovative use of technology
How do you spot the next emerging company in technology?
It is a topic which sparks much debate amongst The Business Magazine team however, like most tough questions, it pays to speak to those in the know.
People who work with technology companies on a daily basis be it through funding, mentoring or advising them professionally on how to overcome the obstacle that is impeding the next stage of their growth.
Every two months we will ask three tech experts from around the South East for their four tech companies to watch.
The criteria is fairly loose however they should have a turnover of less than £1m a year and be breaking into new markets or using technology in an innovative way.
Expert: Dr Will Lovegrove, Director of Innovation Strategy, University of Surrey
Vector Sustainable Energy Limited, London
Pioneering Aerospace Innovation Lena Space thrives within the Space South-Central cluster.
Specialising in high performance cryogenic pumps for rocket propulsion and other non-space applications such as aerospace and defence, their innovative approach and collaborations with prestigious organizations like ESA and the UK Space Agency are propelling them forward.
Its reputation for ingenious problem-solving and precision in projects has caught the eye of the European Space Agency, making it a standout contender in the regional aerospace industry.
Transforming Assay Development and Diagnostics Vidiia Ltd, a bioscience technology company, is reshaping assay development by boosting accessibility and reducing costs. Its low-cost AI-powered testing platform and democratisation efforts in universities are accelerating innovations like a Tuberculosis speciation test from the UK to Ghana. With a versatile, portable platform, it optimises diagnostics for human, animal, environmental and food safety applications. It is based in Guildford, Surrey, and supported by two UK universities.
Vector Sustainable Energy is a renewable energy start-up born from the University of Surrey. It has pioneered a ground-breaking modular, low-pressure Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system with 24-hour storage.
Partnering with Google to transform digital inclusion for the deaf community, Signapse, is an AI startup based at Surrey Research Park in Guildford. It is committed to making British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation more affordable and accessible. CEO Sally Chalk, backed by the University of Surrey, leads Signapse. Their AI-generated digital signer, nearly indistinguishable from a human, aims to increase the availability of signed content without replacing human signers. In a new collaboration, Signapse is partnering with Google and the University of Surrey to enhance digital inclusion by translating key websites into Sign Language.
Expert: Jurek Sikorski, Founder, Henley Business Angels
We have reviewed the recent investments made by members of Henley Business Angels in tech startups to find the most promising technology startups poised to grow rapidly and disrupt their respective industries.
Airponix is an agritech company led by founder Michael Ruggier. Its technology helps plant growth by enveloping the roots of the plant in a nutrient-rich fog, letting it absorb what it needs, when it needs it. The technology enables growth of high-quality produce with no soil, 95 per cent less water and far lower energy consumption than other methods, including hydroponics.
Extend Robotics has developed an immersive software interface which allows the use of consumer virtual-reality headset to interact with a robot across the internet in real-time. Robots come with many opportunities, but also present numerous challenges. These include the risk of them replacing the human workforce in low-skilled roles and the difficulties of programming them, compounded by staff shortages in the automation sector and limitations in software intelligence.
Extend Robotics, led by founder Dr Chang Liu, addresses these challenges by changing how humans interact with robots. Using its software means a human does not need to be physically present for the robot to function.
Led by founder Paul Morris Oxi-Tech Solutions has developed and patented a ground-breaking, “Clean in Place” technology, creating an oxidation process in-situ from tap water.
This technology can be used across a range of disinfection applications including agriculture, water supply, hygiene, built environment and can be used in the destruction of pathogens such as Staphylococcus, Legionella, TB and Avian Flu.
Biotech Renovos Biologics is led by founder Dr Agnieszka Janeczek pioneering the use of synthetic nanoclays as a patented technology platform for therapeutics delivery in regenerative medicine. RENOVITE formulations are injectable, with unprecedented retention properties, allowing significant dose reduction, lower cost of sales and improved safety of potent drugs.
Expert: Nick Carlile, Director of New Business Development, Lifestyle Clarity
Wizzyl from Peach Loves Digital (Hampshire)
Southern Creative Communities (Hampshire)
Wizzyl delivers digital services to small and micro businesses at an affordable cost. It uses AI applications to give smaller businesses a competitive edge over their larger competitors.
A Wizzyl website already comes loaded with useful AI capabilities such as AI assistance that generates optimised website copy rapidly when a Wizzyl customer is creating their website.
Southern Creative Communities supports the third sector (charities and not-for- profit organisations). It uses AI to leverage their skills and recently obtained £350,000 in funding for Testlands, a charity based in Millbrook.
AI is integral to its daily work, not replacing human effort but enhancing it. This allows them to focus more on building business relationships and less on administrative tasks.
With the huge increase in vaping, Vape Guardian has created an effective and affordable solution to detect vaping in schools and public spaces.
The laser technology is simple to install and provides instant protection. It will sense the smallest hint of vapour released from an e-cigarette and immediately send an alert to a designated user via SMS, email or push notification.
Future Worlds is the startup accelerator at the University of Southampton. It helps business owners, researchers and students to launch tech startups emerging from the technology, AI and engineering research and teaching at the university.
