Worcester law firm ties up with cyber accelerator

Published by

Nicky Godding

Worcester law firm HCR’s top technology law expert has been doing her bit to support start-up tech companies by offering a day a month of her time free of charge.

Nicola McNeely, who has worked with tech companies throughout her career, has been supporting growing companies being developed by Malvern-based tech accelerator BetaDen, which is now looking for its next group of entrepreneurs and tech companies to apply to join Cohort 4.0.

Nicola offers legal advice on everything from contracts and the structure of the companies, to negotiations with investors and suppliers and their market strategy.

She said: “It’s hard work, but I get the opportunity to work with really interesting tech businesses; I have spent my career with this kind of business and I really enjoy it. Their issues are very varied, and it is great to be able to help them set a course towards success.”

The current cohort of businesses are developing products and services using blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), drone mapping, 5G and thermal sensors. BetaDen is now keen to recruit more early stage technology entrepreneurs to benefit from its support – based at Malvern Hills Science Park, it offers nine months of free office space, mentorship, and access to Worcestershire’s 5G testbed. Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership also provides a £10,000 ‘proof of concept’ grant.

Linda Smith, CEO and founder of BetaDen, said: “We’re delighted to have Nicola on board; her background in IT and intellectual property is invaluable for the founders here. We have just started recruiting for our new cohort who will come on board in March next year, and I hope that HCR will continue to support us.”

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.