Heriot-Watt incubator participants turn over £1m

Early-stage companies based in the Edinburgh Business School (EBS) Incubator at Heriot-Watt University have created nearly 50 jobs and collectively turned over more than £1 million, according to a new report.
Ifeyinwa Kanu, founder and chief executive of IntelliDigest. Picture: contributed.Ifeyinwa Kanu, founder and chief executive of IntelliDigest. Picture: contributed.
Ifeyinwa Kanu, founder and chief executive of IntelliDigest. Picture: contributed.

The incubator says it provides a flexible provision for firms at a variety of stages of start-up, from proof of concept through to early trading. Its offering includes free desk space, training, workshops and mentorship on site, and visa support for promising international applicants.

Since its opening in 2018, 30 start-ups have received specialist support to help them take their ambitions to the next stage. They include Meander Apparel, which makes ethical outdoor clothing, SussMyBike, which is focused on suspension tuning for mountain bikers, and IntelliDigest, which is on a mission to end food waste.

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Milestones include 48 jobs being created, with eight firms trading during their time in the incubator – generating a combined turnover over this period of just over £1m, and 20-plus winners or finalists of awards. Nearly £300,000 of private investment has been secured, plus more than £970,000 obtained from Innovate UK, Royal Academy of Engineering, RBS BackHer, Santander Emerging Entrepreneurs and other funders.

Kallum Russell, EBS incubator manager, praised the results of its first two years of operation, adding: “The pandemic certainly hasn’t stopped our work – it means there’s even more of a need for entrepreneurs and details of how to apply to join our next cohort will be announced soon.”

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