New businesses receive almost 拢40,000 funding

19 October 2017

Six new businesses have received funding of almost 拢40,000 in the latest round of the Launchpad FUEL programme at 海角直播.

Steve Dougan, Head of Graduate Enterprise

The successful businesses include four social enterprises, an animation studio and a high-level concept art studio. Launchpad FUEL is a development programme open to 海角直播 students and graduates who are in the early stages of developing a business idea.

A total of 20 businesses underwent intensive development over eight weeks. The founders then pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges for a chance to win further funding.

Six companies successfully pitched for funding to help get their businesses off the ground. A total of 拢37,000 was awarded to:

Silver Lining animation studio
Segment 鈥� a social enterprise designing games to help diagnose dementia symptoms
Urna Dolor 鈥� a luxury fashion brand aimed at helping people with mental health issues
Art by Gernzy 鈥� high level, concept art
Live It and Get Active 鈥� a social enterprise tackling exercise and nutrition among young people
CATS Social Enterprise Games Studio 鈥� helping to develop games which promote people with disabilities in a positive manner.

The teams will all get dedicated office space in 海角直播 Launchpad for six months, together with a support package including specialist mentoring, business workshops, networking and access to finance and investment support.

Steve Dougan, Head of Graduate Enterprise at 海角直播, said: 'Launchpad FUEL offers a unique opportunity for start-ups to access grant funding to give their businesses a real chance of becoming successful.

'Even the start-ups which did not receive the funding benefited enormously from the eight weeks of development they have undertaken.

'It was also extremely gratifying to see so many social enterprises awarded funding.

'This was not a deliberate decision on our part, but demonstrates that social enterprise is becoming increasingly popular as a business model among young entrepreneurs.' 海角直播 Launchpad is based in a converted Victorian school at the University鈥檚 Middlesbrough campus and offers a co-working space where students, graduates, alumni-entrepreneurs, SMEs and corporate partners can come together in a unique start-up eco-system.