Central South Start-Ups Excel
Nine, slightly nervous, entrepreneurs addressed a packed Axis Conference Centre on 2nd February at a Catalyst Showcase Event. For these founders of early stage, innovation-led businesses, it was an opportunity to test their business pitch to a supportive and engaged audience, and also to appreciate the extent of their progress since joining Southampton Science Park’s Catalyst business accelerator programme in the Autumn.
As is always the case on the Catalyst programme, delegates operate in diverse business sectors; the commonality is that they are all tackling real world problems with creativity, drive and ambition.
The company founders presenting this time were:
- Chantal Muller - SpaceBay, mentored by Gary Smith
- Mahdi Shaban - PneumoRator, mentored by Phil Sharpe
- Xize Niu - Droplet Scientific, mentored by Adrian Braine
- Sankha Chatterjee - EnerV Global, mentored by Gary Smith
- Ashley Bishop - Finder AI, mentored by Gary Smith
- Cameron McAllister – Hearth Insights, mentored by Adrian Braine
- Lucy Richmond - Pathzi, mentored by Phil Sharpe
- Paul Johnson - Fixit Medical, mentored by Adrian Braine
- Dan Maayan - Tuff Tents, mentored by Phil Sharpe
After certificates were awarded, and photos taken, Lucinda announced that Hearth Insights had delivered the best pitch, winning residency in the Science Park’s Incubation Centre.
All participants automatically become part of the Catalyst Alumni Network so that they continue to benefit from the support of mentors, and peers from across the 16 Catalyst cohorts to date.
Hosting the event, the Science Park’s Lucinda Lamont said, “Our Catalyst Showcase is a pivotal moment for delegates on our Catalyst programme. It is a chance to share their ideas, their progress, and their ambitions for the impact that they hope to achieve. Over the past few months, they have pushed their ideas forward with determination, refining their products and services, validating their markets, and challenging themselves to grow as leaders. In some cases, this has involved being sufficiently brave to pivot direction.”
Thanking the audience for attending, Lucinda also underlined the importance of backing local start-ups through programmes and events such as these, reiterating the multiplier effect that they can have. She said, “Early-stage companies have high potential for step-change positive impacts right across the Central South economy. As well as the financial contribution that they will make, they bring fresh thinking, stimulate competition and collaboration, generate high value jobs, and retain University talent here. Thank you for being a part of this.”
Representatives from Catalyst partners were present and highly engaged. The Southampton Science Park team thanks Health Innovation Wessex, the National Oceanography Centre, the University of Southampton’s School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation, and Test Valley Borough Council (which provides funding via the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund) for their ongoing support.
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