Science Park entrepreneur set for Amsterdam boot-camp

A BIRMINGHAM Science Park entrepreneur and computer science expert has been selected to participate in a new European business accelerator programme.

Eleanor Watson and her company Poikos Ltd is one of only 10 start-up businesses from across Europe selected for the pan-European ‘StartupBootCamp’ programme, which takes place in Amsterdam.

Ms Watson’s unique ‘Measurecam’ software takes accurate body measurements using a smartphone or webcam. The software has been attracting the interests of the medical sector as well as the made-to-measure clothing market.

The entrepreneur took part in the selection event last month at the Vodafone headquarters in Amsterdam. She was one of 20 finalists invited to present their business ideas to over 20 mentors, who rated applicants on criteria including team setting, business concept and fundability.

Ms Watson and Poikos will now join other start-ups from the UK, Poland, India, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands on the intensive three-month boot camp.

The programme runs along similar lines to the Oxygen Accelerator programme, which took place at the science park last year. At the end of the three months each business will participate in an investor day where they will pitch their businesses to potential investors so they can move onto the next stage of their development.

The Birmingham-based corporate team at law firm Challinors was instructed by Ms Watson and Poikos to advise in relation to the boot camp.

Jamie Partington, corporate solicitor at Challinors, said: “I first met Eleanor to provide initial mentor advice at a legal surgery session when she was on the e4f (Entrepreneurs for the Future) scheme at Birmingham Science Park.

“Following a period of close support, this led to her instructing the firm to advise on the subscription and investment arrangements between her, Poikos and StartupBootCamp and all related corporate governance matters.”