Tech accelerator delivers jobs boost
Six early-stage technology businesses that recently took part in Worcestershire technology accelerator BetaDen have created 19 jobs as a result of their time on the programme.
Blockmark Technologies, DronePrep, Heteronomics, Veritherm and Vojo all completed BetaDen’s nine-month programme to commercialise their technology in March and have since taken on new recruits, including nine posts created as part of the Government’s KickStart programme.
Wearable Link, which completed the accelerator in June 2020, has also created seven new roles.
Linda Smith, founder and CEO of BetaDen, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the achievements of our recent cohort members and delighted that they are now in a position to grow their teams and create new employment opportunities in the county.
“When we launched BetaDen in 2018, our aim was to help businesses take full advantage of emerging opportunities in new technology, creating jobs in high-value industries and building a technology eco-system that could support long-term growth.
“These new jobs, combined with the news that several recent cohort members have secured contracts with high-profile customers such as HS2 and Royal Mail, demonstrate the scale of the opportunity for businesses looking to commercialise new technologies and the communities in which they make their homes.”
Tommy Williams, founder and CEO at WearableLink, said: “BetaDen has played a formative role in the development of our business, not only providing access to expert advice and forging commercial relationships but also facilitating invaluable peer-to-peer networks and access to a wider eco-system of technology entrepreneurs, investment and support.
“When we joined the programme, we were a team of three looking for time and support to develop our ideas. With the support of BetaDen and the wider local technology community, we now have a team of 10, turning over more than £1m and with exciting growth plans in place.”
BetaDen offers a programme of support worth around £50,000 to early-stage technology businesses, including access to Worcestershire’s 5G testbed, a £10,000 proof of concept grant, mentoring from BetaDen’s handpicked team of commercial and technology experts and office space in Malvern Hills Science Park and an industry expertise partnership with Steatite, part of Solid State PLC.
