Thirteen entrepreneurial clean tech businesses have celebrated their graduation from the Climate Innovation Platform’s (CIP) ‘Low Carbon Energy Solutions, Innovator Challenge’.
Delivered by the University of Birmingham in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult, and supported by HSBC UK, the CIP offers small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) at various stages of development, tailored packages of support to drive the commercialisation of innovative energy technologies and services that help deliver solutions to decarbonise our economy and drive green growth.
The fourth cohort of SMEs was made up 13 clean tech businesses. These were:
The SMEs had access to several linked opportunities throughout the duration of the project, including but not limited to:
Over the course of six months the SME’s gained access to several linked opportunities delivered by the University of Birmingham’s Energy Institute in partnership with the Energy Systems Catapult.
The graduates of Cohort 4
Helmi Fagan-Hughes, Sustainability Manager at HSBC UK said:
“Creating space for innovators to develop and scale up their climate solutions is key to addressing the climate crisis, and we’re incredibly proud to continue to support the CIP programme through our partnership with the University of Birmingham.”
Russell Murchie, Founder and CEO of Nusku, said:
“Taking part in the Climate Innovation Platform has been invaluable. I learnt a lot from the masterclass modules in particular and the challenge for us now is how to integrate these learnings into our business structure.
“The Catapult staff made us think more deeply about our strategy and target market in the context of the wider energy landscape, which I’m sure will help with future challenges as the company grows.
“A highlight for me was interacting with other members of the cohort, learning from both their experience and progress to-date.
“We’re excited to move onto Phase 2 and receive further business development support from the University of Birmingham and the Energy Systems Catapult.”
Alex Lawrence-Berkeley, Anionix said:
“The CIP programme of expert workshops has been instrumental in helping us identify the problems we needed to solve, helped revise our approach to the business of Green Hydrogen and focus our efforts on specific challenges and opportunities which we can now exploit as a growing business. In particular, we started by not understanding the importance of storytelling to the narrative needed for fundraising (we just want to build the thing!), and now it dominates the conversations we have with investors, because we can now say why and how what we do can actually make a huge impact.
“The support from HSBC, Tyseley Energy Park, Energy Systems Catapult, HyDEX and University of Birmingham has been invaluable to us as a startup in its early stages.
The graduation ceremony took place at One Centenary Square, HSBC’s UK headquarters, and saw a variety of our SMEs showcase the progress their businesses have made during their time on the programme. Dr Tim Delport, Rendesco and Elaine Trimble, PeerCarbon from Cohort 3 also shared how they’ve further developed their business following the 12-month programme. The event culminated with each SME being presented with a graduation certificate to commemorate their completion of the programme.
Ian Mclaren, Dwellow, said:
“We found the access to expert advice, supplemented with masterclasses on specialist topics, hugely beneficial. With the invaluable support of our incubation manager, we were delighted to be selected to progress to phase 2 of the programme and continue our collaboration.”
Professor Martin Freer, Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute, said:
“It has been a pleasure to celebrate the progress these incredible innovators have made during their time on the Climate Innovation Platform. The cohort was comprised of some truly inspirational businesses, forging the way in various climate-focused sectors.
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to HSBC, Energy Systems Catapult, and Tyseley Energy Park for all of your unwavering support over the duration of the CIP programme, which has given aspiring innovators the support and space they need in order to create innovative services and technologies that are already creating a great impact.”
Paul Jordan, Business Leader – Innovator Support at Energy Systems Catapult, said:
“To get to Net Zero by 2050 we need bold ideas from clean tech innovators who are committed to doing all they can to bring their products and services to market. It’s vital that we support these innovators on their commercialisation journey. Without their ideas, we will not meet our ambitious climate goals. The Climate Innovation Platform is a hot bed of collaboration and creative thinking; it has been a delight to watch the SMEs go from strength to strength.
“To the graduates of Cohort 4, I wish you the very best as you take the next step in your commercial journey, we at the Catapult will be closely following your success. And to the would-be innovators deciding whether to take the plunge, go for it. The world needs clean tech solutions.”
Commencing in 2021 the CIP has supported over 85 climate-focused businesses on their entrepreneurial journey with a range of business development support; including training, funding, 1:1 mentoring, expertise and more.
Notes to Editors:
University of Birmingham is part of HSBC’s global Climate Solutions Partnership, which aims to unlock barriers to finance for companies and projects that tackle climate change to bring them to scale while also delivering for people and nature. The global initiative is backed by $100 million of philanthropic funding from HSBC over five years.
The Climate Innovation Platform (CIP) is delivering a series of business development opportunities to support businesses committed to driving energy technology innovation.
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