Burgeoning businesses born from VentureVersity programme are put to the test
An innovative programme creating new commercial ventures by transforming university ideas through collaboration with businesses recently brought together its participants to put their ideas to the test.
The University of Leicester recently hosted a pivotal event that united academics and the business community to drive the commercialisation of groundbreaking ideas. Held during Business Finance Week, the British Business Bank, in collaboration with the VentureVersity programme, brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders to explore funding and commercialisation opportunities across Leicester and Leicestershire
VentureVersity, a partnership between the University of Leicester, De Montfort University, and Loughborough University, has bee n a driving force in helping academics turn their innovative ideas into thriving commercial ventures. This collaborative effort reflects the university’s commitment to being a catalyst for regional growth and innovation.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from keynote speakers, including Lisa Smith, CEO of Midlands Mindforge, and Robert Greenwood, Senior Investment Director at British Patient Capital. A distinguished panel of experts, including Howard Mitchell (Mercia Ventures), Richard Anson (Octopus Ventures), William Wells (University of Leicester), Anjuu Trevedi (De Montfort University), and Nick Gostick (Loughborough University) enriched the discussions.
One of the highlights of the event was a pitch session where academics, supported through the VentureVersity accelerator, presented their commercial ideas to a panel of investors and business leaders. These pitches were the culmination of months of mentorship, networking, and entrepreneurial guidance, showcasing how the university is empowering its researchers to transform ideas into impactful ventures.
The programme’s success is evident in the wide array of projects spanning various sectors, including:
Education
1. Building Resilience in Children (BRIC): an online and in classroom resource equipping parents, educators, & caregivers with the necessary tools, knowledge and strategies to help children build resilience
2. An online assessment tool to audit educators’ awareness of dyscalculia
3. Automating Individual Assessment Feedback (INDAF)
Health technology
4. EnHANCE: a nonconventional system that eliminates pathogens to deliver clean indoor residential and industrial environments sustainably
5. LUCID: Concussion Identification App
6. Healthcare Team Observations for Patient Safety (HTOPS)
Agriculture, forestry & fishing
7. LiquidGold: Next generation environmentally friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable carp health care product for angling and ornamental markets
Research
8. ValidateLabs: Validation data Processor
Water Utilities
9. e-Favor: an AI powered water leakage detection and localisation platform solution
10. EcoSENSE: Real-time monitoring of water systems
Manufacturing
11. Laser guided disc punch innovation advancing battery manufacturing
These innovative projects highlight the power of collaboration between universities and the local business community, driving both academic and commercial success.
William Wells, Deputy Director of the Research & Enterprise Division at the University of Leicester, emphasised the importance of the programme: “VentureVersity is creating new accelerated pathways for university intellectual property and ideas. The University of Leicester, Loughborough University and De Montfort University have shared their Intellectual Property and ideas with our community of businesses, graduates and students adopting an open innovation approach to sharing, testing, and developing business concepts.
The approach we have adopted is genuinely novel and innovative in itself. It is possible because of the very close working relationships between the county’s university partners and effective co-design with the start-up community and local enterprise partnership. The Pitch to Investors event, held as part of business finance week demonstrated the quality of the business concepts emerging from VentureVersity -in a way which surpassed expectations. The Venture Capitalists in attendance were clear that the standard was high or higher than might have been expected from any university in the UK”
The British Business Bank also praised the initiative. Vicky Mears, Director of the UK Network – Midlands and The North, said: “Really delighted to be able to work with the VentureVersity collaborators, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, De Montfort University and Leicester Startups on this year’s British Business Bank Business Finance Week event – ‘Commercialising your innovation’. VentureVersity is a great example of how the region’s universities are coming together to commercialise some amazing academic and innovative ideas!”
Sam Larke, Senior Innovation & Growth Specialist at Innovate UK Midlands and Non-Executive Director at Leicester Startups, highlighted the programme's significance, stating that the collaboration between universities and the business community is key to unlocking local talent and driving innovation: 'At Leicester Startups, we believe in unlocking the potential of local talent and innovation. The VentureVersity programme is a fantastic example of how collaboration between universities and the business community can turn ideas into successful ventures, fuelling growth and opportunity across Leicester and beyond.’
As the VentureVersity programme nears its conclusion, the university is gearing up for its finale event on 27 November: the VentureVersity Demo Day. This event promises to be a showcase of cutting-edge ideas that have emerged from the accelerator programme. The university invites investors, mentors, and business leaders to attend and support these ventures as they prepare for the next stage of their journey.
Don’t miss the chance to be part of something big - sign up for the VentureVersity Demo Day on 27 November.