Blogs
Bristol’s startup community gathered for our latest instalment of the Startup Stories series, where founders and experts shared candid insights into the financial and emotional challenges of early-stage business life. “Investor readiness takes everything you’ve got” – Simon Bates Simon Bates, founder of Actuation Labs, reflected on launching his business from his childhood home. He…
Caroline Thompson, SETsquared Bristol Centre Manager, reflects on what we look for when selecting new technology startups, and the questions to ask yourself before you apply to the incubator. SETsquared Bristol has two incubation programmes, Quest and Propel, designed to support founders at every stage of their business development. Across our programmes we are currently incubating over…
The latest panel event in the Startup Stories series, Spinout Edition, saw two University of Bristol spinout leaders share their journeys—from academic labs to building businesses to short funding runways and high-stakes team leadership. “You do a bit of everything” – Harriet Bray Harriet’s path at Zentraxa Harriet Bray, previous COO at Zentraxa, began…
Bristol’s startup community came together recently for the fourth instalment of our SETsquared Bristol Startup Stories series, featuring two fireside chats exploring the founder journey – from the initial startup idea, to scaling and exit. Two founders at different stages, Laura Gemmell, founder of AI and data education company Taught by Humans, and Andrew Smith,…
Anna-Lisa Wesley, Entrepreneur in Residence at SETsquared Bristol, reflects on the power of storytelling and needing new founder stories for our time. “Working in tech right now, we need some new heroes, heroines, new plots, new tools, new lessons. We desperately need new material.” Microsoft, Google, LinkedIn… these business stories, the founders that sit behind them and…
After a wonderful few years working with SETsquared Bristol, my time at the tech incubator has come to an end as I move on to a new role as Head of Memberships for Capital Enterprise. I joined SETsquared Bristol in 2022 and became its Director in early 2023 with the aim to use my knowledge…
Kevin Simmons, Entrepreneur in Residence at SETsquared Bristol, reflects on the best way to improve the odds of getting investment for your tech business. “No matter how ‘investor ready’ you may be, if the investor is not ‘ready’ for you, then your business will not secure the investment it desires.” “How do I make my business…
As part of our startup advice series with our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiRs), we had a chat with the newest member of the team, Kevin Simmons, to hear his top tips for founders and startups. Tell us a bit about yourself including any hidden talents? My strongest dislike in life is ‘tell me about yourself’ questions.…
We understand that it’s tough starting out with a new startup, so we’ve put together this guide to the business support services we offer, as well as other options available regionally. General business support Incubation SETsquared Bristol’s incubation programmes are for high-growth potential technology startups with a UK-registered business. Membership includes tailored business support, coaching,…
The journey of being a founder in a high-tech, high growth business can be both exciting and rewarding. However, without a founder’s focus, determination and tenacity the business has a high chance of failure, with 60% of all UK startups failing within their first 5 years. This is why it is essential for a founding…