News

SETsquared event ignites opportunities for startup and spinout investment 

By SETsquared-Bristol / 9th December 2024

In a vibrant display of entrepreneurial spirit, the SETsquared Partnership highlighted the investment potential of university startups and spinouts at a high-profile event in London last month.  Investment Futures attracted a dynamic crowd of over 300 attendees, bringing together university researchers, innovators, industry experts and investors interested in capitalising on groundbreaking tech innovation.  Our companies…

Light Trace secures £600k to revolutionise photonic chip design

By SETsquared-Bristol / 20th November 2024

Light Trace Photonics, a leading innovator in the integrated photonics industry, has announced the close of its first investment round of £600,000. The company was co-founded by University of Bristol PhD researcher Dr Jake Biele who joined our incubation programme in May 2024 to commercialise and grow the company. This capital injection, led by QantX…

Welcome to Rosie Bennett as our new Innovation Lead for Bristol Innovations

By SETsquared-Bristol / 17th October 2024

We are delighted to announce that Rosie Bennett joins the Bristol Innovations team as Innovation Lead. Rosie Bennett’s brief is across Bristol Innovations’ portfolio of incubators, innovation hubs and networks; SETsquared Bristol, Engine Shed, the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre, Quantum Frontier, and the University of Bristol’s joint venture with Science Creates.  As Innovation Lead, Rosie…

SETsquared Partnership universities and QantX announce new £300m investment vehicle to drive innovation and growth in the South and West 

By SETsquared-Bristol / 14th October 2024

The SETsquared Partnership universities and leading regional investment firm QantX have announced plans for a new £300m spin-out focused investment vehicle to catalyse the creation and growth of science and technology companies addressing global challenges.   The initiative was announced by Sir Richard Olver, Chair of QantX, at Bristol City Hall on 11 October at the…

Advanced materials noise management startup wins Tech-Xpo award 

By SETsquared-Bristol / 2nd October 2024

A startup that engineers advanced materials for sound and noise management won Best Elevator Pitch at our Tech-Xpo 2024 Showcase. Gianluca Memoli, CEO of Metasonixx, delivered part of his winning pitch in song to demonstrate how the company’s patented technology has re-engineered everyday materials into innovative products that can manage noise and ventilation in the…

Tech-Xpo celebrates 20 years shining a light on trailblazing tech 

By SETsquared-Bristol / 16th September 2024

We’re thrilled to be celebrating 20 years of Tech-Xpo, our flagship pitch, demo and connect showcase, this autumn. Sixteen startups will promote their innovative technologies to an audience of over 150 business leaders and investors on Wednesday 25 September at the iconic Goldney Hall in Bristol, the venue which first hosted Tech-Xpo two decades ago. Eight of the 16…

DRIFT Energy plans first green hydrogen-producing vessel build following seed investment

By SETsquared-Bristol / 2nd September 2024

DRIFT Energy has announced the close of its seed funding round led by Octopus Ventures, and with support from Blue Action Accelerator, the company has secured a total of £4.65 million seed investment. The climate tech startup joined our incubation programme in January 2023 with the goal to make green energy at sea using hi-tech…

FluoretiQ patent granted to enable fast and accurate antibiotic testing

By SETsquared-Bristol / 7th August 2024

Bristol-based biotech company, FluoretiQ, who is developing fast and accurate point-of-care testing for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), has taken a significant step forward after having a key patent granted. The University of Bristol spinout joined our incubation programme in 2021 with the vision of enabling more targeted antibiotic use and mitigating…

GenomeKey awarded $11.4M to transform sepsis diagnosis and treatment

By SETsquared-Bristol / 31st July 2024

GenomeKey has been awarded a major grant from Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) to build a functioning, automated prototype of their desktop diagnostic device. The Bristol-based company joined our incubation programme in 2020 with a vision to build an in vitro diagnostic device that would completely transform the way we diagnose and treat sepsis…

Climatetech innovators develop solution to combat wildfires

By SETsquared-Bristol / 24th July 2024

Wildfires pose significant threats worldwide, impacting ecosystems and communities and exacerbating climate change. The combination of climate change, dry conditions and human actions has led to more frequent and intense fire seasons, with 2024 seeing wildfires spread across Southern Europe, the US and South America. To address this challenge, our alumnus, fire detection company Optect,…