Enterprising Women showcases new innovative businesses

A cohort of 13 women entrepreneurs showcased their innovative startups at a pitching event on 15th February as a finale to our Enterprising Women 2.0 pre-incubation programme. Now in its second year, the NatWest funded programme helps women-formed businesses to access SETsquared Bristol business support, including coaching, mentoring, pitch training and workshops. The event, hosted…

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SETsquared Bristol tech companies raise record investment

We are thrilled to announce that our companies attracted a record investment of £98.8 million in 2021. The figure was equivalent to 15% of the total £636 million raised by Bristol businesses last year, evidence of a promising market recovery since Covid. More than half of our 80 companies raised investment in 2021, including alumnus…

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Startup advice from Stewart Noakes, Entrepreneur in Residence

In the second of a series of startup advice features with our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiRs), we had a chat with Stewart Noakes to hear his top tips for startups.  Our EiRs work with our members to provide support, advice and recommendations drawn from their own entrepreneurial backgrounds and specialist experience.  In what ways does your…

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Is your tech business ready for an incubator?

Marty Reid, Director of SETsquared Bristol, reflects on what we look for when selecting new members, and the questions to ask yourself before you apply.  We’re experiencing exciting times at SETsquared Bristol. We are currently incubating over 80 high-growth potential technology startups, from a broad range of sectors. Many of our members have gone on to achieve significant global success,…

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Showcase to shine a spotlight on women-led startups

Eighteen women founders will pitch their startups at a Showcase event on Tuesday 15th February as a finale of the SETsquared Bristol Enterprising Women 2.0 pre-incubation programme. The showcase, live streamed from Engine Shed, is an opportunity to find out about new women-led innovations from a diverse range of sectors, and to celebrate their achievements.…

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Baking sustainability into the startup cake

On 28 September 2021 we ran a workshop on how to embed sustainable practices into a startup. The session was led by Eleanor Akers, Director of Innovative Energy Consultants, whose focus is on helping businesses grow sustainably. Here we share our top tips from the session. What is sustainability? A useful way of thinking about…

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Startup advice from Anna-Lisa Wesley, Entrepreneur in Residence

Anna-Lisa Wesley wearing blue top in front of grey background

In the first of a series of startup advice features with our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiRs), we had a chat with Anna-Lisa Wesley to hear her top tips for startups. Our EiRs work with our members to provide support, advice and recommendations drawn from their own entrepreneurial backgrounds and specialist experience. In what ways does your…

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SETsquared Bristol companies see success on Scale-Up Programme

Blog by Steve Mayers, Head of Scale-Up, SETsquared Established in 2018, SETsquared’s Scale-Up Programme has so far supported its 280 member companies to raise £45 million in grant funding for collaborative R&D projects, plus an additional private co-investment of £34.8 million. The aim of the programme is to support companies that are on the cusp…

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Paul Forster, Community Manager: Working towards a more inclusive and equal tech scene

Anybody with half an eye on the global, national, or local tech scene will know that it’s a primarily a pale, male and stale affair. In other words, whether we’re talking global behemoths or scrappy startups, they’re traditionally helmed by white men.   When I first started as Community Manager at SETsquared Bristol some four and a half years ago, one of the first conversations I had…

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