Healthtech spotlight: SoleSense

Caz Icke, CEO and Founder of SoleSense - wiinner of Tech-Xpo 2023

A year on from SoleSense’s Best Elevator Pitch award at our flagship Tech-Xpo showcase, we had a chat with Founder and CEO, Caz Icke, to hear her story. SoleSense at a glance: Market sector: Healthtech Location: Bristol Number of employees: 3 Company growth status: Pre-seed Let’s start with SoleSense’s elevator pitch SoleSense is a wearable digital system…

Read More

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

Tech-Xpo 2024 logo on rainbow background with strapline: Celebrating 20 Years

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…

Read More

FluoretiQ patent granted to enable fast and accurate antibiotic testing

FluoretiQ founders smiling with technology on PC

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…

Read More

GenomeKey awarded $11.4M to transform sepsis diagnosis and treatment

GenomeKey blood sample in lab

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…

Read More

Climatetech innovators develop solution to combat wildfires

Optect's fire-extinguishing robo-dog zapping flames with sound waves

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,…

Read More

SETsquared Bristol companies shine at The SPARKies 2024

John Terry of Neuronostics with award at The SPARKies awards 2024

The recent SPARKies Awards night, hosted at Central Warehouse in the heart of Bristol, brought together the region’s tech and digital leaders to celebrate excellence in the West. SETsquared member companies from across the South West were recognised for their achievements in various sectors, including biotech, createch, sustainability, and cyber. Out of 14 award categories,…

Read More

iCOMAT raises $22.5m to automate advanced composite manufacturing for sustainable transport

A scientist in the lab wearing white coat with iCOMAT logo, and engineering device

iCOMAT, a SETsquared Bristol alumnus and University of Bristol spinout, has closed its Series A funding round, securing $22.5m (£17.6m) to deliver lighter transport solutions faster and at a lower cost. The demand for faster, cleaner and more sustainable transport solutions has never been greater. iCOMAT is one of the leading manufacturers of advanced composite structures…

Read More

Sustainable student startup winners join SETsquared Bristol

SLANT and Weaving Change founders with New Enterprise Competition award trophies

We are pleased to welcome two sustainable student startups to our Quest incubation programme as winners of the New Enterprise Competition. The New Enterprise Competition is the University of Bristol’s longest running startup competition which awards £35,000 of funding to entrepreneurial students, staff and alumni each year. SLANT and Weaving Change will join our community…

Read More

Healthtech spotlight: Jack Fertility

Founders of Jack Fertility wearing black and white Jack Fertility branded clothing

Jack Fertility has recently launched its £500K fundraising campaign to bring the world’s first home-to-lab sperm test kit to market. We had a chat with Co-founders, Lily Elsner and Nick Shipley, to hear their story… Jack Fertility at a glance: Start date: 2022 Market sector: Healthtech Location: Oxford Number of employees: 3 Amount of funding raised: £125k + government…

Read More