Pioneering start-ups selected for AI accelerator

The accelerator is being delivered by the Innovation Group at the Bayes Centre, in conjunction with Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, and in partnership with Scale Space, the UK’s new community for scaling businesses.

The six-month AI Accelerator Programme, based at the Bayes Centre, starts on 18 February and runs until 15 July 2021. It aims to help pioneering AI start-ups with high growth potential to scale globally so they can go on to become world-leading companies, bringing jobs and economic benefit to Edinburgh and the region.

The cohort has been selected from 86 applicants worldwide and follows three previous Bayes accelerators cohorts, which saw 29 companies raise significant investment. Each of the successful applicants is addressing a global challenge, many responding to urgent needs in the health and climate change domains. Examples include:

• BioLiberty – has designed an AI-powered robotic glove that strengthens the user’s grip. Grip strength declines as we age and BioLiberty’s glove has the potential to restore independence for millions of people in the UK and globally. It is particularly relevant now when people are living longer, are more isolated and can’t easily get support from friends, family and carers.
• Neeuro – provides personalised home-based digital therapeutics programmes utilising Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology that incorporates machine learning to help ADHD children improve their attention span. The technology has the potential to be applicable to other brain health conditions.
• Reath – uses data analytics to enable businesses to find safe, compliant and scalable solutions for reusing single use items that have been sent to landfill. Reath’s focus is particularly pertinent given issues around single-use PPE and packaging.     
• Data Innovation Al – has created WorkSafeAI that assesses bio-safety risks and optimises mitigations to limit pathogens being transmitted in workplaces, thereby helping to protect the health, performance and productivity of workers.
• Lenz Labs – has developed technology to help trains get better traction on the rails to make perennial issues like ‘leaves on the line’ a fable of the past.
• Net AI – founded by Dr Paul Patras, Associate Professor in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, is revolutionising cloud-based virtual network management via real time AI analytics. Its cloud-native Microscope solution helps telecom companies reduce costs.

The AI Accelerator Programme will be delivered from the University of Edinburgh’s Bayes Centre and through Scale Space’s new digital community platform, Scale Space Connect. 

The Bayes Centre is the University of Edinburgh’s home to world leading expertise in AI. Scale Space is backed by Blenheim Chalcot, the UK’s leading digital venture builder and has partnered with Imperial College London to launch the first physical site in White City, London.

A new Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) has been appointed to support the accelerator activity across the University’s Data Driven Innovation (DDI) Hubs (Usher, EFI, Bayes Centre, the National Robotarium and Easter Bush). Mark Sanders, executive chairman, Scale Space will work with the founders to address challenges they encounter in building their businesses, and introducing them to mentors, academics and investors who can help accelerate their companies’ development. His entrepreneurial experience includes leading the fintech company TDX to a £200 million exit to Equifax in 2014.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/bayes