We have lift off! 🚀
tl;dr Applications for the 2019 Ignite accelerator close this Friday. Our accelerator is a 6 month remote programme for MVP-stage technology companies. Want to chat? Scroll for our details. Otherwise, apply today!
We’re 7 weeks into the latest Ignite pre-accelerator — our first in the North East of England for 3 years — and, as previously mentioned, we’ve an incredibly diverse cohort of entrepreneurs joining the #IgniteFamily for our programme.
With just a week left until applications for our 2019 accelerator close (more info here and here), we wanted to introduce a few of the pre-accelerator founders. Read on for more from 3 of them! 👇
James is 37 and is from Newcastle. He’s developing a healthcare app based on his own experience of living with inflammatory arthritis for the last 20 years. He’s kindly shared some of his background below:
“For many years after my diagnosis, I was prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs. However, the symptoms and pain got progressively worse until I couldn’t even sit through my lectures at Newcastle University. It took some time to find different drugs that made a real difference and meant I was able to get on with my life. Unfortunately, this too was short term and the drugs started becoming less effective to the point where I found myself absolutely debilitated when I was in my 20s, unable to work, look after myself or even leave the house.
“During the worst year, I started doing my own research and trying out lots of different things — everything from changes in my diet, to different exercises, to meditation. I needed something to track what I was doing against the changes I was making to see what if any difference it made — and there wasn’t anything out there.”
James has created a smartwatch app to easily and quickly track food, movement, and symptoms data. This allows him (and other beta users) to keep accurate records of how they feel, what they are doing, and easily see what makes a difference — data which can then be shared with healthcare providers to facilitate better understanding of his chronic pain condition and its treatment.
New mum Berna Akin Eris relocated from Turkey to Newcastle to join Ignite. Berna, who previously worked at Google and has 12M views on one of her YouTube channels, came up with Little Sleeper when she was on maternity leave:
“It can be very difficult for new parents to know what to do when their babies don’t sleep very well — as I know from experience! There wasn’t this sort of support available when I was struggling, so I thought I should try to develop it to help others. Little Sleeper helps keep track of babies’ sleep patterns, and when they should and shouldn’t be sleeping, gives tips and information, and we are also now building a community so parents can support and learn from each other.
“I have been developing the idea for 18 months now, I’ve had great feedback from initial users, and it was perfect timing for me to join Ignite. It was the best programme of the type I was looking for and I know I have made the right decision to relocate to the North East to get the support I need to really develop my business.”
Newcastle-based Emma Reilly and Lizzy Hodcroft (also Newcastle-based, but via Texas! 🇺🇸) both ran their own businesses before they met and decided to work together. Both women have personal experience with mental health, and knew there was a huge gap in helping people learn from each other and take small steps towards getting better.
They joined forces to create Myndr, working to support people with depression, anxiety and mental health issues. Emma explains:
“I suffered from very bad social anxiety and depression, which led to me dropping out of University. I got to a stage where I couldn’t even leave the house. There wasn’t much treatment on offer beyond antidepressants, so I started researching and connecting with others online. I decided I’d start helping myself in what seems like really small ways — setting goals like leaving the house and breaking down each step I needed to take to help me achieve this. Doing this, focusing on goal setting and achievable challenges, as well as learning from others, helped me progress and eventually I decided I wanted to work for myself.”
We’ve had an incredible ~2 months with the 20 startups on the pre-accelerator — and the teams are making the most of their 3 months with us. We’ve seen a really strong cohort building, as well as having the incredible support from our network of inter/national mentors, entrepreneurs and investors.
While you’re here, please make sure to keep the 17th January 2019 in your diaries for your first opportunity to meet the teams and hear what everyone’s up to. We’ll be sharing more news on this soon 😉
The 20 pre-accelerator businesses are also fast-tracked to the final interview stage of the next Ignite remote accelerator that starts in February 2019. You can read more about the accelerator here.
To summarise, the remote programme is a 6 month accelerator that features £25,000 net (equity) investment from Northstar Ventures and Accelerated Digital Ventures, £100,000+ in programme perks with our partners (who include Amazon, Stripe, Revolut and many more), mentoring and startup support and much more.
We’ll work with your startup remotely for three weeks a month, and we’ll spend the fourth week every month with you at an in-person event held in cities around the North East (with one held in London).
Apply here. Good luck! You have until this Friday, 7th Dec.
For more information, please contact the Ignite programme team:
Gabriela Matic — gabi@ignite.io | linkedin.com/in/gabrielamatic
Wil Benton — wil@ignite.io | linkedin.com/in/fatkidonfire
Alexis Long — alexis@ignite.io | linkedin.com/in/alexisjlong
