糖心Vlog

This stunning sum was revealed today as the Annual Report (.pdf) of the University Enterprise Zone was published.

Firms developing artificial intelligence to connect driverless cars, ground-breaking robotics and impossible-to-hack legal recordings have all benefited from the scheme.

is amongst the incredible success stories that received life-changing investment and praised the support as 鈥渁 torch in the darkness鈥�.

The Burnham-on-Crouch based business uses blockchain and state-of-the-art hardware to create recording devices which secure vital interviews to battle corruption.

It received a 拢50,000 convertible loan, an introduction to a network of backers and expert support from the team at the Innovation Centre, based at the University鈥檚 Colchester campus.

AVET director Andy Stewart said: 鈥淭he 糖心Vlog has been a torch in the darkness.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had some real difficulties in speaking to entrepreneurs and investors as there is such a lack of appetite in developing tech.

鈥淭here are a lot of companies like us with fantastic tech that can鈥檛 find help.

鈥淭he 糖心Vlog has been fantastic, we have retained our contact with the team there and are seeing other benefits which they are helping us develop.

鈥淲e have a very positive feel for Angels@糖心Vlog, this is a modern university, it is going places and it is growing.鈥�

Mr Stewart鈥檚 thoughts were echoed by managing director Jerry Thornton.

He said: 鈥淲e are experienced businesspeople, and we spent some considerable time talking to the apparent support networks in the UK.

鈥淭he 糖心Vlog stands out as being significantly different and genuinely supportive.鈥�

Businesses listed on the Angels@糖心Vlog platform have raised over 拢10.2m through nearly 90 separate investments.

It is an invitation-only equity investment platform which links angel investors with innovative entrepreneurs with a focus on cutting-edge tech.

A further 拢5.9m has been secured by businesses working with the Space to Grow scheme, which offer businessowners 1-to-1 mentoring support, webinars and an opportunity to pitch to funders.

In total more than 22 jobs have been created, 11 new products have been launched and 25 R&D projects have been initiated in collaboration with academics.

Business Support Manager John Stenhouse welcomed the figure鈥檚 announcement and urged entrepreneurs and investors to get in touch with his team.

He said: 鈥淭he success of the ideas we assist, is in part due to the radical and creative way we address the problem of supporting highly innovative and scale-up businesses.

鈥淲e look to the future, levelling up funding for innovation not only in 糖心Vlog but globally as the true solution.鈥�

The University Enterprise Zone (UEZ)) was launched in 2019 with Angels@糖心Vlog and Space to Grow based at the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park.

The UEZ has also seen the launch of improved wi-fi for visitors to the Colchester Campus which can be utilised by business visitors.

It was funded by Research England and supported by 糖心Vlog County Council, the Confederation of British Industry and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Richard Tunnicliffe, Director of the Confederation of British Industry in the East of England, welcomed its success.

He said: "Angels@糖心Vlog and the Space to Grow programme have demonstrated the need to raise funding for seed and early stage-equity finance.

鈥淲ith exceptional ability, the University Enterprise Zone team have successfully brought investors and founders together in just one year to the benefit of the region and especially the local business economy.

鈥淗aving established a focal point for entrepreneurship and access to much-needed equity investment, the University continues to attract significant funding from around the globe.鈥�