The founders of 13 early-stage Hampshire businesses recently met on to launch a peer group network designed to boost growth and propel their innovations onto the world stage.
The Catalyst Alumni Network connects science and technology companies that have participated in a prestigious business accelerator programme run by the University of Southampton Science Park. Called Catalyst, this initiative delivers world-class mentoring, strategic guidance, practical workshops and the connections that have proven to help turn innovative ideas into commercially successful, scalable businesses.
Southampton Science Park Business Development Director Lucinda Lamont convened the group’s inaugural meeting. She commented, “We’re delighted to be realising our ambition to bring our Catalyst alumni together. We regularly hear from the businesses that take part how daunting it is to transition from the weeks of intensive mentoring and support that they receive on Catalyst to ‘going it alone’ again. With this network, we have created a platform for some of the Central South’s outstanding entrepreneurs to share experiences, and offer ideas and contacts to one another, with further support from our Catalyst team where it would be valuable.”
She continued, “At our first official event, it was wonderful to see more established companies from early Catalyst cohorts meet newer counterparts for the first time, sparking ideas and igniting collaboration potential. Although at different stages on their business journeys, and despite operating in quite diverse sectors, discussion around the table amply demonstrated the common experience of commercialising innovation.”
The Catalyst alumni companies marking the launch were Absolar, AudioScenic, Birthglide, Data Revival, Labl.It, Nuonano, OhmSpace, Shuffle Energy, Sooba Medical, Studfast, Troudigital, Utonomy and LifeLight (xim), with many more companies set to join them at future events.
Robin Arkle, a highly successful South Coast entrepreneur was guest speaker at the launch. He commented, “I’m incredibly impressed by the quality of the people in this room and the phenomenal businesses that they are leading. There’s no doubt about it, entrepreneurship is a lonely venture, which is why peer groups coming together face to face like this are so important. Surrounding yourself with other excellent people in similar situations to share ideas, successes and failures helps business leaders to be nimble and to thrive.”
Catalyst welcomes interest from innovation-led early stage businesses at any time. Find out more at www.science-park.co.uk.
