Manchester tech support programme Exchange has named the 17 start-ups that are joining the fifth cohort of the Exchange programme with plans to scale, grow and raise funds over the next six months.
The fifth cohort, which will feature 13 existing members alongside the 17 new joiners, will span the widest range of sectors yet, from tech for good, fintech, edtech and healthtech to aerospace.
Exchange is also being supported by programme alumni Candle, to provide all members access to its award-winning on-demand mental health support platform. It helps people get effective peer support from colleagues, family, friends, and professionals, making mental health support more accessible. Research from NHS England shows that entrepreneurs are 50 per cent more likely to report having mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Based at Department Bonded Warehouse in the heart of Enterprise City, Exchange gives members access to the thriving tech ecosystem in Manchester city centre. Alongside the complimentary workspace, members will receive support from the growing list of industry and venture partners, mentors and advisors, entrepreneur-in-residence Mark Kuhillow and the ever-growing alumni community.
Over the last four cohorts, and three years, Exchange has supported more than 450 people from over 102 tech businesses, creating over 140 jobs and raising more than £11m in funding.
Alice Pickersgill, head of Exchange, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome 17 exciting new businesses to the Exchange programme in Manchester. We received the highest number of applications ever this time round, many referrals from existing members and alumni, and the quality of applications was outstanding. We are confident we can provide these early-stage innovators with the personal and professional support they need to accelerate their growth.”
Applications are also now open for the first Exchange cohort in Leeds, set to launch in April 2023. Exchange will be based at Department Leeds Dock, the former waterside casino which has been transformed into a home for creative, media and tech businesses of varying sizes.
The fifth Manchester cohort members in full, courtesy of Exchange, are (deep breath):
- Hoping to scale are HACE: Data changing child labour, In-House Health, myonlinecoach and carma.
- Health tech is a prominent theme with AVERio, Spotlight Pathology Ltd, and HYPE BURST joining existing member PharmAppy.
- Ed tech businesses Plytime and SYNTHO are joining fintech companies Rupee Solutions and PollenPay, alongside aerospace and space tech start-up Aeroknite, and construction tech, Trunk.
- The scheme’s two data analytics and business intelligence companies Attendist and Krowd Innovation are staying for another six months. They are joining new members cybersecurity tech Cytix and social media app Linkup.
- Following the Covid-19 boom in e-commerce and marketplaces, Shopit and Fassion are seeking to grow alongside retail tech no-boxx , fashion tech THE KILLER MUSE.
- Also carrying on their Exchange journey is immersive gaming tech AVimmerse, operations management app aquaint, SAAS platform U-See Technologies, AdTech Snippit, influencer marketing platform SoSquared, HR tech Ten Space , edtech EdenFiftyOne and data driven music company Trusic.
