A budding entrepreneur based at Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA) has secured a grant of £7,500 and is now looking to secure match-funding.

Eleanor Watson, founder of made-to-measure clothing business Poikos Limited secured the funding from national innovation agency the Technology Strategy Board and is looking for private investors who will be able to provide the support to allow her innovative company to take off.

A part of BSPA’s Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) business incubator programme, Poikos Limited aims to deliver custom-fit, custom-designed clothing at affordable prices.  Using Poikos’ own innovative piece of intelligent software called MeasureCam, customers are able to accurately record their body measurements via any digital camera.

Eleanor said: “As the Technology Strategy Board is a publically-funded body, I now need to match the funding with private investment in order to release it.  We are still in the very early stages of development and this funding will be crucial for the development of strategic partnerships and a working prototype of our MeasureCam system.  I am hoping that we will be in a position to begin offering this service online next year.

“Being a part of e4f has been absolutely fundamental to the success that we have enjoyed so far, not only in terms of the level of support that we have received from the team at the Science Park, but also through working so closely with so many other like-minded entrepreneurs.”

A unique six-month incubation programme part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, e4f is dedicated to supporting technology start-up companies in achieving growth and commercial success through the provision of funding support, expert advice and mentoring. Members also receive business support including office or desk space, and telephone and internet access.

Simon Jenner, Head of Incubation at BSPA, said: “Since we launched e4f in 2009, we have seen a phenomenal number of businesses take part in the programme, with many going on to become revenue generating companies.  It is hugely rewarding to be able to see businesses such as Eleanor’s that are in the very early stages of their development receiving funding opportunities such as these and capitalising on them.

“Ultimately companies that are attracted to BSPA through e4f and establish themselves in or around Birmingham will help in the future economic development of the region and create new jobs, as well as encouraging more companies to the West Midlands to do business.”

In order to secure the total investment from the Technology Strategy Board, Eleanor is hoping to secure funding from a number of private investors, and will be bidding for £2,500 from the Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employment Network (BSEEN), a professional support organisation that enables students and local graduates to achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions. 

Eleanor, who has also been nominated for the Shell LiveAwards 2011 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, is now exploring the possibility of licensing her technology to large, established retailers and aims to use this technology to provide made-to-measure apparel online in 2012.

For more information on the e4f programme or to apply to be part of the scheme please visit http://www.bsp-a.com/Entrepreneaurs-for-the-future-e4f.

ENDS
Notes to Editors

Located on the edge of the city centre, Birmingham Science Park Aston is one of a select number of urban science parks within the UK.  The 12  acre park is wholly owned by Birmingham City Council.

Since launching in November 2009, the Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) centre has contributed to the creation of 35 new innovative businesses in Birmingham and over 40 new jobs and is fast becoming the centre of Birmingham’s tech community.

To be eligible to apply for a place within the incubator, start-ups must be less than a year old, must be, or be capable of becoming a Ltd company, the business idea must be innovative and the founder must be willing to relocate or establish the business to the e4f Centre at BSPA.   Businesses should be operating in the Digital Media, ICT, Med Tech or Clean Tech sectors.

The e4f programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

For further information, please contact Daniel Hill at Core on 0121 643 8151.