Prime Minister visits Birmingham Science Park Aston to mark 50th start-up tech business
Cllr Mike Whitby, PM David Cameron, Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Dr David Hardman
Prime Minister David Cameron today visited Birmingham Science Park Aston to mark the 50th technology start-up to be enrolled onto the Park’s Entrepreneurs for the Future programme.
The visit was also in recognition that the Park is the first network ‘node’ in Cisco’s National Virtual Incubator, an initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister last week.
2Fold20 Play Ltd is the newly formed social gaming company that has been enrolled into the Entrepreneurs for the Future centre. It has also received significant investment funding from the Creative Advantage Fund, ensuring it can recruit employees to produce its first concept.
Cllr Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council and Chair of BSPA, said: “It has been tremendous to welcome the Prime Minister to Birmingham Science Park Aston to acknowledge this success. In only two years, 50 new technology start-ups have been enrolled onto the Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) business incubator scheme. In that time, over 40 jobs have already been created for local people. 90 per cent of the start-up businesses are still trading – some two years after formation – and many of the companies are profitable.
“Given the competitive selection process, it is highly rewarding to consider the wealth of talent that is based at Birmingham Science Park Aston, and these new businesses are now acting as a magnet and attracting more entrepreneurs to the e4f centre at the Park.”
David Cameron was accompanied on his visit to Birmingham by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
A subsidiary of London-based digital media and animation specialists TwoFoldTwenty – which works with national and international clients – the social gaming start-up has chosen to be based at Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA), rather than with its parent company.
The founders took the decision due to the benefits of working amongst a like-minded community where assistance to develop a business plan, seek further funding, and specialist knowledge input is on hand.
2Fold20 Play’s founders have a wealth of experience working in the gaming, film, digital and animation sectors for leading global brands including Warner Bros, Impact BBDO, Disney, Philips, and Turner.
Dr David Hardman, CEO, Birmingham Science Park Aston said: “2Fold20 Play is exactly the type of future-facing company that we want to foster at Birmingham Science Park Aston to help ensure growth into a profitable venture as soon as possible. Start-ups such as this, which have high growth potential, could create many new jobs for local people, which is exactly what Birmingham’s economy needs in order to thrive.”
David Hardman added: “In recognition of the fact that 2Fold20 Play is the 50th company accepted onto the e4f incubator programme, we are also pleased to offer them an extended period of support of 12, rather than the usual six months’ free enrolment.”
Neill Watson, CEO of 2Fold20 Play Ltd comments: “We are thrilled to be forming this new company from Birmingham Science Park Aston, and the funding from the Creative Advantage Fund will enable us to get to work on our first social gaming concept immediately. The support and welcome we have received made it a very easy decision to base ourselves in Birmingham and we are very excited about what the future holds.”
Thomas Dillon, Chairman of Creative Advantage Fund, said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring 2Fold20 Play Ltd to Birmingham Science Park Aston. This is a model example of specialised finance and business support facilities working together to their common benefit and that of the city. We wish 2Fold20 Play every success.”
A unique incubation programme, e4f offers free support for technology start-up companies, providing the opportunity to achieve growth and commercial success through funding support, expert advice and mentoring for six months. Companies taking part in the programme also benefit from office or desk space, alongside access to telephone and internet services.
Based at BSPA, the e4f incubation scheme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Since launching in November 2009, the e4f programme has contributed to the creation of over 40 new jobs.
Following the launch of the programme’s third phase earlier this year, e4f is now looking for more start-ups to join what is fast becoming the centre of Birmingham’s tech community.
For more information on the e4f programme, or to apply to be part of the scheme please visit http://e4f.bsp-a.com/.
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 14 acre park is wholly owned by Birmingham City Council.
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 at the e4f incubator 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 press information, please contact Charlotte Crossley at Core on 0121 643 8151.
Creative Advantage Fund (CAF) was set up in 2000 by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Arts (now part of the Arts Council) as a venture capital fund for the creative industries in the West Midlands. CAF’s objective is to bridge the “equity gap”, addressing market failure in the provision of risk capital to SMEs in the creative sector, which suffer undue difficulties in securing finance. The Fund works closely with Birmingham Science Park Aston. Previous investments have included film, television, theatre, toy design, software and jewellery. Its web site is at www.creativeadvantagefund.co.uk.
2Fold20 Play Ltd is a gaming company designed to capitalise on the next stage of the casual, social gaming market and rapidly evolving convergence. Founded by TwoFoldTwenty and with investment from the CreativeAdvantage Fund, 2Fold20 Play has a management team that includes expertise in Film, TV, gaming, marketing, digital, media, music and venture capital with a track record of building successful teams, projects, and new business in the digital entertainment space.
TwoFoldTwenty is an investor and developer of inspired multi-platform entertainment media products and solutions for partners looking to profit from digital, convergence and social community. Creativity, content and technology are aligned to maximise unique impact and financial return. TwoFoldTwenty’s core team combines senior entertainment, finance, media, development, digital & marketing expertise for clients and companies including Warner Bros, Fox, Disney, Warner Music, Schroders, Turner, etc.
In addition to its group interests in social gaming company 2Fold20 Play, TwoFoldTwenty has strong links in China and the Asian markets and is focused on investment in IP and platforms, high quality cost effective development and production for cross platform international entertainment.
For further information, please contact press@twofoldtwenty.com, or +44 (0)203 402 2066.