Eight Manchester entrepreneurs secure £50k startup funding through Venture Further

Eight entrepreneurs in Manchester are taking their startups to the next level after securing a slice of a £50k cash prize through Manchester Enterprise Centre’s Venture Further competition.

Inviting students, researchers and recent alumni from the University of Manchester to submit business proposals to a panel of enterprise and business professionals, Venture Further selected four winners and four runners up from 16 finalists.

The winners, chosen from across business, research, digital and social categories, each nabbed £10k. The four runners up in each category received a cash injection of £2,500.

Neurolytics came on top in the business category. The company uses biometric data to enhance marketing solutions.

In research, the winner was MicroSpray Technologies, a startup offering a new method of particle manufacturing using aerosol generation.

Otterly, the panel’s choice from the digital category, is an app that allows users to place restaurant orders using their mobiles.

Social category winner Bounceback Education provides a tutoring service that sponsors the region’s disadvantaged students.

Manchester Enterprise Centre Venture competition director, Martin Henery, said: “Our economy is changing at a staggering rate, and more people than ever are embracing their entrepreneurial spirit and looking to set up their own business.

“It is so important that we are able to nurture this talent to give these budding entrepreneurs the best possible chance to thrive in the constantly-changing business environment.”

He continued: “Regardless of whether they win, Venture Further finalists are put through their paces explaining how they intend to develop and grow a successful, sustainable business to a panel of business and commercialisation experts.

“We were incredibly impressed with the standard of entries from all our finalists this year and we’re confident that, like the many Venture Further finalists before them, this year’s winners will go on to make great achievements through their highly successful ventures.”

Waters Corporation, Manchester Science Partnerships and Jacobs were the sponsors of this year’s Venture Further competition.

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