Yorkshire £900k startup programme announces first business

A Yorkshire research centre has announced that it has welcomed the first startup to its new programme.

Sheffield Hallam’s new £14m centre has reported that the first startup in its wellbeing accelerator programme is Footfalls & Heartbeats, an intelligent textiles business.

Based at the research centre, start-up businesses on the £900k programme have access to research and development that allows for rapid prototyping, precision engineering, laboratories for product testing, support networks and a clinical research centre.

Simon Butler, head of the AWRC Wellbeing Accelerator, commented: “We are thrilled to be launching the Accelerator programme and couldn’t have got off to a better start than accepting Footfalls & Heartbeats, which is such an innovative company, as the first participant.

“We look forward to accepting applications from many other innovative companies in the coming weeks and months.”

Simon McMaster, founder and chief science officer at Footfalls & Heartbeats, said: “We are incredibly excited about the opportunity to have access to world-class scientists and facilities at the AWRC to validate our novel technologies.

“We see validating our technology as a vital step in our product and application development process and, hopefully, the programme will allow us to bring affordable healthcare to the world sooner.”

Dr Dave Smith, chief executive of the Sheffield City Region, said: “The Sheffield City Region is a hotbed of innovation and we are incredibly proud of our world-leading medical technology and research.

“We are delighted to welcome Footfalls & Heartbeats to the region. They will be the first of many firms to benefit from a unique partnership, which gives companies the business support, facilities and expertise they need to grow.

“Our partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and businesses not only unlocks productivity and prosperity, it is helps create products and services which improve people’s lives.

“The coronavirus pandemic shows why these are needed now more than ever.

“This new world-class business accelerator is exactly what the Sheffield City Region needs to help drive economic growth and will help South Yorkshire become a magnet for innovators and investors.”

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