Sheffield Hallam’s AWRC unveils new healthtech accelerator cohort

Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) has unveiled the companies set to join the 2024 cohort for its Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator programme.

The prestigious six-month accelerator programme, which will support 10 start-ups and SMEs, was three times oversubscribed and saw a 30 per cent increase in applications on the previous year, reflecting the strength of demand for early-stage R&D support amongst healthtech companies.

The successful applicants include a Welsh company that has developed a patented cooling system to enable life saving vaccines to be transported efficiently, and a Chester-based tech company that has developed a bioanalytics engine capable of monitoring 160+ biomarkers to provide medically validated health plans.

The accelerator has been match-funded by Sheffield Hallam University and Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme. Successful applicants include a diverse mix of companies using technology in different ways to improve health and wellbeing.

This year, the university will enhance the accelerator’s impact on early-stage ventures by providing the cohort with dedicated support from its talented global MBA students, who will support the companies with marketing, business strategy, finance and more. This is the first time it is providing this kind of support since the launch of the accelerator programme three years ago.

These businesses will benefit from Sheffield Hallam’s research expertise, expert mentors and up to £25,000 of non-dilutive R&D support to access world leading facilities and equipment delivered by the AWRC at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

Ryan Sylvester, programme manager for the Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator, said: “Like the entrepreneurs we are supporting, we have been through our own development journey with this programme since it was founded back in 2020.

“I am pleased to share that this year’s package of support is the most exciting to date. It is market-leading, both in terms of breadth of the support offer and potential for impact. The team is looking forward to connecting the participants into our growing ecosystem to help them in reaching their potential.”

Sirinda Bhandal, CEO and founder, Simply Connect Solutions Ltd, said: “We’re over the moon to be joining the health and wellbeing accelerator programme and really looking forward to working with the AWRC and Sheffield Hallam to help validate our product and achieve our goal of helping people to get their lives back on track, accessing the right support, when they need it.”

Jason Brannan, deputy director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, said: “If we are to truly address the widening gap in health inequalities and productivity across the UK, evidenced clearly in post-industrial Northern economies, we must focus on the prevention of disease and the resilience of people.

“Advanced wellbeing and physical activity have an important role to play in this, something that became apparent throughout the Covid pandemic and beyond. These companies have an important role to play here and the AWRC Accelerator will support them in bringing their products to market.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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