Experts in artificial intelligence, machine learning and virtual reality are among the successful candidates selected for the inaugural Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator (OSCA) program in Bristol.
The five start-ups, chosen from hundreds of applicants, will leverage US tech giant Oracle’s mentoring, global ecosystem and customer relationships, and Oracle Cloud in the next-generation, six-month start-up program, which is being staged in collaboration with SETsquared Bristol. 
The OSCA incubator, based at the city’s Engine Shed innovation hub, offers free business support and guidance from multiple entrepreneurs-in-residence to provide a unique framework that nurtures start-up development in the forefront of tech innovation.
Run by members of Oracle’s research and development team, members will have access to state-of-the-art technology, a co-working space, Oracle customers, partners and investors, and free Oracle Cloud credits.
SETsquared Bristol director Monika Radclyffe said: “It has been an extremely competitive selection process so we are delighted to announce the successful candidates who have made it onto this exceptional tech start-up acceleration program.
“We are extremely delighted to welcome the new start-ups and look forward to supporting their business growth.”
The five participants in Bristol’s initial class, who were chosen from a highly competitive and diverse pool of candidates, include:
Duel. Using cutting-edge machine learning and machine vision tagging technology, Duel helps brands and retailers acquire and convert online, using branded content their customers have made for them. With engagements triggered post-purchase, Duel uses reward and gamified tools to motivate customers to create content about the product – and then share it. Duel helps turn customers into brand ambassadors, content creators and advocates – and manages, amplifies and moderates it for brands at enterprise scale.
GRAKN.AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems process significant amounts of knowledge that is far too complex. GRAKN.AI enables organisations to effectively manage these complex datasets that serve as a knowledge base for AI applications, uncover knowledge that is too complex for human cognition, and therefore increases the rate of innovation by orders of magnitude.
Interactive Scientific. This business creates immersive digital-science learning and research tools using a range of devices, from immersive virtual reality to applications. The company has created Nano Simbox, a digital and virtual platform that brings to life atoms and molecules, which allows for complex concepts to be more easily visualized for the purposes of education, training and research. By using rigorous science simulations, interactive visuals, intuitive design and extensive high-quality content, Nano Simbox makes the invisible world of molecules visible and engaging for both science learners and science researchers.
iGeolise. This business has created the TravelTime platform that makes maps and data searchable by travel time, rather than distance. TravelTime has two types of customers: (1) consumer-facing websites that hold location-specific content e.g. jobs, properties, hotels, and; (2) companies wanting an analytics tool to determine catchment areas, plan business relocations, retail portfolio planning, proximity marketing, and supply chain logistics. iGeolise allows organizations to search, analyze and sort data using minutes, not miles.
TrailApp. Trail is a simple, smart checklist for effortless operations. It’s designed to guide teams through their day with repeat processes and automated integrations, delivering business actions from finance to compliance. Helping every site hit the same high standard, and driving profitability with everyday efficiency.
Oracle senior vice president, start-up ecosystem and accelerator, Reggie Bradford, has described the scheme as a pay-it-forward model – it does not take equity but instead creates an ecosystem of co-development and co-innovation.
He said: “We were thrilled with the initial response from the local start-up community – all tremendously tenacious and all addressing big global opportunities. We look forward to working with the five innovative, talented start-ups in our inaugural class.
“Already we have seen progress by bringing together collaborators from start-ups, customers and Oracle product development. I look forward to continuing these efforts with the vibrant group of start-ups in Bristol.”
Becky Sage, CEO at Interactive Scientific, added: “Oracle opens up new opportunities for us. With compute power and accessibility via cloud we are able to scale up this really complex science technology and help solve problems in education and beyond.”
Oracle, which has a cloud development centre in the Bristol, announced in January that it would set up its second accelerator programme in the city for tech and tech-enabled start-ups.
It launched a pilot start-up accelerator centre in the Indian tech capital of Bangalore in April last year. Its success – 80% of the firms have received funding – prompted it to plan seven more across the globe, with Bristol the first of these.
Other global locations include Bangalore, Delhi–NCR, Mumbai, Paris, São Paulo, Singapore and Tel Aviv. The Startup Cloud Accelerator is working with F6S, an online network of start-up founders, to generate applications for the eight new accelerator programs.
