Six tech start-ups run by entrepreneurs from diverse ethnic backgrounds are to be supported under an innovative scheme run by acclaimed incubator SETsquared Bristol.
Now in its second year, SETsquared’s Breakthrough Bursary provides bespoke business support, mentoring, strategic advice and coaching, investment readiness training and events as well as access to University of Bristol expertise and a fixed desk in SETsquared’s shared office at Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub.
Angel Investors Club, Engineer2Engineer, Latchaid, Lurncampus, FluoretiQ and YelloButterfly will join SETsquared Bristol’s incubation programme in January.
Three of the awarded businesses took part in SETsquared Bristol’s Enterprising Women 2020 programme, including University of Bristol student start-up Engineer2Engineer (E2E), a global engineering hub for creative solutions. 
E2E founder and CEO Ilham Said, pictured, commented: “We are super excited to be awarded the Breakthrough Bursary and with this award we hope to raise our first round of investment.
“The membership will provide E2E with expert level support and guidance, valuable training for our team members and varied support from a huge and bright entrepreneurial community.”
University of Bristol spin-out FluoretiQ developed its rapid diagnostic platform that identifies and enumerates bacterial pathogens at SETsquared’s partner incubators QTEC and Unit DX.
Its co-founder and CEO Neciah Dorh, pictured, said: “We are really thrilled to have received the Breakthrough Bursary and to join SETsquared. I think that the Breakthrough Bursary is a great way to find and nurture diversity within the South West founder community, kudos to SETsquared for being proactive.”
SETsquared Bristol centre director Steve Edwards added: “I’m pleased to welcome such a talented group of founders to SETsquared Bristol, with a fantastic diversity of tech, including edtech, femtech, fintech and healthtech.
“We’re committed to supporting tech founders from all backgrounds, which is not just the right thing to do, but is vital to grow sustainable businesses and the local economy.”
The Breakthrough Bursary was one of a number of key recommendations from a SETsquared Bristol funded research report carried out by Bristol partners ACH and Up Our Street in 2018, and rooted in research with BAME tech entrepreneurs.
One of the first cohort Bursary awardees, recruitment analytics platform NORTHSTAR, has raised nearly £2m in investment and is now significantly scaling.
Founder Glyn Blaize said: “The Breakthrough Bursary has been a great support and brilliant treasure trove for NORTHSTAR. Whether attending a seminar, to prepping for investment there is support for every step of the start-up scaleup journey.”
The bursary is funded by SETsquared alumni and covers 75% of SETsquared Bristol’s membership for one year. This year’s programme attracted a 100% increase in the number of applicants and awards given.
