Three pioneering Bristol tech firms are hoping to secure vital funding after taking part in a high-profile online investment showcase staged by globally acclaimed business incubator SETsquared.
Airway Medical, Emm Technology and Neuronostics were among 16 SETsquared-backed ventures that took the mic and pitched for the investment at the incubator’s 18th annual investment showcase. 
Airway Medical is developing the AMSU, a completely novel, portable suction device to help save the lives of patients suffering from a blocked airway, while Emm Technology is behind a smart, reusable menstrual product that takes back menstrual management from women, leaving them unencumbered by their monthly cycle.
Guaranteeing a reliable, comfortable experience with a custom-fit design, the smart monitoring system communicates the product capacity to the user’s phone, creating a seamless menstrual management system.
Neuronostics is developing clinical decision support tools and at-home monitoring devices for people with suspected neurological conditions, to improve patient’s quality of life and facilitate efficient healthcare provision.
Other businesses taking part in INVEST 2021 ranged from the developers of tech for the early detection of bowel cancer and a smart device to manage diabetes through to those behind an app to help address the current shortage of HGV drivers and an AI solution to make conference calls more efficient.
SETsquared was set up in 2002 by a small group of research-intensive universities in the South of England, including Bristol, with a mission is to help turn innovative sparks into a thriving, commercial businesses.
It has since supported more than 5,000 innovators and entrepreneurs start-up and grow hi-tech businesses, helping them raise more than £2.72bn in investment, generating £8.6bn in economic impact and create 20,000 jobs.
It has also been named the ‘Hottest Accelerator in Europe’ at The Europas Awards 2020 and ‘Global #1 University Business Incubator’ in 2019, 2017 and 2015.
SETsquared director Simon Bond said: “It’s amazing that after 18 years of running this event, the quality of the pitching companies never dips.
“This year’s line-up once again showcased the high-quality breadth and depth of start-ups being developed across the SETsquared Partnership, many of which are developing solutions which will be at the heart of Covid recovery.
“We know that it takes an ecosystem to grow a start-up, so we’re therefore thrilled to have such an engaged investor community that are not only highly active in terms of investing but also willing to support our members through mentoring and introductions.”
The INVEST 2021 line-up was chosen from SETsquared’s 550 members following a competitive selection process. Each of the finalists received mentoring and support in the run-up to the event to develop their investment pitch.
Emm Technology founder Jenny Button said: “I founded Emm Technology because I felt strongly that menstrual products should be more than an underperforming hygiene solution.
“We’re currently raising £300,00 seed investment to develop an electronic prototype, conduct user trails and create a wait list.
“My experience of pitching at SETsquared INVEST 2021 couldn’t have been better, the support from the team in the lead-up to the event was so comprehensive, they enabled me to give the best investment pitch possible.
“I’ve already had multiple follow-ups from investors post event, SETsquared is an excellent platform to facilitate introductions.”
Among the investors taking part in the event was Dr Jo Slota-Newson, principal of London and Cambridge-based IQ Capital.
She said: “SETsquared has gained critical mass of innovators and those who support them, to become the core of one of the most lively enterprise ecosystems outside London.
“INVEST 2021 demonstrated an enormous breadth of tech and deeptech innovation within that community – with a very high standard for clarity of the presentations.”
All investment opportunities from across the SETsquared portfolio can be found on its online investment platform https://setsquared.envestry.com
