A mobile fab lab van working with young people and businesses to create a resilient workforce for the future, organic filter systems and products capturing micro plastics and sequestering carbon in rivers and oceans, an AirBnB for the sea and using biomaterials to build sustainable urban infrastructures; just some of the ideas which came out of the innovation-packed Techstars Startup Weekend Plymouth Marine edition.
The event, which took place between 12th and 14th November, welcomed people from across the southwest and further afield, connecting ambitious entrepreneurs with valuable local mentors and business experts.
Organised by the University of Plymouth, as part of iMayflower, and backed by the wider iMayflower consortium and local business community, the event centred on supporting the city’s entrepreneurial community. The event took place in the new co-working space at Real Ideas’ Market Hall, a stone’s throw from Oceansgate, creating an inspiring collaborative atmosphere for the teams to develop their ideas.
The challenging task of judging final pitches fell to Professor Richard Thompson OBE, Professor of Marine Biology and Director of the University of Plymouth’s Marine Institute, Jo Royle CEO of Common Seas, Richard May, Head of Oceansgate and Marine Investment for Plymouth City Council and Dawn Bebe Co-founder and director at Crowdfunder UK. Winners Sea Grass Solutions and Yachtee in joint first place and Makers Wear Capes with special recognition for their idea, were each awarded a bespoke package from a selection of prizes designed to support them in taking the next steps on their entrepreneurial journey. These included a consultation in Plymouth College of Arts Fab Lab, membership with Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, Real Ideas membership, co-working space and mentoring, co-working space and support from Plymouth Science Park and a consultation session with Smart Sound Plymouth.
Inspired by the ambitious environmental and community-focussed ideas pitched, Crowdfunder UK also followed the weekend with a workshop, with at least one team intending to go on to develop a Crowdfunder campaign.
Find out more about Startup Weekend events in Plymouth here and register your interest in the Culture and Tourism edition here, scheduled for March 2022.
This activity is part of the iMayflower project and has been supported by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport who fund the Cultural Development Fund which is administered by Arts Council England.