Business is booming

Some would look back on 2020 and declare it a year of economic misery. And they wouldn’t be wrong to feel that way. The UK economy suffered a record annual slump in 2020, shrinking by 9.9% according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, and coronavirus restrictions are being given the blame.

Contradicting this though, is the evidence that business actually boomed in 2020. New business to be precise.

Figures have shown that 2020 saw the highest number of new start-ups ever, with more than 770,000 new businesses launched. That’s more than double the number created between 2010 and 2017 (Source: Tyl by Natwest).

Loughborough University has long been a champion of supporting students on their enterprise journeys. Through various support mechanisms we help them progress from inspired idea to the next big start-up.

For most start-ups, funding is critical in the early days of a business, to allow them to invest in the services, tools and equipment they need to get things started. Earlier this year, your support helped us to boost business for 13 Loughborough students and graduates, with grants from the Start-Up Fund.

Launched in 2017, the Start-Up Fund gives Loughborough University and Loughborough University London students and graduates the opportunity to pitch for a grant of up to £5,000 to kickstart their venture.

In four years, over 60 students and graduates have received support to launch 55 start-up businesses.

Initiatives like this can change a student’s life. It can give individuals the boost they need, both financially and in terms of their confidence, to take the next steps in making their ideas a reality.

Initiatives like this are only possible because of support from our donors. You’re helping to write the origin stories for these businesses for years to come. Here we share some insight into what they’ve been up to.

Making images do the talking

Pickle Illustration was formed in 2019 by Loughborough graduates Olivia Collins and Lauren Jefferis.

They met whilst studying Graphic Communication and Illustration and decided to join forces to pursue their dreams of running a creative business.

Two years in and their work is certainly capturing people’s attention. The illustration duo create bespoke artwork that delivers impact. Their work includes public art, such as large-scale murals, art trails and illustrated sculpture, and packaging, social media posts, animation and printed materials.

Pickle are using the Start-Up Fund grant to purchase equipment and software that will make the design process more efficient when working with clients.

Rocket Round Leicester 2021

Fosse Park Management Suite 2021

Attenborough Arts Centre At Home Packaging 2021

Pickle Postcards 2020

Bom Bom Patisserie 2019

Asics 2020

The future of pet feed

Whilst at university, Thomas Constant discovered the impact that intensive meat production has on both the planet and society.

“I discovered 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock. If cows were a country, they would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, between America and India.”

Thomas knew at that point that he had to do something about it.

He started researching potential sustainable food solutions and discovered the amazing benefits of insect production – and the idea for BeoBia was born.

BeoBia means 'food for life' in Irish Gaelic. And that’s exactly what Thomas intended to do. Create sustainable food production, using bugs!

“We can produce and consume suitable food, without compromising our planet.”

Many people throw away uneaten fruit and vegetables every week and feel guilty in the process! Thomas has created an eco-growing pod for use in people’s homes. The closed-loop system harnesses insect power to turn food waste into mealworm protein and plant fertiliser. The product essentially empowers people to create their own source of affordable and sustainable pet feed.

Thomas Constant, BeoBia Founder

Thomas Constant, BeoBia Founder

Thomas has already raised over £21,000 via a successful Kickstarter Crowdfunding campaign earlier this year. Support from the Start-Up Fund will help cover the costs of software licences to support him with the next stage of design and development of his products and getting them to customers.

Soothing the effects of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is no easy ride for anyone that experiences it. There are many side effects that arise because of the treatment, including Oral Mucositis, a painful condition that causes ulceration and inflammation of the mouth. It is believed to be one of the most common, debilitating complications of cancer treatments, and has a significant effect on the patient’s quality of life.

Stephanie Madeiros, a Loughborough industrial design and technology graduate, intends to change that with Criora.

Criora is an oral cooling device that reduces the severity of these symptoms by consistently circulating water coolant through a custom-made mouthpiece, to shrink the blood vessels of the mouth while chemotherapy drugs are being administered. This makes it harder for the drugs to reach the oral cavity.

Stephanie is using the funding to develop further prototypes of the product for testing and clinical trials.

Prostheses that grow

ExpHand Prosthetics provides life changing upper limb prostheses that can grip and pick up objects to give children their independence back.

Founder, Kate Walker, started her business during her final year of studying product design engineering at the University.

She was searching for a dissertation idea with a purpose. It wasn't until she met Zoey, a little girl with congenital limb-loss, that Kate realised her potential to change lives.

“My dissertation was my chance to prove that engineering can make a true difference to someone’s life. I had thought about designing a medical device before, but it was my encounter with Zoey that made me aware of the lack of suitable prosthetic limbs for children.”

It was her ‘Eureka!’ moment

She wanted to design an arm that would fit Zoey as she grew and that she'd feel comfortable wearing too.

After doing some initial research, Kate found that, like Zoey, 90% of people across the world don't have access to the prostheses they need. This is mostly due to lack of doctors, lack of access and expensive products. Looking at children specifically, they grow out of prostheses quickly, which makes it even harder to make sure they've got the prosthesis they need.

So, work began and by the end of her final year at university, Kate had designed the ExpHand.

Zoey trying out the ExpHand

Zoey trying out the ExpHand

Unlike previous devices, Kate's upper-limb prosthesis is affordable, adjustable, and customisable, with a life span of up to seven years. Children aged between three and ten years old can easily fit the prosthesis themselves, without needing to visit a specialist. The device is manufactured in-house using 3D printing and sent directly to consumers making it easier to access than current prostheses, as well as making it more affordable.

Kate is using the Start-Up Fund grant to purchase a software licence that will support the next stage of design, development and user testing of the product, ahead of it launching to UK based customers later this year.

Creating incredible adventures for incredible causes

During his five years at Loughborough, Alex Taylor was heavily involved in fundraising work through LSU and got to experience several once in a lifetime trips for himself.

All these experiences led to the creation of Endeavours Adventures, a group adventure and charity challenge provider on a mission to reinvent bucket list adventure challenges.

Their vision? To become the UK's largest provider of group adventures and charity challenges, with sustainability, service excellence and social responsibility at the heart of what they do. They are passionate about showing that travel can be a force for good in the world.

The group will use the funding from the Start-Up Fund to formalise and automate their business offer and platform, such as software to automate the whole process for more efficient working amongst the team and with clients.

Improving access to healthcare

Sina Medical Technology is a digital physiotherapist, that offers an end-to-end diagnostic and rehabilitation service for Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders. Designed for use in both public and private healthcare, the technology enables a patient to understand, manage and recover from their injury, from the comfort of their home.

The service was created by a team of nine friends, which includes three Loughborough graduates, who had all experienced sports related musculoskeletal injuries, and the associated barriers that come with accessing treatment, such as location, time, finances and physician dependencies.

By streamlining the bottlenecks in this process and digitising points of contact, Sina aims to improve the provision of this area of healthcare at a fraction of the cost.

Through digital solutions, they plan to support healthcare providers and improve access to musculoskeletal healthcare across the globe.

Sina will use their funding for legal counsel and compliance for the business, given its place in the healthcare market and the significance of this in relation to data, business structures and practices.

The next step in blind mobility

Whilst studying industrial design and technology at Loughborough, Antony Camu decided he wanted to design a product that replicated a guide dog’s functions for visually impaired people that were unable to benefit from the use of a guide dog, due to lifestyle factors, such as allergies, expenses or house size.

Inspired by virtual reality gaming consoles, he developed ‘Theia’, a portable and concealable handheld device that guides users through outdoor environments and large indoor spaces with very little user input.
During user testing, blindfolded participants were able to run through obstacle courses with no prior knowledge, just by following the prototype’s cues.

This funding is supporting Anthony to develop his prototypes for further trials and testing.

Further information

To find out more about the Start-Up Fund, the business ideas that have been funded, and the support available to students and graduates, visit the Loughborough Enteprise Network website.

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