BetaDen welcomes technology businesses to Cohort 8.0

By Encoure Communications

1 minute 29 seconds

Tech

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Quick Read: Eight innovative technology businesses from Worcestershire join BetaDen’s Cohort 8.0, receiving nine months of support including mentoring, grants, and networking opportunities to accelerate their commercialisation journey.

Eight Worcestershire technology entrepreneurs started their journey towards commercialisation today when they officially joined Cohort 8.0 of BetaDen’s award-winning ‘Accelerate’ programme.

The nine-month programme offers participating businesses a unique package of support to rapidly commercialise their innovations including mentoring, Proof of Concept grant, dedicated marketing fund, demo-day Showcase event, pitch readiness and coaching, free office space at Malvern Hills Science Park and access to BetaDen’s extensive network of partners, alumni and investors.

To date, BetaDen has supported over 50 innovative technology businesses in the county, whose innovations include world-first and game-changing technologies such as 5G at sea (Jet Connectivity), large-scale 3D concrete printing (ChangeMaker 3D) and voice-face fused recognition technology (FARx). Graduates of the programme have so far supported over 210 jobs and announced over £507mil raised in investment and funding.

Photo Credit: BetaDen

The eight businesses joining Cohort 8.0 are:

• DMA Technologies - an online conferencing and virtual exhibition platform (Worcester)

• Garland Surgical - a medical device design and development company (Malvern)

• HD Connectivity (uControl) – smart devices to make your everyday tech experiences at home better (Malvern)

• Nonowrap - waste-reducing, smart reusable pallet strap technology (Malvern)

• Sandfield Engineering - a solar-powered, air-operated pollution containment valve that prevents spillages from contaminating water systems (Wyre Forest)

• Smart 90 – AI-powered business growth platform for accountants (Bromsgrove)

• Split Second Research - neuroscience-based market research platform (Worcester)

• Zone Manager - logistics planning and delivery management system (Redditch)

Donston Powell, Director of External Affairs at BetaDen, commented:

“We are excited to welcome our latest cohort to BetaDen and work with them to take their innovations to the next level over the coming months. Our award-winning programme is designed to equip participants with the tools and support they need to accelerate the commercialisation of their products and we can’t wait to see what Cohort 8.0 will achieve.”

BetaDen recently announced Apogee Associates, Wynne-Jones IP, Jerroms and Higgs LLP as commercial partners for Cohort 8.0. Its specialist mentoring team also includes professionals selected for their expertise in blockchain and AI, entrepreneurial mindset, financial management, innovation grant funding, intellectual property, R&D tax credits, commercial law, strategic marketing, route to market and technology stack.

For further details, visit www.beta-den.com

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun