Five tech startups based at Sheffield Technology Parks are doubling down on research, innovation and business expansion after securing a total of over £1.2m in investment throughout summer 2023.

The startups, which range from an app that enables safe, shared and sustainable travel, to a healthtech company creating pioneering programmes to reverse chronic diseases, have received financial backing from a range of sources including venture capitalists, private Angel Investors and grant funding.

Part of the Cooper Project, Sheffield Technology Park’s business incubator, the startups are given workspace, business guidance and coaching to help them develop their ideas, establish business strategies and seek investment to support their growth.

The secured funds will be invested in a range of activities, many delivering benefits for the region’s economy. This includes job creation, investments in equipment and premises, and partnering with other organisations to conduct crucial research to underpin tech products and services.

A Fleet for Change has been awarded £80,000 grant funding from Innovate UK. Passionate about improving shared transport so that it is safe, affordable and more sustainable, the startup is now able to conduct research that will inform their app development and service design, and enable them to deliver a pilot project.

Another exciting startup to receive investment this summer is Future Greens, a vertical farming company that has secured a six figure sum. The team is researching and developing sustainable farming methods that use food waste as the primary energy source, and are looking for new Sheffield-based premises to build a vertical farm.

Hero of Health - a health tech startup offering software as a service (SAAS) to NHS trusts - secured £250, 000 from a number of private Sheffield-based Angel Investors throughout the summer. The company has a mission to support healthy aging and to reverse chronic illnesses through evidence-based lifestyle programmes, delivered through technology.

A further two start-ups secured totals of £300, 000 and £385, 000, proving that whilst the summer period is typically quieter for UK businesses, those at Sheffield Technology Parks have been extremely busy. Tom Wolfenden, our CEO comments,

“Our entrepreneurs work hard to bring their ideas to life and secure commercial success. The investments we’ve seen over the summer months are testament to that hard work and to the commitment these individuals have for their work, not to mention exceptional levels of skill and expertise.

“As we start to see these companies grow and scale, there will be more jobs created in the city, more opportunities for collaboration and reasons for people to come here and invest in our economy. It’s great news all round for Sheffield and South Yorkshire.”

Sheffield Technology Parks is an inclusive home for ambitious tech entrepreneurs, supporting businesses through the startup and scaleup stages, and beyond. They offer office, workshop and lab spaces for the city's most innovative businesses, and ensure that founders get the support and guidance they need to make informed decisions about their growth plans. For more information, visit: shefftechparks.com.