We’re excited to welcome three startups to our community at Sheffield Technology Parks this month, as they join the Cooper Project - our incubator programme designed to help early-stage tech businesses navigate the all important first steps of their startup journey.

From cloud security and software integrations to AI-powered healthtech, these founders are tackling real world challenges with smart ideas, bolstered by lived experience. Here’s a closer look at the newest members of the Cooper community:

Hyperscale Consulting

Founders: Andy Caine & Henry Addico

With extensive backgrounds in engineering, QA and Ops from long careers at BT, Andy and Henry bring deep technical expertise to their new venture, Hyperscale Consulting, which they’re pouring into helping businesses secure their AWS workloads more effectively.

Their platform gives companies a clear view of security risks in the cloud and offers practical, highly actionable recommendations to reduce risk and improve their security posture. The duo have just completed their first self-assessment tool and are now exploring ways to monetise the platform - watch this space.

Nexana

Founder: Chris Lynch

Chris has set his sights on solving a common headache for field service providers (such as plumbers and electricians) and those working in facilities management: clunky, disconnected software systems.

Nexana is a smart integration tool that links together systems, suppliers and databases to reduce admin overhead, speed up and improve accuracy in quoting and purchasing, and ultimately help businesses run more efficiently. Chris is already generating recurring revenue and has joined the Cooper Project to learn more about scaling up, building a team, and managing growth.

Epona

Founder: Fran Ferris (with co-founder & CTO Darren)

After more than two decades in the social care sector, Fran Ferris is using her  understanding of the space to build Epona - an AI-powered platform designed to improve behaviour support and wellbeing in social care settings.

Epona tracks a person’s behaviour and wellbeing in real time to create a 'digital twin', enabling earlier intervention, better outcomes and complete compliance with CQC and Ofsted standards. With three care providers already signed up, Fran is now focused on refining her pitch and preparing for investment, supported by the Cooper Project’s community and network.

We’re proud to support these founders as they test, build and grow their businesses. The Cooper Project is all about helping startups access the tools, advice and peer support they need to progress in an inclusive and collaborative space. If you’re building something - or just have an idea for a tech product or service - and think the Cooper Project might be right for you, get in touch - we’d love to hear from you.