Showcase to highlight exciting innovators

Published On Mon 26 Aug 2019 by Jonathan Watson

Some of Scotland’s most exciting innovators will be demonstrating the technology of tomorrow at an event hosted by the University of Dundee.

Instrument cases made from Harris Tweed, glasses made from coffee grounds and interactive play products to tackle childhood obesity are among the products being showcased by the University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship on Wednesday 28 August.

The event, led by Elevator, Scotland’s leading business support organisation, will see the operators of these exciting start-up enterprises speak about their work to an audience consisting of up to 100 investors and experts.

One of the entrepreneurs to unveil their proposals is Robbie Beautyman, an MSc Design for Business student and winner of the University’s Venture Competition in January 2019. He says that his newly established company, Foresight Interactions Ltd, will produce one-of-a-kind, tactile installations to make navigation of buildings easier for all kinds of visitors, especially those with visual impairments.

Using the V&A Dundee as a prototype, the 23 year-old from Saline, near Dunfermline, said, “I want to give the blind and visually impaired the confidence to access places they wouldn’t have necessarily have gone before.

“The bespoke installations and accompanying audio, will give users a fuller understanding of what to expect when visiting a chosen area.

“The idea is that by providing buildings with beautifully designed navigation systems, we will be helping them to not only become more accessible and inclusive to their own customers, but also provide them with a way to be part of the bigger picture.”

The Centre for Entrepreneurship is operated by the University in conjunction with Elevator with the aim of assisting early-stage business owners with skills and support to take their ideas from concept to market readiness. Elevator’s Accelerator programme is an intensive 12-week programme allowing startup founders to fine tune their business plans, ensuring they are pitch and investor ready before launching to the public.

Cat Ward, Accelerator Manager, said, “This cohort has been a pleasure to work with and we are really excited about what the future holds for their businesses. The founders have spent the last 12 weeks refining the fantastic ideas they brought into day one of our Accelerator programme and are now ready to showcase them to potential investors, mentors and customers. This really is a big opportunity, not just for the founders but also for those in the audience.’

The Elevator Accelerator Showcase takes place in the University of Dundee’s Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, from 10am on Wednesday 28 August.

For media enquiries contact:
Jonathan Watson
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 381489
Email: j.s.watson@dundee.ac.uk