Barclays Eagle Labs supports University of Edinburgh’s entrepreneur incubator programme

Barclays Eagle Labs has formed a partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s Venture Builder Incubator (VBI), a programme tailored to help PhD students develop and commercialise academic research.

Twenty-four new cohort companies, all operating in sectors addressing societal challenges including green technology, animal welfare and agritech, have been announced for this year’s VBI. The intake includes 10 health-related start-ups, the majority of which are focused on combating cancer and will be supported through an existing partnership with Cancer Research Horizons.

Adding further value to the programme’s partnership with Cancer Research Horizons, Barclays Eagle Labs will support founders behind oncology-related start-ups and other health-related cohort companies, providing content and support via its network of more than 600 health technology start-ups, and also offer access to specialist areas outside health as required.

Among these ventures is Less Grey, a triaging technology tool designed to help prostate cancer patients, and Naela Technologies, developer of an improved form of vibrational spectroscope that enhances cancer detection. Also participating in the programme is PallorMetrics, creator of new technology that can automatically measure pallor in routine retinal photographs, aiding disease detection, monitoring and progression.

This year’s cohort were chosen after an application process that includes PhD students, early career researchers and academics from the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, which is a partner to the VBI.

Barclays Eagle Labs healthtech lead Helen Tate said: “We are proud to become part of the University of Edinburgh’s Venture Builder Incubator. We look forward to offering support to all the businesses participating in this year’s programme through our business growth programmes, investor connectivity, mentoring and access to our UK-wide network of Barclays Eagle Labs.

“As an organisation nurturing a community of innovative healthtech businesses, we also look forward to working with the university and Cancer Research Horizons to provide additional support for the health-focused entrepreneurs involved in the VBI programme.”

Picture: Venture Builder Incubator programme manager Laura Bernal (far right) is joined by representatives of the cohort companies taking part in this year’s programme.

Published on page 6 of the December 2022 issue of RAD Magazine.