London & Partners has this week launched Grow London Global, a brand new international scale-up programme for London’s high-growth tech companies.
It builds on the success of the Mayor’s International Business Programme, which over seven years helped more than 1300 London businesses to scale, raised more than £6.5bn in investment and created over 5000 jobs.
The launch of Grow London Global is a response to the need to scale support to London businesses in the context of the dramatic change in the economic and geopolitical climate in the past seven years.
The programme, backed by the Mayor of London and the UKSPF and free for eligible businesses in London’s high-growth sectors, includes workshops, events, trade missions, exclusive connections to corporates and investors, a dedicated account manager and live leads as part of the offer.
Want to get to know the first cohort?
Made up of high-growth London companies in fintech and enterprise, creative industries, life sciences and sustainability, the programme’s first cohort consists of 107 emerging and established innovative scaleups which you need to know.
Here’s some of the businesses about to go global:
Notpla
The sustainable packaging company making packaging disappear, literally. Creating packaging made from seaweed and plants which vanish naturally, Notpla (a play on Not Plastic) are on a mission to provide alternatives to single-use packaging. Sachets you can eat? Takeaway boxes which will biodegrade within a month? Notpla are providing it.
Where have you heard of them? Notpla won Prince William’s ‘Build a Waste-Free World’ Earthshot Prize in December.
Native
Built out of a passion to ensure students make the most of their time at university, Native’s platform connects students with unforgettable experiences both IRL and virtually. Powering campus culture, the platform is home to events and content from global brands, providing student unions with total control over engagement, and giving students a simple way to manage their uni experiences – from freshers to graduation.
Where have you heard of them? Native are used by 80+ student unions across the UK.
Planet Nourish
A game-changing healthcare scaleup, Planet Nourish use AI nutrition tech to formulate culturally tailored diet and lifestyle programmes for people of colour. Designed for the management and prevention of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity, the company’s behaviour change programme sees most of its users lose 5% weight in 12 weeks.
Where have you heard of them? Planet Nourish’s Type 2 diabetes management programme is used by leading healthcare providers across the UK.
Ultraleap
Ultraleap’s world-leading hand tracking tech and haptics say goodbye to hardware and hello to human technology. Allowing users to engage with the digital world in a natural way, Ultraleap’s technology does away with touchscreens, controllers and keypads to create truly immersive experiences and remove the boundaries between physical and digital worlds.
Where have you heard of them? Ultraleap is the result of the two field leaders Leap Motion and Ultrahapics joining forces back in 2019.
Misfits
With a simple mission to create truly indulgent plant-based snacks, Misfits’ snacks are for chocolate fans who want to increase their protein intake, cut out dairy and reduce sugar consumption – without a compromise on taste. Completely carbon neutral, in just 3 years since launch the company have sold 16 million bars globally.
Where have you heard of them? Misfits sell the best-selling vegan protein bar in the UK
LifeTidy
After finding out that the average adult spends a total of 5 years and 5 months of their life doing admin, LifeTidy was created to save the world from disorganisation. The company’s app provides a personal, paperless dashboard to stay on top of affairs – from your insurance policy documents to your Netflix subscription.
Where have you heard of them? Despite being a brand-new app, LifeTidy already has thousands of users.
Samphire Neuroscience
Nine out of 10 women are affected by menstrual health conditions, yet cycle-driven anxiety, low mood and pain are still treated the same as 50 years ago despite technological advancement. Samphire Neuroscience are building medical devices for neglected women’s needs, with their first product being a wearable device which relieves PMS and menstrual pain.
Where have you heard of them? Samphire Neuroscience work with leading scientists and organisations including the NHS and Harvard University.
Unhurd
A music-tech platform using AI to turn music and data into campaigns for artists and labels in one uncomplicated space. In just 2 years, Unhurd has worked with some of the biggest artists and labels in the world on data-driven marketing campaigns – as well as partnering with 25,000 emerging artists to develop their audiences as they use tech to create a level playing field for independent artists.
Where have you heard of them? Unhurd appeared on Dragon’s Den and have worked with global artists such as Headie One, Frankie Wah and SAINt JHN.
Byway
Built on a vision of a world in which flight-free holidays are the norm, Byway is a travel company creating planet-friendly holidays personalised by sustainable travel experts. Encouraging slow travel using trains, bikes, buses and ferries, the company coordinates entire trips for those that believe travelling through the world is better than flying over it.
Where have you heard of them? In just a few months, Byway have won Champions of Sustainability at the Travolution Awards, Small Business Green Hero at the Green Heart Hero Awards and the Eco-Travel Award at Marie Claire Sustainability Awards.
Kabuni
The company offering a safe Metaverse for children to learn, grow and explore. Harnessing the power of technology to enhance the curriculum, Kabuni offers thousands of immersive lessons with daily classrooms facilitated by experienced educators. Utilising VR, AR and Web3, the London scaleup aims to transform traditional education.
Where have you heard of them? Kabuni have worked with the World Economic Forum this year to develop the Global Principles on Online Safety.
The Grow London Global programme is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is also supported by five lead delivery partners, who are on hand to help companies achieve global success: GrantTree, Microsoft, Oury Clark, Taylor Wessing and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Sara French, Director – Trade & Growth, London & Partners, said: “We’re delighted to welcome these fantastic high-growth companies to Grow London Global, a cohort of 107 London companies featuring London’s brightest scaleups in the fintech & cyber, life sciences, sustainability & creative sectors.
“I am delighted they will be representing the strength of London’s tech sector and UK business internationally. Over the next 12 months, they will be offered new opportunities to grow their business by exploring new markets and accessing support and advice from some of the UK’s most successful leaders and our unrivalled global network.”
Want to know more about the programme, the cohort and how you can get involved? Visit Grow.London
The post Grow London Global: Meet the first cohort appeared first on UKTN | UK Tech News.
