BRL Hardware Incubator
We provide a wide range of professional services to meet your needs.
Our extensive range of unique business support services delivered to your highest level of satisfaction.
Introduction
The BRL Hardware Incubator was originally created by the Bristol Robotics Laboratory to help staff and students commercialise their business ideas.
The incubator is at the heart of UWE’s new University Enterprise Zone (UEZ). An enterprise space that promotes collaboration between the university and industry, providing incubator and grow-on facilities for high tech businesses from the robotics, health technology, biosciences and biomedicine sectors.
BRL's Technology Incubator is a fine example of a supportive and entrepreneurial workspace...
“Robotics has a very important role in our future and BRL's Technology Incubator is a fine example of a supportive and entrepreneurial workspace where young innovators translate scientific achievements into commercial gain.”
Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
The BRL Hardware Incubator
Our incubator is unique, we provide help and support for start-ups that make things! We know that ‘hardware is hard’, and we help companies as they progress from desktop prototypes, through to batch and mass production.
Start-ups have access to dedicated desk spaces, a FabLab and the support of the BRL. The incubator has created a unique community of hardware expertise that is only too willing to help out fellow start-ups.
The Programme
Once accepted into the incubator you will have access to the full range of facilities provided by the UEZ, workshops, legal and accounting services, networking and pitch events.
We DO NOT run a formal incubation process as we think that every business is different. Our job is to understand your business and then help you develop your business. We provide support with business planning, pitch preparation, fundraising and product development.
We work with all types of business including:
• Recent graduate (at all levels) led businesses
• Academic start-ups
• Corporate projects
• Independent start-ups (not affiliated to UWE)
The BRL’s Hardware Incubator offers affordable subsidised rent options and easy-in/easy-out flexible terms.
• A rent-free period to assist with cash flow at start-up
• Subsidised rental for the first six months and a rental escalator thereafter
• Easy-in/easy-out flexible license agreements.
Join the Incubator and Unlock Your Potential
Our Success in Facts & Figures*
85
Start-ups Supported
£16,111,900
Total Funds Raised
265
Jobs Created
£24,498,885
Gross Value Added
*Updated on 3rd June 2019
Current Members
Altered Carbon
Graphene based gas sensed technology
AON2Wearables for extreme sport
Benedex LtdPowerful, modular autonomous drive systems
BlinoSleep sensing technology
Bristol Maritime RoboticsUnderwater sensors
Consequential Robotics An educational robot; e-Miro
DroneXSpecialist drone construction and machine learning
HomeLyncIoT infrastructure for public housing schemes
Live Smart Robotics LtdHelping people to use the latest Smart Technology and Robotics
NeopteraA New Era in Air Mobility
Perceptual RoboticsRobotic inspection of wind turbine blades
Incubator Case Studies
Altered Carbon
Imagine a low powered, passive sensor that is able to rapidly detect (and reset after detection) specific target chemical compounds.
Altered Carbon’s range of graphene-based sensors can do this. Combined with their comms platform, Altered Carbon is developing a sensor platform that will deliver the new sensing services needed by Industry 4.0 applications.
Open Bionics
Open Bionics have developed 3D printed prosthetic limbs for children. Their arm has recently been approved for use by NHS.
Featured extensively on ITV / Sky and BBC, Open Bionics was a resident of BRL Hardware Incubator before moving to Future Space within the UEZ.
Open Bionics recently closed a their £4.6M series A round.
Reach Robotics
Founded by UWE graduate Silas Adekunle, Reach Robotics has developed the Mekamon robot. An AR enhanced gaming and educational robot.
Reach have raised over £5.5M from VCs and have an exclusive distribution deal for Mekamon with Apple.
Reach was started in the BRL Incubator before moving to Future Space (part of UEZ). They have recently moved to their own offices in Bristol.
Alumni
Incubation is a process, companies grow and develop, and then move on. We have had the pleasure of being part of this journey for the following companies:
Aquila
Aquila Aerospace are Aerospace avionics specialists with expertise in autonomous flight through the application of artificial intelligence to control systems.
View more
Hardware Incubator News
How the father of AI John McCarthy was able to write personalised covers for The Drum's readers
Bristol start-up, The Handwriting Company, were approached to create 1,000 personalised covers for a special version of The Drum magazine dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI).
What makes The Handwriting Company's services so special? Using artificial intelligence, they have created a robot that can reproduce your handwriting with uncanny accuracy.
When The Drum heard about this they had the great idea to personalise 1,000 covers of their magazine in the handwriting style of John McCarthy, who coined the phrase Artificial Intelligence!
Issue date: 10/04/2019
Meet the Incubator Team
