Hardware Incubator

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. 

Incubation Manager: Mark Corderoy

Contact the team here

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
Vince Cable

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.

Technology Sectors


Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sensors

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Drones

Vision Systems

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Electronics

IoT

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Additive Manufacturing

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AI / Machine Learning

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Robotic Arms / End Effectors

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Health Technology

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Educational Robotics

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agri-robotics

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Autonomous Vehicles

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

Get in touch

*Updated on 3rd June 2019

Current Members


Altered Carbon
Graphene based gas sensed technology

We focus on new sensor technologies for the secure Internet of Things, future building systems that collect and send data in unique ways. 

Altered Carbon

AON2
Wearables for extreme sport

We are a startup company that designs and manufactures wearable technology for skydiving and other sports. AON2 was founded in Bristol by a team of aeronautical engineers and passionate skydivers, and it is our mission to increase the enjoyment and safety of our sport by increasing altitude awareness.

Logo AON2

Benedex Ltd
Powerful, modular autonomous drive systems

BENEDEX is an evolution in building autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), the fastest growing sector in the automation industry. We are developing a modular and agile vehicle platform to drive any type and design of unmanned, mobile robotic application. 


The Benedex platform will improve robotic applications in reliability, motion quality, energy efficiency and reduced cost of ownership, even as it simplifies, expedites, and lowers the development costs for robot builders.

Logo Benedex

Blino
Sleep sensing technology

We make devices that allow you to interact with your biometric data using common and well supported maker platforms.

Logo Blino

Bristol Maritime Robotics
Underwater sensors

Bristol Maritime Robotics are based at Bristol Robotics Laboratory, UK

Logo Bristol Maritime Robotics

Consequential Robotics 
An educational robot; e-Miro

Consequential Robotics delivers the best of British & international design and engineering to the development of next generation consumer and commercial robots.  We aim to create new robot platforms that are inclusively designed, attractive, effective and helpful, with the long-term aim to enhance the quality of human life. 

Logo Consequential Robotics

DroneX
Specialist drone construction and machine learning

DroneX designs, develops and operates Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) aka drones and other related technologies. We custom-build machines for commercial, industrial and scientific purposes. Our passionate focus on research and development means we create technology at the cutting edge of what is possible.

Skype: dronex.dronex

Email: contact@dronex.co.uk

Web:   http://dronex.co.uk/

Logo DroneX

HomeLync
IoT infrastructure for public housing schemes

We work with landlords to integrate existing systems and sensors with our dashboard and hub.

Logo HomeLync

Live Smart Robotics Ltd
Helping people to use the latest Smart Technology and Robotics

We provide telepresence robots and the expertise to enable you to understand how best to deploy and use the technology effectively. 


We also provide personalised training packages and implementation support to suit your specific needs.

LiveSmartRobotics

Neoptera
A New Era in Air Mobility

Neoptera Aero is electrifying the future of Vertical flight by developing the eOpter, an electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that offers a safer, more affordable and more environmentally conscious alternative to helicopters and other forms of vertical flight.

Logo Neoptera

Perceptual Robotics
Robotic inspection of wind turbine blades

We bring cutting edge innovation to industrial challenges and applications. 


Our first product is Dhalion, an industry leading aerial system for wind turbine inspection. Dhalion brings full end to end autonomous inspection capabilities to the market, from data acquisition to high confidence defect identification.

Logo Perceptual Robptics

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:  

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


Share by: