Cass Entrepreneurship Fund

Springpod is a specialist careers platform aimed at helping young people explore the world of work and higher education, enabling them to make informed decisions about their futures. Founded in 2016, the company operates from offices in London and Liverpool, England. Springpod's mission is to democratize access to opportunities for young individuals by providing transformative career experiences. The platform features a range of services, including online apprenticeships and virtual work experience programs, which allow students to search for and filter opportunities tailored to their interests. Additionally, it serves as a recruitment portal for employers and educational institutions, facilitating engagement with students as they consider their career paths.

Evolve Dynamics Limited specializes in the manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly the Sky Mantis, which serves surveillance and specialized purposes across public sector services, private security, and defense. The company’s drones are equipped to locate people or animals, assess fire progress, identify building hotspots, and conduct structural inspections, all while providing comprehensive visual awareness through an autonomous autopilot system. Evolve Dynamics also develops advanced technologies such as Field to Cloud, a software solution that streams live video from drones to users, and Exa Iris, which enables accurate positioning, collision avoidance, and navigation in GPS-denied environments using computer vision processing. Founded in 2013 and based in Guildford, United Kingdom, Evolve Dynamics is committed to delivering innovative UAV technology that enhances mission-specific surveillance capabilities.

iDefigo Limited specializes in manufacturing and delivering Internet of Things (IoT) security and surveillance devices and solutions. The company offers a range of products, including wire-free, weatherproof security cameras that allow for quick installation without the need for extensive wiring. One of its notable products is the RedEye camera, which features a patented low-power design for extended outdoor use. iDefigo also provides a Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) platform that securely collects and presents footage from remotely connected cameras. Catering to both enterprise and government clients, iDefigo enables the rapid deployment of surveillance systems in remote areas, with real-time footage transmitted via cellular networks and managed through its secure cloud-based platform. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom, the company aims to simplify and enhance the monitoring of assets and environments through innovative surveillance solutions.

FibreCRM Ltd specializes in developing customer relationship management (CRM) software tailored specifically for accounting firms. Founded in 2007 and based in Penryn, United Kingdom, the company focuses on automating workflows to enhance operational efficiency, including email marketing, client onboarding, and newsletter subscriptions. Its platform facilitates integration with various accounting software and tools, such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and Outlook, enabling seamless data management across multiple channels. Additionally, FibreCRM offers features like a report builder, CRM dashboards, sales tracking, compliance workflow implementation, and referrer management, all designed to help accountants serve clients more proactively and grow their practices.

Xperiome is a global health technology company focused on enhancing the understanding of rare diseases for pharmaceutical companies. Through its platform, Raremark, Xperiome provides a comprehensive repository of patient experiences, enabling faster and more effective matching of research-ready patients to clinical and real-world studies. The platform facilitates informed decision-making for patients and families by offering accessible information on the latest research and treatments. By aggregating and anonymizing patient data, Xperiome supports biopharmaceutical companies in reducing the time and cost associated with clinical development. This approach not only raises health literacy among patients but also fosters informed participation in medical research, ultimately improving the quality of existing therapies and aiding the discovery of new treatments.

Fire Tech is dedicated to equipping children and teenagers with essential technology skills through mentoring and training. The organization specializes in tech education, offering online courses that cover various subjects, including coding, robotics, digital media, and design. Their curriculum emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning, allowing students to engage in practical experiences that foster problem-solving and creativity. Fire Tech provides year-round programs that enable young learners to explore and experiment with a diverse array of technology concepts, preparing them to become future technologists and leaders in a tech-driven world.

StaySafe is a developer of a personal safety application aimed at protecting lone workers globally. The app functions as a cloud-based monitoring hub that enables real-time tracking of users' locations. If individuals do not check in safely after working, socializing, or traveling alone, the application notifies their emergency contacts via email or text message, providing precise GPS coordinates to facilitate a swift response. By prioritizing the safety of lone workers, StaySafe offers a critical tool for ensuring personal security in various situations.

Sentiment Engage is a cloud-based platform that focuses on enhancing customer interactions through an omnichannel social customer service solution. The platform features a unified inbox for managing communications across various social media and messaging applications, along with robust metrics and analytics tailored for contact centers. Its flagship product, Horizon, serves as an advanced command center for customer care teams, facilitating automatic routing of conversations and providing canned responses. This system aids in the rapid onboarding and training of staff through approval loops and actionable insights regarding customer conversation queues. By offering real-time metrics and historical analytics, Sentiment Engage helps clients boost customer satisfaction while improving operational efficiency and return on investment.

Xperiome is a global health technology company focused on enhancing the understanding of rare diseases for pharmaceutical companies. Through its platform, Raremark, Xperiome provides a comprehensive repository of patient experiences, enabling faster and more effective matching of research-ready patients to clinical and real-world studies. The platform facilitates informed decision-making for patients and families by offering accessible information on the latest research and treatments. By aggregating and anonymizing patient data, Xperiome supports biopharmaceutical companies in reducing the time and cost associated with clinical development. This approach not only raises health literacy among patients but also fosters informed participation in medical research, ultimately improving the quality of existing therapies and aiding the discovery of new treatments.

Actus™ performance appraisal software provides leading-edge technology solutions to embed year round performance management in organisations. Founder-CEO Lucinda Carney is a Business Psychologist with over eighteen years’ experience in HR and Learning and Development. Passionate about making technology work for people, Lucinda strives to deliver first class training and software solutions.

Xperiome is a global health technology company focused on enhancing the understanding of rare diseases for pharmaceutical companies. Through its platform, Raremark, Xperiome provides a comprehensive repository of patient experiences, enabling faster and more effective matching of research-ready patients to clinical and real-world studies. The platform facilitates informed decision-making for patients and families by offering accessible information on the latest research and treatments. By aggregating and anonymizing patient data, Xperiome supports biopharmaceutical companies in reducing the time and cost associated with clinical development. This approach not only raises health literacy among patients but also fosters informed participation in medical research, ultimately improving the quality of existing therapies and aiding the discovery of new treatments.

Family Traveller Limited operates an online portal designed to assist families in planning vacations with children of all ages. Founded in 2009 and based in London, the company provides comprehensive resources that include destination guides, travel tips, and recommendations for family-friendly accommodations and activities. Catering to parents traveling with babies, children, and teenagers, Family Traveller covers a wide array of travel options, from UK breaks to long-haul holidays. The platform aims to be a one-stop resource for practical advice and insights, ensuring families can make informed decisions for enjoyable trips. Additionally, the company publishes a magazine that offers further insights into various travel destinations worldwide.

Humble Grape operates boutique wine bars that focus on offering hand-selected wines from small, independent vineyards. Founded by James Dawson, the business emphasizes a curated experience, allowing clients to enjoy carefully crafted wines alongside food pairings and discussions. In addition to serving wines, Humble Grape organizes tasting events and imports a diverse selection of wines from sustainable winemakers. This approach enables consumers to explore and collect unique wines while participating in a community-driven atmosphere centered around wine appreciation.

Frontier MEA is a business intelligence and consulting company focused on frontier markets. The firm was co-founded by Alex Warren and Beth Hepworth, a Cass alumna. The company provides information and insight to support organisations exploring and developing business in some of the world's most high-potential economies. Beth Hepworth won the 'MBA star' award in the Women of the Future Awards 2013.

NorthRow is a web-based platform designed to enhance risk, compliance, and anti-fraud decision-making for regulated businesses. By offering a suite of features that can be utilized independently or collectively, NorthRow allows users to conduct thorough checks on individuals and companies, as well as verify identity documents. This capability aids in optimizing business processes, reducing risk, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The platform streamlines onboarding processes and enhances client due diligence by continuously monitoring customer profiles for relevant changes, thereby proactively managing regulatory risks. By leveraging multiple data sources for authentication, NorthRow enables businesses to improve their customer experiences while effectively combating financial crime.

Accutrainee Limited, based in London, United Kingdom, specializes in providing innovative legal resourcing services aimed at law firms and businesses. Founded and operated by experienced solicitors, the company understands the dynamics of the legal industry, including the challenges in delivering effective legal services and the importance of a commercial approach that respects the partnership ethos of the profession. Accutrainee offers flexible and cost-effective solutions by granting access to a pool of junior legal professionals who are prepared to deliver reliable support to legal teams. This enables clients to obtain the necessary skills and resources on a timely basis, thereby enhancing their operational efficiency.

Cloud Business specializes in cloud consultancy, assisting organizations in leveraging the capabilities of cloud services and products, particularly those offered by Microsoft. Their offerings encompass a range of services, including analytics, computing, database management, mobile solutions, networking, storage, and web services. By focusing on these areas, Cloud Business aims to facilitate the transformation of traditional organizations into digital workplaces, helping clients unlock the value of cloud technology to enhance operational efficiency and drive innovation.

Alva is a connected intelligence company that specializes in reputation intelligence, analysis, and media monitoring. It offers a stakeholder intelligence platform that serves various sectors, including financial services, consumer, healthcare, and professional services. By combining artificial intelligence with insights from sector analysts, Alva provides an integrated solution that encompasses business, stakeholder, and media intelligence. This allows clients to effectively monitor, analyze, and report on stakeholder sentiment, facilitating better management of relationships and linking reputation to business performance. The platform helps organizations track and assess emerging issues, trends, and risks in both social and traditional media, enabling informed strategic decision-making that fosters long-term and sustainable value.