Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA) has used cutting edge
videoconferencing technology to give budding entrepreneurs from
around the world the opportunity to join its latest business
incubator programme.
The candidates were invited to pitch their ideas for start-up
businesses to a panel of experts, with a lucky few being given the
opportunity to take one of ten places on the Oxygen
Accelerator programme, an intensive 13-week mentor-driven bootcamp
for technology start-ups.
The interviews were held using BSPA's cutting-edge Ideas and
Communication Suite, a cornerstone of the Park's Science Parks
Without Walls initiative. Using Cisco Systems' cutting-edge
Tandberg technology coupled with the Park's own super-fast
broadband, the suite enables real-time large videoconferencing,
creating the next best thing to thing to a face-to-face
meeting.
Over the course of the day-long interview process, the panel
heard from businesses based in Romania, Austria, Lithuania, the
Russian Federation, Argentina, Israel, the USA, Belarus, Spain,
Brazil and India. A number of entrepreneurs from Birmingham
and London also attended the Park to make their pitches in
person.
Dr David Hardman, Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Science
Park Aston, said: "The technology that we have in the Ideas and
Communications Suite goes far beyond the level of videoconferencing
that is widely available and really creates a sense that the person
on the other end is in the same room, rather than several thousand
miles away.
"This is the perfect demonstration of the technology available
in the suite and its importance to realising our Science Parks
Without Walls concept, providing an unparalleled level of
connectivity that can be used to put start-up businesses in touch
with professional organisations around the world."
Launched earlier this year, the Oxygen Accelerator programme is
open to any web-based business that can build and develop a
prototype product during the course of the programme. Companies
that are successful in their application to join the Oxygen
Accelerator will receive a package of support including up to
£20,000 and use of office space at BSPA for six months, in
exchange for a six per cent stake in the business.
Simon Jenner, Head of Incubation, Birmingham Science Park Aston
and member of the judging panel, said: "This was a hugely
successful use of the Ideas and Communications Suite and we were
able to hear some truly outstanding business proposals.
"As part of the programme, we require successful companies to
relocate to Birmingham for the duration and I would hope that some
of them would feel that they could stay here and benefit from the
city's burgeoning reputation as a centre for technological
development."
Interview slots were organised around candidates' local time
zones and participants were contacted beforehand by BSPA's
technical team, who conducted a test call to ensure that the line
was operating efficiently prior to their 20-minute pitch to the
judges.
The technology has also been used by members of BSPA's
Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) incubation programme, primarily
to allow entrepreneurs to take part in the International Investment
Forum and for mentoring sessions with mentors based outside of
Birmingham.