Great news! I have been selected as a finalist in the Design Council Spark programme which was set up to uncover the UK’s next great inventions.
I founded RipSeam Ltd. late in 2013 with help from Birmingham City University’s Interiors & Lifestyle Futures programme. My company aims to market an innovative new fastener for clothing and textiles. I am among 10 applicants who have won places on a 20 week bespoke support programme worth £35,000, as well as £15,000 investment to help bring his product to market.
Huge potential
I am thrilled to have made the final and I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings for my new venture. The RipSeam Fastener has huge potential to positively impact on the lives of people in Britain and across the world.
Design Council Spark product innovation fund is focused on physical products. It is open to adults (18 and over) who have a revolutionary product idea they want to realise.
Marion Gillet, Product Development Manager at Design Council, who will be guiding the teams through the intensive programme, commented:
“This is proving to be a really rich and exciting programme because of its diversity; we’ve got inventors from a range of backgrounds working in a range of sectors. It shows that product invention in the UK really is alive and well and ready to be nurtured – that’s why Design Council Spark is so important.”
In addition, each finalist will access to prototyping facilities and materials, advice on pitching and investment readiness support. At the end of the programme three products will receive a further £50,000 follow on investment from Spark. Other investors and those who can support products in their next phase will be invited to hear the pitches.
Patent pending
A patent is currently pending on my invention so details of the design remain a closely guarded secret. However, manufacturers and designers are invited to get involved in the development of specific solutions for their products.
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