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Wick eye health business taking part in HIE Pathfinder Accelerator programme


By Alan Hendry

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Programme trainers (from left) Danny Meaney, Andy Kelly and Steven Thomas at a previous Pathfinder programme. Picture: Paul Campbell / HIE
Programme trainers (from left) Danny Meaney, Andy Kelly and Steven Thomas at a previous Pathfinder programme. Picture: Paul Campbell / HIE

A Caithness eye health company is one of nine businesses from across the Highlands and Islands taking part in an initiative that aims to put them on the fast track to success.

Wick-based V4 Vision Ltd this week joined the latest edition of the Pathfinder Accelerator programme, developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to nurture growth in life science and technology and help bring new business ideas to market.

V4 Vision is a new start-up seeking to promote awareness of good eye health, enable remote eye testing through an interactive mobile app and develop out-of-clinic diagnostic products using virtual reality technology and artificial intelligence.

The eight other businesses are from as far afield as Elgin and Tiree.

This is the sixth group to start on the programme since it began in 2018 and it will be delivered completely online, providing expert training and mentoring.

The successful applicants will focus on developing or innovating a product or service, with a combined focus this time on digital, data and artificial intelligence. This will allow the group to support each other with peer learning and share their specialist knowledge.

Although previously targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises in the Highland Council area, the Pathfinder Accelerator programme has now been extended for anyone interested across the whole of the Highlands and Islands area through additional funding from HIE’s digital programme.

The other businesses taking part are Energy Mutual Ltd (Fort William), supporting independent renewable energy generators through an online asset management platform; Druid Ltd (Inverness), a diagnostic product for babies who have been identified by a clinician as being at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes; Practically Green Ltd (Kirkhill), technology to monitor energy use and the internal environment in domestic and commercial premises; Strategy Cards Ltd (Elgin), card-based business planning tool that will be digitised; Underground Maintenance Systems Ltd (Elgin), underground surveying and inspection services; BC Technologies LLP (Dunoon), adrenaline pen that contacts emergency services; On Tiree Ltd (WeLan) (Isle of Tiree), sustainable luxury wool brand creating bespoke products based on a zero to little waste model; and Tritonia Scientific (Oban), diving and underwater research company offering photogrammetry tools to generate three-dimensional computer models of underwater structures.

Andrea McColl, senior development manager at HIE, said: “We are delighted that we can support this group of businesses across the Highlands and Islands. Using online support sessions, they will be able to move forward with their ideas and receive the support required.

“Commercial success of any new product or service depends on a strong business model and being able to reach the right market. The Pathfinder programme not only guides companies and start-ups through this process but assists with networking and expert insight.

"Our delivery partners, the Leadership Factory and UP Accelerator, have worked with many leading businesses and having access to their experience and contacts is extremely valuable for our participants.”

The 12-week course is designed to enable participants to develop their sustainable business model, or launch a new product saving both time and money. The programme allows them to test business ideas in a focused environment, identify new routes to market and develop their sales pitch.

A further 12 weeks of coaching and mentoring is offered to help the start-ups and entrepreneurs develop contacts, source funding and plan for future growth.

Participants will benefit from dedicated experienced business coaches, tailored workshops and seminars.

The Pathfinder Accelerator programme was made possible by HIE’s Northern Innovation Hub (NIH) as part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal to help SMEs in the Highlands and Islands area to improve their businesses through innovation.

The NIH project received £11m from the UK government and £1.7m European Regional Development Fund support as part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. The deal is a joint £315 million initiative supported by both the UK and Scottish governments.

Anyone interested in future Pathfinder sessions should visit www.hie.co.uk/pathfinder to register their interest.


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