Meet the entrepreneurs building a better world through the CRL Accelerator. Want to be inspired by some of the UK’s most talented hardware startups? Join us online on 23rd November for CRL Demo Day. Book your free seat now.
Central Research Laboratory (CRL) helps ambitious entrepreneurs build businesses and products that not only have huge growth potential, but have a lasting impact on society. A handpicked set of innovative startups will soon complete their time on the CRL Accelerator, a six-month purpose-built programme designed to fast-track innovation.
Sponsored for the second year in a row by Mouser Electronics and part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund, CRL’s accelerator programme celebrates six years supporting early growth product pioneers. We’re proud that our world-class programme, workshop facilities, and expert support have led to the creation of 58 new to the market products, 46 new jobs, and over £4 million in funding and awards.
MEET COHORT 2021: THE MAKERS OF A BETTER WORLD
Having begun their journey in May, the startups are now on a straight path to the finish line. On 23rd November each business in the cohort will showcase their ground-breaking products to investors, partners, and the community in CRL Demo Day, an online event presented by Plus X.
The six companies in phase two of the CRL Accelerator programme have received financial, manufacturing, and business support from our expert mentors. Our in-house product development team has worked with them on customer discovery, business model development, testing and prototyping of products, with hands-on, iterative prototyping in our workshops at the Central Research Laboratory in Hayes, West London.
This year’s programme has seen a continued trend in startups creating products and services that enhance human life and our environment. This includes ventures focused on sustainable fashion, water consumption, agritech and robotics.
Ahead of Demo Day, find out more about the startups graduating from this year’s cohort, and find out how their innovations could change the world for the better.
ARMAROS
“Ride safe, with comfort like never before”
Founder: Esmeralda Bright
Armaros is the creator of the Guardian Angel, the future of body protection for horse riders.
The body protector was designed with complete movement, flexibility, and additional support for the spine – and is unlike anything else on the market.
Esmeralda started Armaros after suffering a rotational fall during a show jumping event in 2007. Since the company’s inception, Esmeralda has dedicated her time to making riding a safer and more comfortable sport for all.
LYLO
“Ready to join the water revolution?”
Founders: Joanna Power and Paramveer Bhachu
Lylo created Aqua X, a washing machine designed to help students save water (and time!) It works by collecting wasted water from the shower, and filtering this so it can be used for washing clothes.
The water tank is placed on the shower floor like a mat, and can collect up to 8 litres of water. After showering, students simply reattach the tank to the machine’s base, and the water is filtered. The clothes drum washes 2.5kg of clothes in 12 minutes using the excess water.
Lylo believes that if every student in London were to use Aqua X, enough water would be saved to fill 700 Olympic size swimming pools each year.
MUDDY MACHINES
“Robots that help farms grow”
Founders: Florian Richter and Christopher Chavasse
Muddy Machines is bringing the latest in robot innovation to the world of agriculture.
Co-founders Florian and Christopher met in 2020 and discovered a shared passion for bringing modern technologies to agriculture.
Together, they are developing a new generation of field robots that help growers manage labour-intensive crops by conducting fieldwork. Their machines will help ensure food is fresher, more sustainable, and resilient to disruption in trade and labour.
“CRL has contributed to our journey in many ways. Access to network, manufacturing, procurement services, workshop facilities. CRL enables us to feel like a slightly bigger company than we would otherwise be if left to our own devices. Being here at CRL as a cohort member makes it feel a lot more real and plugged in to the ecosystem.”
Florian Richter, Co-Founder & CEO, Muddy Machines
O-INNOVATIONS
“Helping apartment dwellers generate their own energy and participate in the energy revolution”
Founders: Nicolas Orellana Olguin and Dominic Chippendale
O-INNOVATIONS‘s patented omni-directional technology could help people living in apartments sustainably generate electricity.
Using this innovative technology, co-founders Nicholas and Dominic created O-WIND, the first omnidirectional wind turbine. It generates clean energy from winds in every direction, making it particularly suitable for cities.
RADIANT MATTER
“Biomaterial innovation for a circular and sustainable fashion industry”
Founder: Elissa Brunato
Radiant Matter is on a mission to reduce microplastic pollution by replacing harmful petrochemicals used in textiles, fashion components and colourants with naturally degradable marine-safe materials.
Beads and sequins are rarely recycled from clothing. Designer Elissa Brunato created the bio iridescent sequin to limit the environmental damage from fashion. The compostable material is strong and lightweight, and can refract light. This means the Bio Iridescent Sequin can shimmer beautifully, without a knock-on effect on the environment.
YAWBOARD
“The future of e-transport”
Founder: Ray Reynolds
The Yawboard All-Terrain is a dual motor electric scooter-skateboard. The world’s first carving e-scooter can reach speeds up to 22 MPH, climb hills up to 30°, and ride up to 20 miles.
The team set out to create a personal electric vehicle that was more fun to ride than anything else on the market. Through multiple prototypes and many hours of testing, the Yawboard All-Terrain was born.
SIGN UP FOR DEMO DAY 2021
With just weeks to go until Demo Day, the entrepreneurs are hard at work preparing their pitches and putting the finishing touches on their products.
Learn about their developing founder journeys and ground-breaking new products by signing up to ‘CRL Demo Day – Making a Better World’ – live-streamed on Tuesday 23rd November at 1 PM GMT.
For more information on the CRL Accelerator journey so far, check out the media coverage from Startups Magazine:
- Phase 1 of the Accelerator programme 2021
- CRL Pitch Day 2021
- Wrapping up phase 1 and highlighting phase two successors
ABOUT CRL
Central Research Laboratory (CRL)
Central Research Laboratory is the UK’s leading accelerator and co-working space for hardware startups and product pioneers. Partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the CRL has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs to realise and scale their companies through product development, commercial strategy, 24/7 prototyping facilities, mentorship and access to a network of investors, mentors and partners.
