Five innovative tech companies with founders from diverse ethnic backgrounds have been awarded a special bursary by tech incubator SETsquared Bristol.
Now in its third year, the Breakthrough Bursary provides heavily subsidised membership to SETsquared Bristol’s pioneering incubation programme, including bespoke business support, mentoring, coaching and investment readiness training. 
Businesses awarded the bursary, which is funded by SETsquared alumni, also have access to University of Bristol expertise.
This year’s firms are:
- Gritty Talent, connecting the best under-represented talent with decision-makers in the TV industry
- Inclued AI, helping marketers identify various types of bias – from gender, race and ableism – in digital content
- MeiXter, which offers one-to-one live tutoring
- Milbotix, which is developing wearable technologies for use in the care of older adults and people with dementia,
- Voltric, which offers a subscription service for electric vehicles.
Two of the companies, Gritty Talent and MeiXter, took part in SETsquared Bristol’s Enterprising Women pre-incubation programme before applying for the bursary, while Milbotix, originated as an idea from University of Bristol student Zeke Steer.
Zeke said: “Since being awarded the Breakthrough Bursary, the support we’ve received from SETsquared has been instrumental in shaping our investment proposition as we ratchet up our fundraising efforts.” 
Inclued AI founder and CEO Joyann Boyce, pictured, added: “The start-up journey can be a rollercoaster at the best of times but having expert advice and guidance can make all the difference to the success of a business.
“Receiving the Breakthrough Bursary and joining SETsquared is the guidance we need to make Inclued AI a success and we are thrilled to be part of the community.”
SETsquared Bristol director Marty Reid said: “It’s fantastic to welcome such a talented group of start-ups to our programme, from a platform for electric car subscriptions to a diverse talent platform for TV production.
“We are committed to promoting tech inclusivity to unlock innovation and support growth.”
Previous bursary awardee, University of Bristol healthtech spin-out FluoretiQ, has since raised £1.1m to produce trial units of its NANOPLEX product, a 15-minute urinary tract infection diagnostic device.
Co-founder and CEO Neciah Dorh said: “The Breakthrough Bursary enabled us to join a community of amazing founders to learn from. I’m especially grateful for access to the Entrepreneurs in Residence and the Business Review Panels, both of which have really helped us refine our business strategy.”
SETsquared Bristol is backed by the University of Bristol and is part of the SETsquared Partnership, which also has incubators in Bath, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Guildford.
Pictured, below: This year’s Breakthrough Bursary awardees. Left, Mel Rodrigues of Gritty Talent. Top row, from left: Alejandra Carreño Garzon of MeiXter and Joyann Boyce from Inclued AI. Bottom row, from left: Julian B. Mensah from Voltirc and Milbotix’s Zeke Steer
