Geovation Reveals Next Wave of GeoTech and PropTech Businesses

Seven exciting start-ups will join the Geovation Programme and receive the strategic backing of Ordnance Survey (OS) and HM Land Registry (HMLR). The Programme, which acts as an accelerator course to new GeoTech and PropTech businesses, will see each of the start-ups receive up to £20,000 in grant funding and a range of resources and services to help them develop their business.

Alex Wrottesley, Head of Geovation, said “Entries for the Programme were again of a very high standard. The Programme is designed to give them the best possible support to help propel them to the next level. We offer a founder-friendly environment, great mentors, high-quality workshop content and, almost uniquely, a dedicated software development team in house, who work hand-in-hand with our companies to build and release their first products. This is something very few accelerators can offer and it means the businesses joining us can move faster and further than they otherwise would have been able to.”

The GeoTech businesses accepted onto the Programme:

• Mothive is an automated agronomy service to help farm managers maximise efficiency, reduce waste and improve the predictability and control of crops. www.mothive.com
• Pocket Pals is a mobile animation game to encourage young people and families to engage with and visit the real wildlife local to them. www.pocketpalsapp.com
• Trik is a 3D mapping and reporting system to deliver drone-collected data into higher quality, digital, structural inspections available on a mobile tablet. www.gettrik.com

The PropTech businesses accepted on the Programme:

• Skyscape uses AI to analyse rooftops and identify opportunities to maximise utilisation and address urban challenges. Its rooftop data analytics platform enables asset managers to efficiently identify opportunities for utilising rooftop space, where value of existing and future stock can be increased. http://skyscape.global
• ThirdFort is a security enhancement tool to help property solicitors more efficiently process property transactions. www.thirdfort.com
• Fruumi is a friendly and efficient end-to-end shared accommodation platform that empowers landlords to let out their property at lower risk and cost. www.fruumi.com
• Hipla is a platform to help buyers evidence their own buyer position, and for owners and estate agents to quality buyers, giving better transparency earlier in the process, whilst enabling opportunities for selling additional services and attracting sellers. www.hipla.co.uk

Since opening in the summer of 2016, the Geovation Hub has become home to more than 900 GeoTech and PropTech start-ups. Its Programme provides access to data, experienced software developers, and gives businesses geospatial expertise from OS and land and property insight from HMLR, as well as business mentorship and coaching to help prepare for presenting to investors. The Programme to date has supported 65 technology start-ups, which has seen £17m raised in investment funding.

Previous success stories include Orla Shields, founder of GetRentr, a PropTech company using AI to track all UK property licensing regulations and consultations in real-time to ensure property portfolios are compliant; and Jillian Kowalchuk, whose safety app, Safe & The City, launched in March this year, already has thousands of users, and was accepted onto the Geovation Programme six months ago.