Anglia unveils new division to aid university spin-outs

The new division will aid the spin-outs with technical support from Anglia’s field applications team, evaluation hardware and software tools.

It will work to guide start-ups from a concept through proof of concept and prototyping, design for production, mass production, product deployment and  marketing and product life cycle management.

“We will act like a triage nurse,” says Steve Rawlins (pictured), Anglia CEO. “We will offer a free consultation and help with technology recommendations. We will assign field applications engineers as appropriate to the technology. If it is a complex RF or FPGA project we have design house partners who can support such projects.”

Although the partnership between Anglia Unicorn and the start-up ideally begins with a concept, in practice, the customer may already have a proof-of-concept based around an off the shelf solution such as a credit card sized single board computer or Arduino-type platform. Anglia Unicorn is able to offer help regardless of what stage the project is at, they offer start-ups a free confidential consultation where they can discuss the concept, the key project milestones and the ultimate vision for the product.

“We have identified every university in the UK that has a strong presence in technology, electronics or robotics, and we’ve worked out which private equity and venture capitalist companies invest in technology, that is professional money.

“We’ve sent a dedicated mailer, addressed to professors of technology departments and CEOs at the finance companies. It’s a personal letter, explaining our concept because neither the universities or finance companies will know us,” continues Rawlins.

Added John Bowman, Chief Technology Officer of Anglia Components, “The support offered by Anglia Unicorn has been carefully curated to help technology start-ups and university spin-outs all the way through to venture capitalists, investors and equity funds who are working with technology companies that need help getting to the next level. We want customers to think of the Anglia Unicorn team as their technology adviser alongside their legal and financial advisers. This service isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution. We listen to what companies need and provide a bespoke programme to meet those specific requirements.”