Startup Weekly: Investors launch Diversity VC, Wincanton sets up W2 Labs and much more

Here’s your weekly roundup of news about startup competitions, awards, co-working spaces, accelerators and any other exciting things happening in the UK tech sector.

Wincanton launches W2 Labs

British logistics firm Wincanton has launched W2 Labs, a new programme aimed at challenging startups from around the world to develop innovative solutions to industry challenges.

Run in partnership with L Marks, the programme will seek applicants suitable to work with Wincanton across five categories:

• Improving asset utilisation: improving the management of both internal and customer assets.
• Accessing and brokering excess space: helping Wincanton buy and sell under-utilised warehouse space and transport capacity.
• Connected cab and driver technology: creating a better connection between the driver in the cab and vehicle to improve safety, increase efficiency and deliver a better driving experience.
• Data challenges: enhancing the value of our data to improve decision making.
• Wildcard: this is an open category for ideas that could help Wincanton make breakthrough developments in its business model or supply chain market.

Selected startups will develop their business proposition with Wincanton and will receive intensive business mentoring from the company’s senior execs.

Adrian Colman, Wincanton CEO, said: “We see new technologies transforming the way the logistics industry works and there has never been a better time to innovate in the sector. That’s why we want to work with the best start-up businesses from around the world to help us to exploit the possibilities of the digital supply chain.”

Applications for W2 Labs are open until 9th April 2017. For more information or to enter your company for consideration, visit www.W2Labs.com

A new VC

A group of UK venture capital investors have founded Diversity VC, a not-for-profit initiative focused on creating a fairer and more diverse VC industry.

Diversity VC will seek to tackle unconscious biases when it comes to hiring and investment decisions; and will host events and workshops with universities and students to increase
awareness of routes into the technology investment industry.

The founding team includes: Francesca Warner, from Downing Ventures; Travis Winstanley from Kuju Startups; Anna Boffetta from Balderton Capital; and Farooq Abbasi from Mosaic Ventures.

HealthTech finalists

The shortlisted HealthTech startups for AXA PP Health and You Awards have been announced.

The winners are due to be announced at a ceremony in London on 27^th April.

Alongside this, all 17 finalists will be showcased in an interactive exhibition at the Design Museum from 27th April until 8th May.

The finalists are:

A competition for IoT startups

Breed Reply is on the lookout for early stage IoT investment opportunities.

Companies that submit the strongest applications will be invited to pitch their investment cases with the selected ones receiving funding along with advisory and support services from Breed Reply.

Alongside this, Breed Reply has also released the name of a UK tech company featured in its ‘Best in Breed 5’ companies: Wearable Technologies. The British company developing a platform of networked safety garments for those working in industrial environments.

Mark Bernstein, the CEO, said “Breed Reply’s support, both in terms of financial investment and operational expertise, will be invaluable in helping Wearable Technologies reach the next stage of development as we look to bring to the wider industrial market our platform of connected garments which help improve health and safety.”

These latest investments by Breed Reply extend its portfolio of innovative IoT businesses into the sectors of aviation and smart garments.

The closing date for submissions is 30 March 2017.

That’s all for this week … until next Friday!