6 November 2020 – Latest cohort graduates from our 2020 AI for Good Accelerator, in partnership with Microsoft.
Together with our partners Microsoft and Microsoft for Startups, today we celebrated the graduation of our second AI for Good cohort.
Joined online by an audience spanning the social tech ecosystem, the virtual event showcased the eleven purpose-led ventures all using AI to make a positive impact on either the earth, accessibility, humanitarian action, and cultural heritage.
Following over 200 hours of support, which gave them access to the technology, resources and expertise to help them develop their solutions, the founders shared their progress since joining the accelerator programme in February.
Tiernan Mines, CEO of Hello Lamp Post said “The quality of start-ups in the cohort was impressive. It really helped that the companies were all at similar stages and not competing. This allowed everyone to open up and share experiences candidly, which is incredibly liberating for an entrepreneur. We’re extremely thankful to have been part of the AI for Good programme and are excited to have Microsoft and Social Tech Trust as close advisors for our journey going forward.”
The 2020 programme delivered 63 workshops and events aimed at developing their social, business and technical capabilities, whilst also providing 70 hours of specialist one-to-one support to help ventures meet their specific goals. This year has been challenging for all and in response to COVID-19, we shifted to online delivery, flexing our support to meet changing circumstances, for example, meeting urgent funding needs and providing much needed guidance and moral support.
The ventures learnt about topics including impact management, genuine user engagement and social transformation, alongside business, data and AI. They are leaving the programme with more closely aligned social impact and commercial goals and have already raised £1.5 million since joining us in February.
Andy Smith, Chief Partnership Officer at MiiCare said, “The conversations we are now having with potential partners, customers and investors include knowledge and skills we gained on the programme. Even mentioning that we are part of the 2020 AI for Good cohort has a positive impact, as the programme has a very positive reputation.”
The ventures graduating from the cohort are:
Akari – developed a conversational app to help with accessibility needs.
Baobab – Using technology to enable access to justice at scale for law clinics, community advice centres, and pro bono legal operations.
BeneTalk – World’s first wearable speech tracker and digital coach for speech fluency therapy.
EcoSync – Cloud-based platform helping commercial buildings to stop heating empty rooms.
Good Boost – Provides affordable and accessible therapeutic exercise programmes through cutting-edge technology.
Hello Lamp Post – Helps cities better understand, communicate with and educate its citizens through playful conversations with street objects like statues via text messages.
miiCARE – Developed MiiCube with built-in sensors and Monica, a personal AI-based digital health companion to help the elderly live more independently and be safe, healthy and happy.
MyCognition – Tracks, treats and prevents poor mental health through a cognitive assessment and training platform.
OrxaGrid – A socially driven team that envisions energy optimisation for a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future for all.
Signly – Has developed an internet browser extension that offers sign language for web pages
Ed Evans, CEO of Social Tech Trust, said “Congratulations to all of the ventures graduating from the AI for Good Accelerator programme. Due to COVID-19, it has been a really challenging time, which has shown just why we need purpose driven ventures like this to succeed in addressing big social challenges. We’re really proud to have worked with these teams and look forward to seeing how they continue on their impact journey”.
And there’s exciting news – our third generation of the accelerator programme delivered in partnership with Microsoft, will aim to support the UK’s Covid recovery and will be launched in the coming weeks. Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on social media via the foot of our homepage to find out more.