Fourteen startups have been selected for a new esports accelerator in Sunderland, enhancing growth and innovation in the sector.
- Among the selected startups, four promising ventures are from the North East of England.
- The accelerator programme is a joint venture by British Esports and Sunderland Software City, backed by Sunderland City Council.
- This initiative aims to refine skills in financial management, international expansion, and investment preparation.
- The selected startups will present to potential investors at the conclusion of the programme on November 1.
Fourteen burgeoning gaming startups have been chosen to participate in an innovative esports accelerator programme in Sunderland. This initiative is spearheaded by British Esports in collaboration with Sunderland Software City, and enjoys the support of Sunderland City Council. The programme promises to significantly bolster the sector and create job opportunities in the region.
Notably, four of the selected startups hail from the North East, underscoring the area’s burgeoning talent. These include BSL AR Teacher from Durham, which leverages AR technology to teach British Sign Language, and Beam XR from North Shields, offering a live-streaming tool for XR games. Additionally, Reset Reload from Gateshead focuses on nurturing aspiring esports athletes, while Racing Sims North East from Morpeth merges motorsport passion with innovation.
The comprehensive eight-week programme is hosted at the National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland. It aims to enhance the participating startups’ capacities in key areas essential for business success, such as financial management, international market penetration, digital marketing, intellectual property protection, and investment readiness. Concluding on November 1, the programme will allow founders to pitch their ideas to potential investors.
This first cohort of startups was selected from a competitive pool of 100 applicants. The selection process involved scrutiny by a panel of tech experts, including David Dunn and Hekla Goodman-Parker from Sunderland Software City, as well as Dave Martin from British Esports. These experts evaluated the startups based on factors such as idea viability, market potential, team expertise, and product fit.
Other notable participants in the programme include HD Games from Bristol, ESG Gaming, Smash Mountain Studio, Verus, and Convergence Live Ltd all from London, along with Nexus Interactive Ltd and Immerzion Developments Ltd from the Scottish Borders. Good Game Truro from Cornwall and DS Performance Sports from Derby also join the list. Adding international flair, Gamlytics, an esports analytics platform with roots in Singapore and operations in the US, aims to penetrate the European market and has secured $210k in pre-seed funding.
“This is an ambitious group of founders, and we have the fantastic opportunity to help them scale by connecting the businesses straight into industry players,” stated Hekla Goodman-Parker, head of tech startups at Sunderland Software City. The partnership between British Esports and Sunderland City Council is pivotal in nurturing the region’s tech sector and attracting investment.
This programme marks a significant step towards enhancing the UK’s esports ecosystem, providing a launchpad for innovation and job creation in the sector.
