Supported start-ups
ECCI is home to a dynamic ecosystem of businesses, charities and public sector organisations. Here, we profile some of the start-ups we've supported over the years so you can explore who they are and what they do.
ALGACRAFT
Currently on the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, Algacraft is focused on improving the production of microalgae for use in the agriculture sector and for carbon capture - algae reduces atmospheric CO2 more efficiently than any plant. Headed up by CEO Mate Ravasz, Algacraft’s team of five experts has developed an innovative, micro-scale bioreactor to improve on outdated, inefficient methods of growing algae.
ALTERWASTE
Alterwaste, supported through the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator at ECCI, creates eco-friendly products out of industrial waste by-products. The company’s current foucus is a new material developed from eggshells. Director Martina Zupan aims to divert thousands of tonnes of shells from landfill each year and cut plastic use.
BEECH PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
This start-up aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to plastic food packaging with a biodegradable material made from food waste. It will use food waste from agriculture and retail to make PLA (polylactic acid) pellets for manufacturing. Founder John Sloan won a place on ECCI’s Greenhouse programme for early stage start-ups.
BOXERGY
Boxergy is a distributed energy management system, supported through ECCI’s EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator. It aggregates capacity from local heat pumps to provide heat and hot water at lower costs. Successful entrepreneur and Boxergy creator, Jim Laidlaw, wants to make a difference by encouraging the adoption of renewable power generation.
CARBOGENICS
This start-up turns fibre-rich waste material like paper cups and tetra paks into a new material, CreChar, that can be used in anaerobic digestion and horticulture. The company, founded by Dr Jan Mumme, was supported by ECCI’s Ideas Lab and is now on our EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator.
CLEAN WATER DESIGNS
Clean Water Designs has created a portable, low energy, high speed distillation device that purifies and remineralises water for drinking. Currently part of the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, Director and experienced entrepreneur Duncan Peters and colleague Constantine Talalaev aim to reduce the reliance on bottled water and improve on disposable, inconsistent filtration methods.
CLEAN WATER WAVE
This start-up, supported by the Climate-KIC Accelerator, created the CAFE (Clean Aqua for Everyone) filter. It offers a sustainable, long-term solution to contaminated drinking water in communities around the world. Founder Stephanie Terreni Brown dreams of providing safe, clean water to 10 million people in the next 10 years.
ENERGY3
Part of the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, Energy3 aims to combat energy and heat waste by providing large scale storage solutions to energy utilities, thermal power plants and energy intensive industries such as glass, steel and ceramic. Energy3’s 40-foot thermal energy storage devices can store up to 40MWh of thermal energy at very high temperatures, which can then be used on demand. COO James Young heads up the small expert team.
EQUIWATT
Equiwatt CEO Johnson Fernandes plans to ‘Uber-ise’ the energy market using digital technology. The Newcastle-based company, currently on the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator programme at ECCI, has developed an innovative platform and smart hub technology. It pays households for saving energy when the grid is under stress.
FARM-HAND
Michael Shaw’s product Farm-Hand is an affordable smart irrigation system that provides ‘right-time, right-volume’ irrigation to crops. Aimed at farmers in water-stressed India, it uses smartphones to change wasteful practices like leaving water pumps on all day. The start-up is being supported by ECCI’s EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator programme.
GENERATION HOME
This start-up aims to disrupt outdated approaches to housing by providing modular, energy efficient and affordable homes. Founders Dr Shemaiah Weekes and Dr Mike Page aim to reduce energy emissions to net zero and reduce embedded carbon in building materials. Their company was supported by ECCI’s EIT Climate-KIC Greenhouse programme.
INDINATURE
Scott Simpson’s company IndiNature, currently on the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator programme at ECCI, manufactures a 100% natural construction system. IndiBreathe uses leading biotech science and traditional crops including hemp. Constructed buildings are better-than-zero carbon and better-than-zero waste, are plastic and toxin free and have healthy indoor air.
LILYPADS
Lilypads provides innovative solutions to problems in the feminine hygiene market. The start-up, headed by founder and CEO Alision Wood, has developed a reusable sanitary pad to reduce waste and improve performance. Lilypads, currently on the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, also operates in Kenya, selling affordable sanitary pads and providing menstrual health education to ensure girls can remain in school.
MIALGAE
MiAlgae uses waste water to grow microalgae that can be turned into Omega-rich feed for livestock and farmed fish. Founder Douglas Martin took part in our Ideas Lab and is also supported through EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator.
PEDDLESMART
PeddleSMART plan to disrupt the commercial and consumer transport market by bringing to market a zero-carbon emission vehicle range leading to cleaner, quieter, safer and healthier towns & cities. Currently taking part in the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, CEO and founder Adam Reid is a seasoned company executive with 30 years of experience.
MY BONNIE COO
Creators of low carbon, self-assembly 3D wall art in the shape of a Highland cow - or ‘coo’ - head. Managing Director Heather Walker wants to see her product become Scotland’s iconic eco-friendly souvenir and must-have home accessory. This start-up was given early stage support through the EIT Climate-KIC Greenhouse at ECCI.
PLANET HEAT
Currently on the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, Planet Heat’s products provide innovative low-carbon heating and cooling solutions, such as their new compact, easy-to-deploy, thermal energy collector for use in contaminated fluids, streams and rivers. Founder Russell Gibb represented Scotland in the Global Grand Final of ClimateLaunchpad 2018.
PROJECT MUNRO
Project Munro founders Heather Urquhart and Alan Whiteside were supported through our EIT Climate-KIC Greenhouse programme. Their product is an eco-tourism rewards platform that will promote sustainable lifestyle choices and business practices. It aims to encourage more Scots to holiday in Scotland, use green transport options and buy locally.
RETROMIXER
Retromixer sells an inexpensive adapter that mixes the water from separate hot and cold taps into one stream. It’s quick and easy to install, compatible with most types of taps and reduces water consumption by 43%. Co-founder Denny Schenk is ECCI's first entrepreneur-in-residence, providing coaching and leadership to our start-ups.
SEAGRASS RESTORATION SCOTLAND
Part of the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator programme, Seagrass Restoration Scotland aims to be the first company in the world to focus on restoring and establishing new areas of Seagrass in Scotland - a vital habitat which also acts as an excellent carbon sink. CEO Calum MacDonald (left) and business partner Euan Tippen plan to expand the company globally.
SEAWATER SOLUTIONS
EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator participant Seawater Solutions works with farmers around Scotland and Vietnam to develop innovative sustainable farming techniques, using seawater, to grow salt-tolerant crops. Focusing on redeveloped coastal farmland, the start-up is on a mission to tackle climate change, loss of biodiversity, and food insecurity. Glasgow based Yanik Adam Nyberg - founder & CEO - has an MSc in Environmental Entrepreneurship from the University of Strathclyde.
SOLARISKIT
The SolarisKit collector is a unique solar thermal collector capable of converting solar radiation directly into heat. The flat pack kit can be easily assembled, reduces manufacturing and shipping costs and is ideal for use in developing countries in the global solar belt, such as India and Bangladesh, Mexico and Brazil. Currently taking part in EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, CEO & founder Dr Faisal Ghani is a Research Associate of Engineering & Physical Sciences at Heriot-Watt University.
UFRACTION8
EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator participants uFraction8 are sustainable bioprocessing specialists who have designed an energy efficient and sustainable alternative to industrial centrifuges. Chief Operating Officer Monika Tomecka is a Falkirk-based biologist who led the company to the global finals of ClimateLaunchpad 2017.
UNDISTURBED
Alumni of the EIT Climate-KIC Greenhouse, Undisturbed are developing a hemp-based alternative to plastic shower curtains. Jacqueline Bruce’s waterproof, durable and sustainable fabric will wind down from the top to protect bathrooms while showering. The company hopes to establish an incentivised returns service to reuse or recycle components and fabric.
WATERWHELM
Getting wastewater from remote areas to sewage plants comes at a cost and impacts on the environment. Waterwhelm’s patent-pending solution is a unique, self-powered process for wastewater treatment and desalination - turning wastewater into freshwater whilst generating renewable energy and fertiliser - and ideal for use in small and remote communities. Founding Director Alireza Abbassi Monjezi is part of the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator.