From femtech to fashion tech – meet the latest crop of SETsquared backed start-ups that will pitch at INVEST 2021

Kalkidan Legesse, Chief Executive Officer of Shwap. Image courtesy of Shwap.

SETsquared Investment Manager, Rosie Bennett, gives us her insight into SETsquared’s flagship investment showcase, as well as highlighting a selection of the exciting start-ups which will be pitching this year.

2021 has been an exciting year for technology growth, following the COVID crisis we are in a period of recovery and renewal, and the UK tech pioneers that SETsquared supports are leading the reinvention on how we work, live, and interact.

This is reflected in yet another impressive line-up of companies taking part in our annual investment showcase, SETsquared Invest 2021, on 1 December. Not unsurprisingly, it features some very strong health tech start-ups in response to the healthcare challenges presented by COVID and sustainability led ventures responding to the climate emergency, which the recent COP26 shone a global spotlight on. There are others too which are responding to very current problems – the shortage of HGV drivers for example, as well as tools to help us work more effectively remotely.

At SETsquared we know that it takes an ecosystem to grow a start-up; over the pandemic our investment network has grown and evolved; we’ve seen the emergence of more sector led investing; more diversity in investing and an appetite, particularly from the Angel community to take an increased technology risk, something we have been able to help foster via our Investment Accelerator partnership with Innovate UK and UKBAA.

If you look at the trends across UK, the stats tell us that investment in seed stage companies is decreasing as a proportion of overall tech VC investment and it’s certainly a challenge. However, despite this trend we are pleased to say that this has not been our experience over the past year; SETsquared member companies raised a combined total of £616m in 2020.

This showcase is, as ever, the jewel in SETsquared’s crown – attracting hundreds of investors, seasoned entrepreneurs, and VCs to see this year’s ‘best-in-class’ companies from across the partnership.

To give a sneak preview here’s a little more about some of the fantastic companies who will be pitching for investment this year.