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Read all the latest news and information about Machine Intelligence Garage and Digital Catapults work in AI and ML
Meeting the best of UK's early stage AI/ML startups
Through our investor engagement activities, Machine Intelligence Garage offers investors the opportunity to meet the UK’s best AI/ML startup
Machine Intelligence Garage connects investors with early-stage businesses that are exploring the commercial application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) within the manufacturing and creative industries. It helps the investor community increase their understanding of the investment and scaling potential of these technologies, as well as the potential interplay of AI and ML with immersive technologies, internet of things, 5G, cyber security and distributed systems.
Machine Intelligence Garage’s investor engagement consists of a series of programmes to ensure our cohort is investor-ready. These activities help startup founders understand the landscape and the different types of financial support available to them, investment criteria and build confidence in approaching investors, so that they can successfully fundraise.
Benefits to investors
By taking part in Machine Intelligence Garage, investors will be able to take advantage of a number of benefits, including:
Deal Flow
Digital Catapult acceleration programmes offer investors opportunities that allow access to early deal-flow. Highlighting AI and ML as part of Machine Intelligence Garage allows investors to benchmark solutions and position startups within the ecosystem.
Lower investment risk
By working and meeting the companies early on in their journey and through a dedicated acceleration programme, investors can better assess startup teams and de-risk their investment.
Technology and network expansion
Machine Intelligence Garage provides the opportunity for investors to expand their network, build a brand for their fund and understand the opportunities in the technology ecosystem and its capabilities.
Grow the ecosystem / give back
The programme enables investors to play a role in shaping the AI & ML ecosystem, helping it to grow with expanding opportunities for investment.
Machine Intelligence Garage works with early stage investors, covering the angel/pre-seed stage, all the way to series A, including angel investors and networks, high net worths, VCs, CVCs, family offices etc.
Digital Catapult offers a number of ways to engage as an investor:
- Investor partner – join as a delivery partner on a specific programme and be involved either in the selection process or companies’ mentorship throughout programme
- Investor access – meet startups on a one-to-one basis, helping to shape their solution and fundraising strategy
- Roundtables – lead a conversation on an investment topic; this is a great opportunity to meet founders early in their fundraising journey, in an informal format
- Investor showcase – attendance at pitching events alongside the investor community – witnessing 8 to 10 pioneering startups pitch their investment-ready proposals
- Event collaboration – acting as thought leaders on panels, fireside chats or keynotes at Digital Catapult’s leading events
- Understand the investment opportunities in artificial intelligence and machine learning through insight sharing sessions with the programme’s experts
Our investor partners
Below is a selection of just some of the exciting investors that have already been involved with Machine Intelligence Garage over the past five years.
Silicon Valley Bank
Silicon Valley Bank is a U.S.-based high-tech commercial bank. The bank has helped fund more than 30,000 startups.
RLC Ventures
Early-stage UK VC Fund investing in the future of enterprise, finance, and entertainment through award-winning (S)EIS Funds
Frontline Ventures
Frontline is the venture firm for globally ambitious B2B companies on both sides of the Atlantic. Frontline Seed speeds up ideas at inception across Europe.
Accel
Accel is an American venture capital firm. Accel works with startups in seed, early and growth-stage investments.
Notion
Notion is a Venture firm investing in enterprise technology and B2B SaaS companies at Series A stage across Europe.
MMC Ventures
MMC is a venture capital fund investing in early stage, high-growth UK companies.
Stride
Stride pride themselves on being easy to approach but tough to get money from. It favours prototypes over powerpoints. Writing meaningful cheques at the stage when it really matters.
Point Nine
Point Nine Capital is a Berlin-based venture capital firm focused exclusively on early-stage Internet investments in areas like software-as-a-service (SaaS), online marketplaces, and mobile
Creandum
Creandum is a leading European early-stage venture capital firm established in 2003.
Amplifier
By investing in logistics and mobility technologies, Amplifier aims to reshape old industry by addressing historical inefficiencies and unlocking massive potential to ensure future sustainability.
Find out who's involved
From partners and collaborators that provide best-in-class computation power as well as a network of support and expertise to cutting-edge AI startups, discover who’s involved in the programme.
Promoting the responsible and ethical use of AI
Digital Catapult’s independent Ethics Committee helps UK developers and organisations integrate ethical practice into the use of AI and ML technologies.
Meet the cohorts
Machine Intelligence Garage focuses on supporting startups grow sustainably, helping our cohorts to become investment ready and connecting these leading startups and scaleups with the investment community.
Get Involved
Join Machine Intelligence Garage’s investor cohort
Register your interest in joining Digital Catapult’s investor community, we’ll keep you up to date on upcoming opportunities to discover more about and meet our leading and investment ready startups.
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