Start-Ups

If you are a pre-start or start-up business please visit the
BEST Growth Hub.

How We Can Help

Introduction

EIP works with established companies who are looking to develop a product or service that contains an element of innovation. We help them to explore their business idea, set up, develop their understanding of their potential market and everything they need to develop their business plan. The goal being to get you up and running as soon as possible.

Opportunities

Typically our work covers areas of business and product start up and development...

  • Product proof of concept work
  • Market testing
  • Protecting your intellectual property
  • Signposting funding/finance options
  • Signposting further business support mechanisms
  • Business and marketing development

For more information

If you are a pre-start or start-up business please visit the BEST Growth Hub
 

FAQ's

How do I protect my idea?

EIP can help by introducing you to law firms who will provide a free session to discuss how to go about protecting your design or product by copyright, trademark or patent.

How do I get my product/business idea to market?

There are a number of ways to get your product, service, business idea to market.  EIP will provide a mentor to work with you over a number of sessions to discuss with you potential routes to market.

How do I get past gatekeepers? 

There are a number of ways to get past gatekeepers, such as using Linkedin, Twitter and other social media.  Cold-calling is probably the usual way you will come across a gatekeeper.  

By working with an EIP mentor you will learn a number of techniques to help you get past gatekeepers as well as benefit from our own networks and contacts in industry.

How do I find an academic partner to collaborate with?  

Depending on the type of help you require EIP will help to connect you with a university in Essex, or elsewhere in the UK, who often have programmes set up to work with industry.

How do I get help with writing a proposal for a grant?

Our team of mentors have lots of experience of understanding what is the right route for you when considering funding and how to structure and write successful bids when applying for grants/funding. 

Can I get some help with developing a sound business plan?

EIP will appoint a mentor to work with you to help you to write a business plan and to help you to become ‘investment-ready.  Typically the mentor will review and critique the business plan until it is a document that a would-be investor would be interested in reading.

Contact

Emma Wakeling
Emma Wakeling

Business Innovation Manager

Biography

Leading on the Essex Innovation Programme and developing new support mechanisms to enable Essex businesses to grow. Managing a team of experienced private sector business mentors who work closely with multi-sectoral established businesses and start-ups to embed innovative practices. Focusing on product (including intellectual property), process, organisational and marketing innovation. Developing key collaborative strategic partnerships with industry and academia.

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