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Design Council Spark Showcase 2018 announced

Design Council Spark Showcase 2018 announced

11 June 2018

We are delighted to announce the Design Council Spark Showcase 2018 will be held on the 26-27 June at the Design Museum, London.

Design Council Spark is a leading product innovation support programme and fund that backs ideas with the potential to improve lives as well as achieve commercial impact.

Now in its fourth year, this year’s Showcase will feature guest speakers from the world of business and government, with speeches from serial entrepreneur and investor Deborah Meaden, as well as the Minister of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt. Hon Margot James, MP.

The Showcase will be the first opportunity for this year’s ventures to present their product ideas to a captive and select audience from the world of design, business, technology, investment and health, amongst others. This year has seen the greatest response since the programme’s launch in 2014, reaching an audience of more than 2.5 million people, it attracted more than 500 applicants. 33 entrepreneurs made it onto the Design Camp in March, from which 12 were selected as a finalist.

Each finalist received support over an intensive 16-week support programme and £15,000 funding to invest in the development of their product. They also had the opportunity to pitch to the Spark Investment Panel for a share of £200k additional funding to fast-track their product to market. The Spark investment panel have had their toughest year yet, spending hours deliberating and discussing each high-quality pitch to decide which finalists should receive additional funding – these will be announced at the Showcase.

This year’s Spark finalist products include a VR controller designed to sense human touch and gestures without electronic sensors; an assistive door handle that supports the natural grip and twist motion to open doors for people with dexterity challenges; and a customisable orthotic saddle aid especially for female horse riders in supporting their pelvis and spine. Each of the 12 finalist ventures demonstrate how good ideas have the potential to improve lives as well as achieve commercial impact.

Find out more about the finalists and their products.

As Tuesday 26 June is a closed and invite only event, the following day (Wednesday 27 June 2018) has been allocated as an open event where the Spark finalists have the opportunity to meet with investors, other entrepreneurs and those interested in finding out more about the Spark programme.

Details for the open event:

Wednesday 27 June 2018

10:00am – 6:00pm

Design Museum

Ulm Room (1st floor access by lift)

224-238 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6AG

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