February
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News from our Incubatées
2015
has just begun and it’s already been a busy and promising year for our Incubatées and
Incubation at Ravensbourne.
In our last Newsletter we introduced and welcomed three new companies onto the programme
[ICYM: Bryan Mathers (wapisasa CIC), Marie James (The Pink Pony), Rory O’Connor (Rory O’Connor)]
and this time we are going to give you interesting updates on ROOM IN THE MOON, who launched a
new ‘Welcome Pack’ for people who want to relocate to London and need a first lift up in the city. In
the meanwhile DISTANCE TRAVELLED has teamed up with REEL DEAL HD and released a short
promo which pictures characterful properties available for city breaks. For these stories and much
more, see below…
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Rafael Dos Santos [Room in the moon]
Room in the Moon is a social relocation network that helps young professionals moving to London to
find a place to live and make friends. Right now, they are offering a ‘Welcome Pack’ for
Universities, start-ups and SMES.
“As well as providing accommodation, we have a
'Welcome Pack' that helps the newly arrived in London
to open bank account, register with a GP, book their
national insurance interview, get a free sim card, a
preloaded oyster card and much more. We are the only
social relocation company on the market that also
takes clients to events and introduces them to people
so they can make friends with and enjoy a great social
life in London.
We already have 3 great partners to deliver our
Welcome Pack: Ravensbourne International Office, Funding Circle and Wayra.”
Moreover, we proudly announce that Room in the Moon has also been awarded “Start-up of the
year 2014” through The Guardian newspaper and can announce that Asher Ismail, Head of Strategy
for Money Super Market, has joined Room in the Moon as their official Strategy Adviser.
Take a look at the Guardian article below:
http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/feb/02/showcase-startup-of-the-yearroom-in-the-moon
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ZEKARYAS SOLOMON LTD
Multi-award winning fashion designer Zekaryas Solomon had already
spent three years running his eponymous label when he sought out
company development support from the incubation at Ravensbourne
programme.
“We call it ‘The Evolution of Zekaryas Solomon’.
Firstly, it was just an idea; accompanied with an educational degree in
Pattern Design & Garment Technology at London College of Fashion
before it became a Sole Trader company. After we have been through
vibrant processes, it’s time for the next level in our career and we proudly announce that ZEKARYAS
SOLOMON has now become a Limited company. It's very exciting times for us, carrying the title
ZEKARYAS SOLOMON LTD along with our next fashion lines.”
About his work:
In developing his fashion label, Zekaryas has drawn inspiration from his Eritrean heritage by reinterpreting traditional costumes with a futuristic, functional edge, and fusing these influences with
the skills he learned from his architectural training by delivering pieces with clean lines and
impeccable structure. Although he has started his company with a small group, he acknowledges
that the incubation programme has immensely helped his business in terms of the invaluable
business support from the programme that has been instrumental to the success of his business. The
incubation programme is also supporting him with acquiring funding to be able to get his label
developed, and with ‘Limited’ company status hopefully he is a step closer to achieving this…
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Louise Design [Louise Philo]
MONKEYTON is a child’s learning aid and toy which is aimed at children
with speech and language impairments. Louise began to develop
Monkeyton in her third year of her Product Design degree and started by
doing some research into the current market and found a lack of toys to
promote speech and language skills for children with special needs.
“Realising this, I made contact with speech and language therapists,
teachers, parents and children who have speech and language
impairments. Before I designed anything I undertook a lot of research
into life with speech and language impairments and how sign is currently
taught within schools and by therapists. [...] I have been lucky enough to
gain a place at Ravensbourne’s incubation as well as funding
through Ravensbourne from Unltd. By making it on to Design Councils One to watch list I hope that
Monkeyton can get the recognition in order
to develop the product further. I am currently
seeking further funding towards the
development of Monkeyton."
During the development of the product, she
had one-to one product testing with children
and their teachers at Shenstone School; a
school for children with special needs, to
make sure that the product is right and can
improve the way that children with speech
and language impairments communicate. “The reaction from the children, teachers and support
staff was brilliant and made me realise how important it is complete the development of Monkeyton
and to create new products to help people who really need it.”
She is now working on producing an application to enhance the learning experience for the child, as
well as character development and branding of the product.
Here's the link to the One to Watch list: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/ones-watch-winners
Or you can follow Louise on:
Twitter: @louisepdesign and www.louisepdesign.tumblr.com
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Distance Travelled [Lydia Campell]
The applause for this month’s incubation collaborations work goes to Erwin DeBoer, ReeldealHD,
and Lydia Campell, Distance Travelled, for teaming up and creating a great short promo, which has
been released on The Telegraph Hill and B&B,
showcasing characterful properties for city
breaks
that
are
available
on www.DistanceTravelled.com.
DistanceTravelled.com is a travel and lifestyle
website, shop, accommodation, and magazine
style brand founded by Lydia Campbell who
curates and manages private homes for short
term and holiday rentals in London. The website
includes a lifestyle blog with interviews and alternative city guides compiled by local artists,
musicians and artisans.
Erwin DeBoer has formed his production company ReeldealHD in 2009. When he felt it was time to
move from photography to video, he found a gap in this fast-growing market and supplies now
larger industry players as Shutterstock and Getty/Istock with his masterpieces.
DistanceTravelled.com benefits from engagement in this short story video as much as ReeldealHD by
gaining new valuable footage for one company and advertising mesmerising London locations for
the other, without being on the incubation programme at Ravensbourne, this collaboration would
not have been possible.
The video is available on Reel Deals stock library via http://vimeo.com/111405526
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Robert Pratten [Transmedia Storyteller Ltd/ Conducttr]
Conducttr is a media technology and consulting company
working at the cutting edge of multiplatform interactive
storytelling. Conducttr have been with Ravensbourne’s
Incubation programme for 2 years and during that period
they have seen its turnover triple and staff doubled.
Conducttr has developed a new game-based application,
which will be used in the health sector to increase the testing
of HIV rate in Mexico:
“Conducttr will be used by the National Institute of Public
Health in Mexico in a gaming project that seeks to encourage
gay men to get tested for HIV. A mobile and web-based ‘sex
negotiation’ game has been developed by associate professor Elena Bertozzi at Quinnipiac University
and Conducttr will be used to track the player behaviour
across the platforms and into clinics where players can
"check in" with a unique code provided by the nurse or
doctor. Conducttr will also manage the player
registration, leader boards, badges, points, a referral
mechanism that allows players to invite friends to play and a 10-part questionnaire on the player's
experience. All the anonymised data will be used to test the effectiveness of different versions of the
game in increasing HIV tests.”
Besides Mexico, Conducttr’s clients are predominantly international ranging widely between USA,
Canada, Brazil, Netherlands and Germany and include names such as Disney, Toyota, and Harlequin
Mills & Boon.
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Laurel Parker [Mobley Street Prodauction]
In late 2013, Mobley Street Productions (MSP) began work on a sizzle reel for the incubation
programme at Ravensbourne. While creating the video us, managing director, Laurel Parker learned
about the program and realised it offered exactly what Mobley Street needed and has joined the
incubation programme at Ravensbourne since then.
“Mobley Street Productions is proud to be
producing a new web video for Michael
O’Dwyer, a business grown partner at
Advantage Business Partnerships, who met me
when he came to Ravensbourne to chair a
Business Development surgery. This profile video
will introduce potential clients to a charismatic
and inspiring business couch.
Shooting will happen this month with an eye for release the first week in March and MSP is excited to
be working with Mr. O’Dwyer and looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship together.”
Mobley Street Production’s focuses on creating bonus material for feature films.
Since inception, however, they have added to their list of services and offers now multinational
business services in creation of promotional, advertising and educational videos as well as social
media campaigns, localisation, and audio services. In the past two years, MSP has increased its client
base to include more than just the Hollywood studios. They can now boast work for companies as
diverse as Microsoft, Random House Publications, and the RMT to name a few.
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Next Incubation Get Together
Wed 18th March 2015 starting at 5pm in the incubation/Post Graduate area level 1.
This is a chance for incubatees/Post Graduate students to meet and work with fellow incubation companies
and develop opportunities for collaboration over nibbles and a glass or two!
If you are an incubation company or Postgraduate student and would like to attend, please
email [email protected]
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Special offer for incubatees...
Exclusive 20% off tickets to: Spend the day with Larry Jordan
What?
Advanced Editing Techniques and Secret Tips with Larry Jordan.
This is an intensive, one-day workshop designed to enhance your
skills by demystifying key effects and editing techniques in Apple
Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Audition.
When?
At Ravensbourne Saturday 28th Feb 2015 from 9 am to 5 pm.
The offer?
Get 20% discount on your ticket. Full standard rate of £80+VAT reduced to £64+VAT.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Incubation Social Media
Networking is an essential part of incubation at Ravensbourne and one way to help with this is via
Social Media. To welcome you within our community, we want to give you a quick overview on
where to find us.
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/incubationatravensbourne
Facebook incubatee’s group: www.facebook.com/groups/579408065510198/?fref=ts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RaveInnovate
Blog: www.incubationatravensbourne.wordpress.com
or via Ravensbourne:www.ravensbourne.ac.uk/collaborate/dmic/incubation
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