Innovate UK

Innovate UK is a non-departmental public body established in 2007 and based in Swindon, United Kingdom. Funded by a government grant, it supports innovation in science and technology by providing funding services to businesses across various sectors and regions. The organization aims to drive productivity and economic growth by facilitating advancements that contribute to the UK’s economic landscape. In addition to funding, Innovate UK offers a range of services and information related to business and economic development, thereby fostering a supportive environment for innovation.

Mike Biddle

Programme Director of Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund

Will Drury

Executive Director, Digital and Technologies

Paul Gadd

Deputy Director

Dr. Tom Jenkins

Deputy Director

Scott James O'Brien

Director, Innovation Finance

Nigel Walker

Deputy Director, Lending and Investor Partnerships

Dave Wilkes

Director of Innovation Ecosystem

Past deals in Fashion

Brarista

Grant in 2025
Brarista is a technology company specializing in AI-powered solutions for online lingerie retailers, focused on enhancing the customer experience in bra fitting. By utilizing proprietary visual technologies, Brarista enables consumers to accurately determine their bra size from the comfort of their own homes. Users can take photos of their upper bodies using smartphones, laptops, or tablets, which the software analyzes to provide personalized sizing recommendations across various intimate-wear brands. This approach not only alleviates sizing confusion but also empowers women to better understand their bodies and make informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, Brarista's innovative solutions have been shown to increase retailers' revenues significantly, creating a win-win scenario for both consumers and businesses in the lingerie market.

mannyAI

Grant in 2024
MannyAI is a fashion technology startup that operates an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to enhance the sourcing process for both fashion brands and factories. The company's innovative network enables small batch production by aggregating similar orders from various brands, which helps streamline the manufacturing process. MannyAI offers features such as instant pricing and efficient order management, allowing fashion brands to mitigate inventory risks while simultaneously improving production efficiency for factories. By leveraging AI technology, MannyAI aims to transform traditional sourcing methods in the fashion industry.

Eslando

Grant in 2024
Eslando is an innovative company focused on transforming the textile recycling industry through advanced technology. It has developed a unique marketplace paired with AI-powered sorting software to effectively tackle the global textile waste crisis. By efficiently connecting textile waste with appropriate recyclers, Eslando aims to create a scalable and sustainable recycling ecosystem. The company also offers a range of fashion products, including dresses, tops, trousers, and coats, made from cruelty-free materials that minimize pollution and promote biodiversity. Designed for recyclability, these sustainable fashion items not only benefit the environment but also provide cost savings for consumers. Overall, Eslando is positioned to unlock significant market opportunities while fostering environmental restoration.

Bendi

Seed Round in 2024
Bendi is a data analytics company that specializes in enhancing global supply chain tracking and risk management. Its platform provides real-time traceability and risk monitoring, significantly reducing potential human rights, environmental, and governance risks associated with supply chains. By mapping millions of data points from diverse sources such as news articles, legal cases, and social media across multiple languages, Bendi equips businesses in various sectors—including fashion, textiles, retail, and advanced manufacturing—with actionable insights. This allows companies to streamline their operations, conduct audits more efficiently, and gain a comprehensive understanding of their supply chains.

KYMIRA

Grant in 2024
KYMIRA is an e-commerce company specializing in smart garments and textiles designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery. The company develops innovative textiles that incorporate compression fabric, infrared technology, and sensors, which harness and recycle the energy of athletes. These products aim to improve performance, address chronic health issues, reduce injury risks, and enhance sleep quality. By providing data insights, KYMIRA enables athletes and sports enthusiasts to optimize their training and recovery processes.

TRUSS

Grant in 2024
Instant access to rich, actionable data about fashion products to power resale.

CircKit

Seed Round in 2024
CircKit is the AI-driven B2B SaaS platform that empowers fashion & textiles brands to unlock new growth from circular design. Design sustainable products, make smarter material and production choices, measure and track social & environmental indicators, and meet urgent compliance with ease. By harmonising data and enabling collaborative working across teams, CircKit supports brands to reduce costs, increase profit & unlock revenue from circular design and lucrative end-of-life ‘closed loop’ initiatives. CircKit also powers one of the UK's largest sustainable lifestyle marketplaces, as the destination for brands to reach consumers of Fashion and lifestyle products (Beauty, Food & Drink, Home and Wellness)... __________ Veo® is the marketplace for sustainable lifestyle™. Veo took a tech-first approach to build the world's largest and most sustainable online shopping platform. We have solved the scalability problem inherent in large platforms, and created the lifestyle destination for conscious consumers to discover a world of unique, independent, sustainable brands all in one place. We thoroughly assess and vet all our products and brands, we do the research so you don't have to. That's why we've been Ethical Consumer's most ethical retailer for the last 3 consecutive years running and recognised as a global Top 5% Certified B Corporation, with a score of 130.6 and prestigious ‘Best For The World'. We developed our industry-leading assessment matrix which qualifies and approves the full life cycle of products from brands to join the platform. This instils critical consumer trust and assurance for becoming the world's largest, most sustainable lifestyle shopping platform. Our mission is to revolutionise retail, empowering businesses and consumers to embrace circular and regenerative consumption and production (SDG 12). __________ *most sustainable as Ethical Consumer's top-rated 'ethical online retailer' **largest by number of brands & SKUs

Birl

Grant in 2024
Birl is a technology company that facilitates a sustainable fashion ecosystem. It enables customers to exchange unwanted clothing for store credit on partner brand websites, reducing textile waste. Birl's platform also offers brands new revenue streams, enhanced customer loyalty, and comprehensive resale management, including logistics and technology, allowing brands to focus on their core business.

Bendi

Grant in 2023
Bendi is a data analytics company that specializes in enhancing global supply chain tracking and risk management. Its platform provides real-time traceability and risk monitoring, significantly reducing potential human rights, environmental, and governance risks associated with supply chains. By mapping millions of data points from diverse sources such as news articles, legal cases, and social media across multiple languages, Bendi equips businesses in various sectors—including fashion, textiles, retail, and advanced manufacturing—with actionable insights. This allows companies to streamline their operations, conduct audits more efficiently, and gain a comprehensive understanding of their supply chains.

mannyAI

Grant in 2023
MannyAI is a fashion technology startup that operates an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to enhance the sourcing process for both fashion brands and factories. The company's innovative network enables small batch production by aggregating similar orders from various brands, which helps streamline the manufacturing process. MannyAI offers features such as instant pricing and efficient order management, allowing fashion brands to mitigate inventory risks while simultaneously improving production efficiency for factories. By leveraging AI technology, MannyAI aims to transform traditional sourcing methods in the fashion industry.

Brarista

Grant in 2023
Brarista is a technology company specializing in AI-powered solutions for online lingerie retailers, focused on enhancing the customer experience in bra fitting. By utilizing proprietary visual technologies, Brarista enables consumers to accurately determine their bra size from the comfort of their own homes. Users can take photos of their upper bodies using smartphones, laptops, or tablets, which the software analyzes to provide personalized sizing recommendations across various intimate-wear brands. This approach not only alleviates sizing confusion but also empowers women to better understand their bodies and make informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, Brarista's innovative solutions have been shown to increase retailers' revenues significantly, creating a win-win scenario for both consumers and businesses in the lingerie market.

Eslando

Grant in 2023
Eslando is an innovative company focused on transforming the textile recycling industry through advanced technology. It has developed a unique marketplace paired with AI-powered sorting software to effectively tackle the global textile waste crisis. By efficiently connecting textile waste with appropriate recyclers, Eslando aims to create a scalable and sustainable recycling ecosystem. The company also offers a range of fashion products, including dresses, tops, trousers, and coats, made from cruelty-free materials that minimize pollution and promote biodiversity. Designed for recyclability, these sustainable fashion items not only benefit the environment but also provide cost savings for consumers. Overall, Eslando is positioned to unlock significant market opportunities while fostering environmental restoration.

KYMIRA

Grant in 2023
KYMIRA is an e-commerce company specializing in smart garments and textiles designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery. The company develops innovative textiles that incorporate compression fabric, infrared technology, and sensors, which harness and recycle the energy of athletes. These products aim to improve performance, address chronic health issues, reduce injury risks, and enhance sleep quality. By providing data insights, KYMIRA enables athletes and sports enthusiasts to optimize their training and recovery processes.

Appella AI

Grant in 2022
Appella AI is revolutionizing retail e-commerce with hyper-personalized AI personal shoppers. By recreating the in-store shopping experience online, we help brands deliver tailored journeys that boost customer satisfaction, drive conversions, and foster loyalty. Leveraging cutting-edge recommender systems and large language models (LLMs), Appella’s AI provides conversational, intuitive shopping assistance. Beyond recommending products based on preferences and behavior, our solution offers trend insights and personalized marketing, ensuring every interaction reflects the brand’s unique identity. Launching on Shopify, Appella empowers e-commerce retailers to elevate their customer experience and unlock actionable insights to fuel growth.

Bendi

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Bendi is a data analytics company that specializes in enhancing global supply chain tracking and risk management. Its platform provides real-time traceability and risk monitoring, significantly reducing potential human rights, environmental, and governance risks associated with supply chains. By mapping millions of data points from diverse sources such as news articles, legal cases, and social media across multiple languages, Bendi equips businesses in various sectors—including fashion, textiles, retail, and advanced manufacturing—with actionable insights. This allows companies to streamline their operations, conduct audits more efficiently, and gain a comprehensive understanding of their supply chains.

M-XR

Grant in 2020
M-XR is a technology company specializing in the development of advanced 3D production technology, enabling brands, studios, and creators to accurately and automatically digitize real-world objects. The company's platform integrates a custom-engineered system with machine learning capabilities to capture and convert intricate 3D information, which enhances the quality of digital representations. Focused on the virtual and augmented reality sectors, M-XR provides solutions that empower clients, particularly in the fashion industry, to leverage high-quality 3D models for various applications. This innovative approach allows for a seamless transition into the expansive realm of 3D content creation and utilization.

Icaruus

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Icaruus is a company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of apparel for brands, designers, and businesses through local, on-demand production methods. It focuses on sustainable fashion, offering a range of clothing products including base layers, mid-layers, t-shirts, and technical wear. Icaruus is committed to advancing circular manufacturing and apparel data analytics in the UK, collaborating with various sustainable fashion partners to develop innovative software and hardware solutions for the apparel industry. The company's efforts contribute to the evolution of apparel recycling and promote sustainable innovation within the sector.

Gravity Sketch

Grant in 2019
Gravity Sketch Limited, established in 2014 and based in London, develops innovative 3D creation tools. It offers multi-platform solutions, including Gravity Sketch VR and Gravity Sketch iOS, empowering design teams to create, collaborate, and refine 3D models, geometries, and artwork more efficiently. The company's intuitive tools aim to streamline workflows and enhance cross-functional team collaboration, serving industries such as transportation, industrial design, apparel, and footwear.

Intelistyle

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Intelistyle Ltd. is an artificial intelligence fashion stylist founded in 2017 and based in London, United Kingdom. The company specializes in providing personalized styling recommendations through its AI-driven platform, designed to assist omnichannel fashion retailers. Its software includes features such as "Complete the Look," which generates multiple outfit combinations for selected items, and a chatbot that offers personal styling advice. Additionally, it provides alternatives for out-of-stock garments and helps manage customer wardrobes. Trusted by prominent brands like D&G, MaxMara, and Tommy Hilfiger, Intelistyle enhances digital discovery experiences, leading to increased conversion rates, larger basket sizes, and higher repeat purchase rates. The platform's ability to understand individual style preferences allows it to outperform human stylists, delivering significant revenue growth for its clients.

Gravity Sketch

Grant in 2017
Gravity Sketch Limited, established in 2014 and based in London, develops innovative 3D creation tools. It offers multi-platform solutions, including Gravity Sketch VR and Gravity Sketch iOS, empowering design teams to create, collaborate, and refine 3D models, geometries, and artwork more efficiently. The company's intuitive tools aim to streamline workflows and enhance cross-functional team collaboration, serving industries such as transportation, industrial design, apparel, and footwear.
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