New businesses emerge out of startup academy

Friday 11 August 2023

The Digital Greenhouse is hailing the success of its inaugural startup academy which has seen seven new businesses blossom following 10 intensive weeks of rapid scaling up.

Five of them were so successful they have been shortlisted for the Guernsey Venture Challenge summer accelerator programme, building on the already strong foundations laid in the academy.

The academy provided new businesses with expert knowledge and mentorship designed to give them the skills required to go from idea to market. 

Joanna Corder, academy participant and founder of Petlearnia said a seed idea for a business existed only in her head at the start but this flourished into something tangible by the end.

‘Red teaming’ by Blenheim Chalcot helped to put the idea through its paces in the planning and prototype stages.

“My paid pilot is launching this autumn, so having further expert business advice in the run up to it is going to be so useful. My business and I have grown so much in the last few weeks,” she said.

“I can’t really imagine where we’ll be at the end of the Guernsey Venture Challenge – but I’m excited to see.” 

Described by participants as a ‘mini MBA’ for startups, plans are already being developed to run another academy early in 2024. 

Director of the Digital Greenhouse, Lucy Ann Kirby was pleased with the outcome: "We are thrilled to see such promising businesses emerge from the academy and make their mark in the local startup ecosystem. These businesses have the potential to create impact, disrupt their chosen markets and they are definitely ones to watch for the future."

The scheme has been delivered through Economic Development’s SMART Guernsey programme to help local firms start, grow, and support other sectors with technology in the island.

Pictured (top): Tim Rowe, Matthias Plunser, Dave Wratten, Ben Wratten, Andre Duquemin, Joanna Corder, and Jenny De La Mare.