UK tech startups get industry support under new mentorship scheme

A group of state-owned UK rail operators have created a new mentorship scheme to provide guidance and support for nine technology startups focussed on customer experience and operational efficiency. 

The Future Labs scheme is described as a first of its kind project in the UK and will see Southeastern, Northern, LNER and TransPennine Express provide support during a 12-week programme. 

Richard Harrison, chief financial officer of the Department for Transport’s rail holding company DOHL, said: “Our railways are essential in connecting people across the country and play a vital role in supporting the UK’s economy.

“Working together we can find innovative solutions to drive forward growth by making the best use of technology to improve train performance, accessibility and customer experience.” 

The nine companies chosen for the scheme, overseen by innovation specialist L Marks, include Chata.ai, Cleancore Intelligence, 1Huddle, iqast, Cognition24, Zing Data, Treeva, PotentialU, and Moonbility. 

The startups focus on a range of technologies including Treeva’s renewable energy solution which captures energy from the turbulent airflow of passing transport, and Cognition24’s app which provides real-time travel and accessibility information for people with hidden disabilities.