Ben said “The funding we have received through Spark has enabled us to develop a product that we can take to market, something we would not have been able to do without this support. We are extremely grateful for having these opportunities through the enterprise scholarship and we look forward to continuing to engage with the Spark network in the future.”

Max Wilkinson & Ben Evans

MixTab

The pair were awarded an ‘Enterprise Scholarship’ that comes with a £3,000 grant and a programme of tailored business support including a place on the ‘Spark Enterprise Boot Camp’. Currently in the process of iterating their MVP, they have filled two patents, one for the manufacturing technology and another for the patch itself.

Aware of the challenges ahead, including the stringent pre-clinical and clinical requirements, the duo have been in conversation with both MHRA and LabCorp to design an adequate clinical trial strategy for both FDA and MHRA approval.

“The mentoring provided by SPARK has allowed us to make the right decisions at the right time, for instance we would have never thought about patenting as early as we did if it wasn’t for the many business advisors advising us that a patent is crucial for investment. The boot camp was also very useful for us, to not only learn about the other scholar’s businesses, but to also network with them. As well as this, the talks from the other business owners were very useful and insightful for us to determine how and what to do to develop our business. “

With a long term aim to become the global leader in microneedle technology, they are looking expand their range from just vaccines to other drugs such as treatments for chronic illnesses. As well as integrating smart technology into the patches, creating diagnostic patches and the development of an App to allow people to house all their MNS information.

“During this venture, we have gained lots of experience through talking to and working with patents, business advisors, NDAs, CDAs, LabCorp, MHRA, investors etc which have given both Ian and I valuable experience in business at a young age, which we will use to further grow our business, to reach its full potential!”

MixTab

Max Wilkinson & Ben Evans

Childhood friends, Max Wilkinson and Ben Evans, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering Masters students are developing a mobile tablet for the home and amateur DJs.

Max Wilkinson & Ben Evans

Microneedle Patches

Ian Bartenev and Henry Dunne

Bloem

Haozin Ali