North East & Tees Valley Startups 2.0

North East & Tees Valley Startups 2.0 new

Welcome to the first edition of North East & Tees Valley Startups 2.0.

These 34 founder-led startups are not backed by venture capital. Bootstrapped, pre-seed or angel-backed, the enterprises are in the early stages of their journey and either building or harnessing a unique technology.

This list was curated through a nomination process. All startups on this list have either self-nominated or been nominated by another unaffiliated organisation.

Delivered by TechBlast and sponsored by Ignite, the campaign seeks to raise awareness of tech startups in the North East of England and Tees Valley.

Ignite runs programmes to help founders launch and scale tech startups in the North East of England. Applications for the second cohort of Ignite’s new Launch Programme will be opening up in January – interested companies can apply here.

Ignite is supported by North of Tyne Combined Authority and Barclays Eagle Labs.

Subscribe to TechBlast’s Wednesday lunchtime newsletter to keep in the loop and for a weekly dose of entrepreneurial stories, startup growth advice and investor news.

Admin Accelerator
Middlesbrough-based Admin Accelerator helps business owners manage operational tasks easily in one place. The small business toolkit makes it easier to run a business with a suite of admin tools to test and train staff in areas including sales, human resources, contacts and document management, recruitment and training.
Appre
Appre, based in Newcastle, has developed a mobile app that enables active shoppers to earn cashback on online purchases. Currently at the early access stage, it then allows them to grow these funds by investing them into investment funds which are tailored according to the user’s tolerance for risk.
Astrocart
Middlesbrough’s Astrocart is behind a suite of tools which aim to simplify online selling. Its custom-built software powers eCommerce websites and claims to reduce bounce rate while keeping customers on sites for longer, elevating conversion rates. The platform integrates with the likes of Stripe, PayPal, Klarna, Clearpay and eBay.
Audemic
Audemic, based in Durham, makes knowledge more accessible through creating new and friendlier ways to digest academic research – namely through allowing PhD students and researchers to listen to them in audio format. Already used by more than 10,000 people at the likes of Stanford, Imperial College London, Harvard, Yale and Oxford University.
Book Health
Durham’s Book Health is a marketplace that allows patients to find the best private physical or mental therapists and treatments for their condition. Currently in beta testing – and free to use – it connects clinical management systems, insurers and human resources software with one simple integration.
CC Informatics
Sunderland-headquartered CC Informatics is a company specialising in bespoke analytics from remote surveys in dangerous places. It uses both unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to collect data; its AI then extracts analytics for use in asset maintenance. Connected to CC Hydrodynamics, a specialist numerical modelling company for the natural and built environment.
Choppity
Choppity, based in Durham, has developed AI which analyses and transcribes video – such as podcasts, webinars and speeches – then creates clips suited to social media such as TikTok, with transcriptions and framing of speakers. It also allows users to amend the clips quickly and easily – performing repetitive, laborious editing work automatically.
Class Club
Class Club allows teachers to upload learning resources which its expert designers will then craft into professional-looking assets with the help of AI tools. The creators can then share and sell these resources through the platform via their profile page. Based in Newcastle, it has secured a partnership with global education giant Pearson.
Dink
Middlesbrough-based videogame studio Dink also uses game engine tech to craft TV graphics, 3D art and in game prototyping. It has worked on television productions for international clients and as an outsourcing team for external game projects. It says it aims to become a beacon for the videogames industry in the North East.
EcoTech69 Limited
EcoTech69, a spinout from Newcastle-based Northumbria University, has developed two CleanTech devices. ‘Solar2Water’ produces clean drinking water from ambient air – using solar energy – for remote communities, disaster areas, field hospitals and offices. ‘OptimumAirCon’ is a solution for data centre and space cooling and claims to help reduce carbon emissions by 40-50%.
EV Smart
Gateshead-based EV Smart is an electric vehicle charge point operator for commercial, public sector and private landowners. It has developed infrastructure which allows for management of locations, tariffs and adverts. With several major payment integrations available within its app, projects completed include a 78-charger installation at a Wembley Stadium car park.
Fireside Ltd
Fireside Ltd, based in Stockton-on-Tees, is a knowledge marketplace. Its core solutions will bring multiple trusted perspectives – Fireside Chats – from across the planet to help solve business dilemmas and conundrums. Its use of vector databases will ensure that all indexed chats are publicly available and searchable.
Fuze Applications
Darlington’s Fuze Applications is described as a ground-breaking solution for the wealth management sector. Its software-as-a-service platform enables data aggregation, analytics and portfolio reporting. Set to launch in January 2024, it aims to become the go-to platform for financial advice firms to access financial data, performance data and custom reports.
Insightano
Insightano, headquartered in Newcastle, has taken the headache out of data engineering, analysis and visualisation to enable everyone in the social sector to get answers and insights from their data. Currently selecting a small group of non-profit organisations, such as corporate foundations, as pilot partners before it launches on the open market.
MACHULU
Durham’s MACHULU is behind a platform which uses data to help match accessibility solutions to organisations. With an aim of enhancing the lives of people with disabilities and the elderly around the world, its accessibility solutions recommendations engine identifies relevant regulations and finds solutions to meet them – whether an online, service or physical business.
Miboxlive
Middlesbrough-based Miboxlive combines numeracy and sport to make maths learning fun. Comprising a physical learning board, modelled on an athletics track, and app, it tracks improvements and allows family members and friends of various abilities to compete against one another via a golf-style handicap system.
Myfolks Ltd
Myfolks Ltd, based in Newcastle, is a digital brokerage connecting elderly people who need extra help with Myfolksers – responsible people with enhanced background checks and references who are able to provide, in real time, the help these people need. They can be favourited and rated on the platform. It has three routes to market: business-to-consumer, business-to-business and business-to-government.
Northrak
Northrak, headquartered in Middlesbrough, has created custom tools for game engine tech to produce prototypes and 2D/3D assets for multimedia productions ranging from games to animation and virtual reality. It has partnered with firms in the Norwegian games industry, is developing its own IP and plans to eventually become a publisher.
Odyssea Enterprise C.I.C
Odyssea, a community interest company based in Skelton-In-Cleveland, is a cutting-edge social media app that aims to revolutionise how people capture, preserve, and share cherished memories. Its platform allows for the creation of a digital legacy by curating a personal profile filled with unique life experiences. Users can also create dedicated memory pockets for special family events.
Polybox
Polybox, headquartered in Newcastle, is helping to ease the expense process in organisations. By scanning or uploading a receipt or invoice – and connecting PolyBox to relevant software – users can generate dynamic reports based on these. It also gives users budgeting and analysis tools.
PulmoBioMed
PulmoBioMed, based in Newcastle, has developed diagnostic-grade fine aerosol and large droplet collector for exhaled breath samples. Its vision is to turn breath into a window to a user’s health, delivering a non-invasive solution to patients with no other option to diagnose their lung disease, other than invasive sampling.
SalesLynk
SalesLynk, headquartered in Newcastle, provides instant sales intelligence in one place. Serving the cybersecurity industry, it radically reduces research time and improves sales efficiency by providing background information about a prospect from thousands of data sources for millions of companies around the globe.
Seer BI
Middlesbrough’s Seer BI is an AI, machine learning and business intelligence startup building a ‘data lab’ for the maritime and logistics sector. Analysing areas such as vessel movements, port congestion, freight rates and fuel consumption, its data visualisation and automation tools for transport lead to informed decisions such as optimising routes, improving cargo management and predicting market fluctuations.
Sencode Ltd
Sencode Ltd, based in Middlesbrough, provides proactive offensive cybersecurity services which range from penetration testing to protecting against intricate phishing campaigns. It also develops security software such as its Data Breach Protection tool and provides continual monitoring for system vulnerabilities.
Simily
Durham-based Simily has developed AI-driven matchmaking software for dating. Users create a private profile via an AI matchmaker through natural conversation, then describe the type of person they’d like to be matched with. Potential matches are presented in a way which will appeal to users, identifying key match indicators from each profile.
SportFin
Newcastle’s SportFin helps sports organisations to fundraise through automated social impact analytics infrastructure, data visualisation and reports. Its research has shown that sponsors and funders are more likely to invest three times more if they can monitor the impact of their contributions in real-time.
SQCDP.co.uk
Newcastle-based SQCDP.co.uk is behind an app and software-as-a-service platform that allows manufacturers to remove problem paperwork from their factory areas. This makes data flow live between teams and maintains visibility when there are problems. Teams are more efficient and use their data to analyse cause and improve long term.
Sugarcoat
Sugarcoat, headquartered in Newcastle, provides cloud-hosted eCommerce solutions to digital agencies, SMEs and sole traders. Described as the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to start selling on social media, it centralises product catalogues and checkout – with clients not required to even have a website.
Tribe Vision
Middlesbrough’s Tribe Vision is an innovative digital fashion company dedicated to enhancing the sustainability and cost-efficiency of clothing brands in the pre-production phase of garment creation. Its services include digital sampling, which helps to reduce material waste by replacing traditional physical prototypes with virtual representations.
Trusted-People.com
Darlington-based Trusted-People.com is described as a ground-breaking employment booking platform redefining the landscape of in-person gig work. Its transparency-focused platform allows businesses to hire skilled workers on an hourly basis, spanning sectors like construction, care, and hospitality.
V-LAB Ltd
Redcar’s V-LAB Ltd has developed flagship THERCOM technology which allows users to control their heating by verbally expressing how hot or cold they are rather than setting the temperature. It says that during a month-long trial last winter, THERCOM demonstrated average heating energy savings of 41%. It is expanding integration with various smart home automation devices, enabling real-time data collection from smart meters, electricity grid and environmental sensors.
Vibbl
Vibbl, based in Newcastle, is ‘the home of verbal feedback’. It allows teachers to give faster, evidenced and more meaningful feedback to students. They can take snapshots of work, explain their thoughts and identify fragile learners to enable a more tailored feedback dialogue. Already used in 17 countries in primary, secondary, university and other education settings.
Virtual Memory Box
Newcastle’s Virtual Memory Box is a safe, accessible online tool which has been developed with young people in care and the adults in their lives so they can store key moments and memories in one secure place. Carers, social workers, and young people can add photos, videos, audio and documents to help them understand their life story and their identity.
WilderTrips
WilderTrips, based in Newcastle, is a road trip planner for motorhome holidays in any country. Users can add up to 200 Google Maps locations or stops of their own, discover new ideas and never drive past an awesome experience unknowingly again. They can also share photos, notes and advice to the platform and social media during and after their trip.

North East & Tees Valley Startups 2.0

Admin Accelerator

Appre

Astrocart

Audemic

Book Health

CC Informatics

Choppity

Class Club

Dink

EcoTech69 Limited

EV Smart

Fireside Ltd

Fuze Applications

Insightano

MACHULU

Miboxlive

Myfolks Ltd

Northrak

Odyssea Enterprise C.I.C

Polybox

PulmoBioMed

SalesLynk

Seer BI

Sencode Ltd

Simily

SportFin

SQCDP.co.uk

Sugarcoat

Tribe Vision

Trusted-People.com

V-LAB Ltd

Vibbl

Virtual Memory Box

WilderTrips

Do all founders need ‘real world’ experience of their clients’ realities?

My Mentor: Wise CEO ‘challenges & encourages’ me

Why brand is vital when preparing for investment

Embracing fear: How women can overcome imposter syndrome in FinTech