11th EIE bigger than ever before
Over 900 delegates took part in this year’s Engage Invest Exploit, Informatics Ventures flagship annual technology investor showcase featuring Scotland´s most promising innovative, data-driven high growth companies, seeking funding.
The 11th annual Engage Invest Exploit (EIE) 2019 took place on 24th April, in the University’s McEwan Hall. Starting life in 2008 in Appleton Tower with 10 companies pitching to 50 attendees, EIE has grown and evolved to become Scotland’s largest data-driven technology investor showcase and the largest event of its kind outside London.
By 2019, it attracted >900 delegates, over 240 of whom were investors from all over the world. A total of 50 exciting technology companies, 10 of which came from outside Scotland, pitched live on the day looking to initiate or progress discussions with the assembled investors. EIE itself formed new partnerships in 2019 with Huawei coming on as Platinum Sponsor and DDI, the Data-Driven Innovation initiative, becoming Programme Partner to support the launch of more spin-out companies, attract start-ups, as well as support established tech businesses to seek investment.
The nine companies that delivered an extended pitch comprised Amiqus Resolution, which helps firms collect, analyse and manage anti-money laundering and compliance information; Beezer.com, which offers a mobile app creation and marketing platform; and Blockchain Technology Partners, whose Sextant offering helps organisations build, deploy and manage blockchain-based activity.
Also included were Cyan Forensics offers rapid digital forensics technology, and Edjo, which is focused on helping the creative industries fight plagiarism.
There was also MyWay Digital Health that is behind an online self-management platform for people with diabetes; T Trakz Labs, which produces GPS and activity tracking collars for cats and dogs; Voxzio whose product Alli-Chat creates AI-driven, personalised conversations focused on mental health; and Vreo that is focused on advertising.
“EIE 2019 is the latest incarnation of a fantastic investor showcase which has emerged out of the University of Edinburgh which has helped to fund the innovations coming from the University and elsewhere … what we hope it will do is pick some of the winners for the future, connect them with investors, so that this tech sector in this City can grows even more fully and even more effectively.”
“Informatics Ventures and EIE were at the genesis of, and remain very much at the heart of, the data-driven technology entrepreneur ecosystem in Scotland. Looking to the future, Informatics Ventures and EIE are uniquely placed to play a transformative role in realising our joint ambition to make this region the Data Capital of Europe.”
Since 2008, companies pitching at EIE have raised in excess of £650 million in seed and later stage funding.