The chosen startups are breaking new ground in the artificial intelligence (AI) space, with solutions including software which replicates a professional bra-fitting by a human, and an algorithm which analyses brain images to provide guidance on multiple sclerosis treatments. The cohort spans across multiple sectors where AI can have real impact from retail and health to manufacturing.  

Digital Catapult’s Machine Intelligence Garage programme helps startups who don’t have access to the vast amount of compute power needed by AI and machine learning to train their models; provides expertise and mentoring to help companies grow and develop; and helps empower entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential.

Machine Intelligence Garage continues to grow by demand and has so far helped over 100 startups finesse their products, secure new business, establish international collaborations and raise funding to the tune of around £52 million. The programme was recently recognised as Outstanding AI Accelerator at the CogX Awards 2021. 

The latest chosen startups include: 

• Brarista: AI-powered B2B software for retail brands – free for consumers - which replicates a professional bra-fitting by eyesight, by analysing images that have been uploaded securely. B2B clients will enjoy significant reductions of fit-and-size-related returns, which currently account for 90% of all returns) 
• TOffeeAM LTD:  Design for additive manufacturing software that optimises the design of engineering components and speeds up design times
• Neucurrent: Allows marketers to create personalised recommendations and customer engagements using AI, automation and industry expertise
• ETIQ AI: Helps data scientists to identify and repair any biases in their algorithms 
• Queen Square Analytics: Uses an AI-enabled algorithm to scan brain images, quantify the risk of multiple sclerosis progression and select the right treatments; targeted treatment like this has the potential to save the NHS hundreds of millions a year
• DynAlkon Ltd: Machine learning and AI solutions available on portable camera platforms, such as camera traps, to monitor animal biodiversity 
• Cadeera: AI solutions for the retail sector, including a product search tool which enables customers to find the products they are looking for as quickly as possible, using images rather than keywords
• Kavida.ai: A supply chain digital twin platform that enables the detection of threats before they occur, quantifies financial and customer impact, and takes steps to mitigate disruptions
• Bitfount: Collaboration tool allowing data providers, data scientists and governance teams to work together without compromising on privacy or quality
• Foresight Data Machines: Uses a combination of traditional physics and AI to optimise industrial process control in real time

Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult commented: “The Machine Intelligence Garage programme has developed over the last three years with a growing reputation for propelling shining deep-tech artificial and machine intelligence startups to new heights.  

“It’s brilliant to welcome the latest cohort of talented startups today, whose solutions help us overcome very real, everyday societal problems – from providing informed help to consumers struggling to choose the right products, to providing assistance for healthcare workers in making faster and more accurate diagnoses."

In 2018, Machine Intelligence Garage also established an Ethics Committee, giving startups on the programme access to some of the finest minds in AI ethics in the UK. 

The programme has enabled companies such as Techspert.io, that recently received over £3.7 million in Series A funding after meeting Nauta Capital at the annual Investor Showcase.