Whereas traditional university spinouts are more commonly associated with science, technology, and engineering, what makes these companies different is that they originate from disciplines such as Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts for People and the Economy (SHAPE).

A spin-out company is a new company that is formed to apply academic research in a commercial context.

What makes these emerging ventures relatable is passionate and driven founders who are focused on benefiting people, society and the planet in a very tangible and meaningful way. 

Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, said: “I am enormously proud of the impact these social venture spinouts are making through their academic research and their contribution to our wider commitment as a civic university.”

Highlights of the University of Bristol’s SHAPE spinouts with national and global reach include:

• Affempreneurs, which empowers young women micro-entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa with business skills, financial resources and wellbeing support
• Circular Agriculture Hub, which connects surplus produce from farmers to communities in need, thereby reducing waste and food insecurity
• Good Grief Festival, which opens up conversations around death and bereavement through creative practices to provide support and community to those who need it most

Professor Michele Barbour, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Bristol and herself a spin-out founder, said: “At Bristol we’ve built a culture where innovation and social purpose go hand in hand. Our social venture spinouts show what’s possible, and it’s a powerful reminder of the impact universities can have.”

The University of Bristol is well-positioned in this emerging space and has built a commercialisation strategy for supporting SHAPE innovation. It hosts tailored initiatives for SHAPE researchers, in partnership with national programmes such as the ARC Accelerator, Aspect, and ImpactU as well as having specific support within the Research Commercialisation team to support these emerging ventures.

Robin Halpenny, Research Commercialisation Manager who leads on social venture spinouts at the University, said: “It’s inspiring to see support for these ventures coming from across the University, and I feel lucky to work alongside passionate people who are setting out to improve the world around them.”

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.