TechNation200 Almanac 2015/16

See the full profile interviews at www.techcityinsider.net
Tushar Agarwal
Co-founder and chief executive
Hubble
“I noticed that a lot of large corporates had vast amounts of vacant commercial property.
I thought there must be a solution to make use of the space. I would congratulate
successful founders who had just fundraised, and ask, ‘What next?’ Most would say, ‘We
can’t find an office.’ This struck me as very bizarre. So we started a very, very simple portal for
startups. We’ve standardised the licenc e agreement that landlords can use. And we’ve got a
payments platform, which means that with the click of a few buttons they can start receiving
rent on a monthly basis. Traditionally it could take between three and six months to get into a
property, but with Hubble, a startup could start searching on Friday and move in on Monday.”
Hubble is an online marketplace that allows startups to rent workspace on a fl exible basis. It matches up those
looking to rent space with those who have it. Hubble focuses on co-working spaces, shared offi ces and private
serviced offi ces. @HubbleHQ
Ross Bailey
Founder and chief executive
Appear Here
“I had a little shop just off Carnaby Street for the Queen’s
diamond jubilee. I convinced the landlord to let me borrow the
store for a week and it went incredibly well. In 2012 there was
a huge amount in the press about empty shops and how Airbnb
was taking off. I put two and two together. The way brands and
retailers want space has changed massively, yet the way people
rent space hasn’t. The average deal takes six months to complete,
but at Appear Here we’re closing deals in fewer than fi ve days,
with our quickest deal taking half an hour.”
Appear Here connects landlords’ vacant retail spaces with people
with great ideas, all online. It has a vision to create a global network
of spaces so that people can make their ideas travel. High-profile retail
spaces included in the startup’s portfolio are Old Street Underground
station and Boxpark in Shoreditch . @appearhere
Rebecca Bright
Co-founder and
director
Therapy Box
“I first came up with
the idea of using
apps for people with
communication disabilities
while working as a speech
and language therapist. In
2011 we launched our first
app, Predictable. It was
designed for people who
have little or no speech,
such as those with motor
n eurone disease or cerebral
palsy who are able to
type and spell but cannot
communicate verbally. The
app allows them to input a
message and have it played
out loud. After we launched
our own range of apps,
people in our sector started
coming to us and asking us
to build apps for them.”
Healthcare and education startup
Therapy Box offers iOS-based
communications apps to help
people with disabilities or injuries.
In 2014 Therapy Box picked up a
Queen’s Award for Enterprise for
innovation.
@TherapyBox
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