Following the immersive Discovery Spark (from Kent science park Discovery Park) programme and a competitive pitch process with nine fellow entrepreneurial life science and technology businesses, Amino Plus has secured the coveted first-place prize.
Amino Plus is a nutritional therapeutics company on a mission to solve the £200bn+ global unhealed wound problem with a novel oral leg ulcer treatment called Wound Plus.
In October, 10 businesses embarked on Discovery Spark, a free six-week programme that aims to provide participants with the skills and tools to lay healthy foundations in their businesses, refine their commercial strategy and achieve investor readiness. The experience then culminates in a competitive pitch day to showcase the skills gained to investors.
Winning Discovery Spark entitles Amino Plus to free space at Discovery Park for a year, where the team can benefit from the ecosystem of infrastructure and business support, including that from over 10 specialist partners valued at over £50,000.
Simon Carty, CEO of Amino Plus, said: “The Discovery Spark programme has been a privilege to be part of. We truly believe our Wound Plus product will contribute a real solution to the global unhealed wound problem, and securing this top prize means we can continue to build our business and reach new markets. We are in great company with Discovery Park support and we’re excited for what the year ahead will bring.”
The latest cohort of Discovery Spark included second-placed RS & RS Scientific, a biotech company focused on developing innovative therapies for lung cancer, and third-placed SmileScaff, which specialises in dental devices that aim to accelerate recovery from tooth loss through advanced scaffold technology.
Other participants included Bioflares, Gutsee, Peachy Healthcare, Phlow, Simplex Molecular, UltraBiOmics and We Are Eden.
Discovery Park is a sponsor at this year’s GIANT Health event in London, where it hosted a panel of Discovery Spark winners, namely Alicia Showering from BugBiome, Minter Health Hormone founder Lexie Minter and Amino Plus CEO Simon Carty.
RS & RS Scientific and SmileScaff, along with runners-up from the previous cohort Ask Joan and Pelvity, were offered another chance to pitch for the Wildcard prize voted by the audience. This year’s Wildcard winner was Ask Joan, whose founder Katy Longhurst will now benefit from over £10,000 worth of specialist support.
Discovery Park’s head of innovation Renos Savva, who leads the Discovery Spark programme, said: “Supporting startups and helping entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level is a personal passion of mine and a big part of our mission at Discovery Park.
“With three cohorts of the Discovery Spark programme now complete, we are encouraged by the skill and innovation coming through our industry.
“Congratulations to all who completed the latest programme, we can’t wait to see how you put the lessons learned and skills gained into practice to elevate your businesses further.”
The next Discovery Spark programme will run during February and March 2025 with a specialist oncology theme, supported by Capital Enterprise Network and the Cancer Tech Accelerator. For more information and to apply, click here.
