Navigating the ‘valley of death’ – from initial prototypes to commercialisation – is never easy in any industry vertical, and in an economic environment where nine out of every ten start-ups fail to make it, it is a high-risk area.
In the UK’s mobility ecosystem, we have many exciting early-stage innovators that probably have proven the feasibility of their innovation, and they might have proven the concept in an application, but it would be rough and ready, and certainly not feasible to take to market at this stage.
This is where support is crucial. The automotive industry is undergoing a massive transition, as we rapidly shift to battery electric vehicle (BEV) and hydrogen technologies. Emerging markets present opportunities for innovators and investors, and the role of the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) is to help UK industry capitalise on this – bringing benefits to the UK and our SMEs. On the global stage, there is no doubt in my mind that new entrants have steered the course of the automotive market to date. Which is why it is so important to provide support to these disruptors and technology innovators.
The Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP)* helps start-ups and SMEs to develop the products that the automotive market needs. To date, TDAP has worked with almost 120 companies and generated over £300 million in private investment. It is a genuine success story for UK innovation and investment – with the programme being named ‘Accelerator of the Year’ at the 2024 UK Business Angels Association’s Angel Investment Awards, it is an exciting time for TDAP.
If you are an early-stage start-up with an innovative automotive or mobility-related zero-emission tech and are looking for a way into the UK's automotive industry or even globally, we want to hear from you.
But it is also an exciting time for UK innovators. Those accepted on to the programme are often SMEs or spin-out companies with highly innovative products and solutions that are trying to find routes to market – and need extra support to get there. TDAP is not just for concepts but for technologies and solutions where we can see a strong potential for market pull. Our role at the APC, through TDAP, is to enable companies with clear automotive potential to target early adopters, develop their venture growth skills and get investor and industry ready.
The concept of TDAP is to take businesses with innovations to a stage where they are investible. Through the programme, we help organisations to answer some of the key questions. What is my value proposition? What is my commercial journey? Who are going to be my early adopter customers? These are all key areas that are vital to answer. It is about understanding the potential for investment and setting out the company growth journey. We aim to help to businesses set themselves up for success rather than see them fall in the ‘valley of death.’
TDAP is not just about promising technology, it’s about pushing a business forward. They must have the right people and the right mentality, including the ability to accept feedback, learn and develop. During the programme, participants get many opportunities to receive challenge and feedback, with expert input at every stage. The ideal TDAP business has a clear vision but with a willingness to adapt to the market. I think for accelerator programmes like TDAP and investment generally, coachability and adaptability are important. For entrepreneurs being ready to take the friendly (and unfriendly) feedback, prompts and market direction that might force a company to “pivot” their strategy is absolutely critical.
Ultimately, however robust practices are, funding early-stage innovation is does involve quite a bit of risk – and that is why it is so exciting.
The founding principle of APC is to capture emerging innovations and support new solutions. Instead of directing activity, these elements should be allowed to grow naturally. The challenge with innovation is that if you try to pre-package it, you miss opportunities. So, we try to be open to new ideas and concepts. Ultimately, however robust practices are, funding early-stage innovation is does involve quite a bit of risk – and that is why it is so exciting. We try to identify entrepreneurs looking at problems in a new way. We are constantly challenging ourselves to be open minded to new approaches.
So how do you spot a disruptive technology with market potential? Brill Power is an Oxford based business developing an intelligent battery management system to optimise battery performance. The company began as a spin-out from the university to create a new management system that increases battery life and performance. The company is selling a distributed battery management system that uses advanced embedded control algorithms to always discharge battery cells in proportion to their capacity called BESA BP6X1. The advanced system uses module level power electronics to actively load cells with current in proportion to their state of health, continuously balancing cells during charge and discharge and increasing the life of battery packs. The BESA BP6X1 improves battery life by up to 27% and energy yield by 15%. Brill Power were part of TDAP’s 3rd cohort, and have gone on to show fantastic growth, with the business now employing over 40 people and having launched their technology into their beachhead market. A clear path to market and commercial development has been instrumental in helping Brill Power raise over £15m in private investment and public funding. A success story indeed.
TDAP is a gateway to collaboration, new opportunities, and investment. If you are an early-stage start-up with an innovative automotive or mobility-related zero-emission tech and are looking for a way into the UK's automotive industry or even globally, we want to hear from you. If you have got the ambition to try to build something big, meaningful, and impactful – and are solving a problem in a new way – then we want to speak to you.
TDAP’s latest cohort of 14 companies in the UK’s innovative automotive sector have been awarded a share of over £2.3 million in government grant funding. Each organisation will receive up to £170,000 in grant funding with tailored business support.
This is the eighth wave with the latest TDAP entrants including projects to improve battery performance, battery recycling, advanced manufacturing materials, and wireless-charging solutions.
For more information about TDAP visit Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP)
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