Zenzic launches second cohort of the Zenzic CAM Scale-Up programme, giving selected UK start-ups/SMEs the opportunity to test and accelerate delivery to market

London, August 2021: Zenzic, the organisation dedicated to accelerating the self-driving revolution in the UK, has announced the return of its CAM Scale-Up programme. Innovative UK start-ups/SMEs will be invited to apply for a chance to test and develop their products and/or services within the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) ecosystem through the world-leading CAM Testbed UK.

 

Supported by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, and in partnership with Plug and Play, the Zenzic CAM Scale-Up programme will focus on giving start-ups/SMEs needing to develop or validate their products or services, a unique opportunity to test their products or services in realistic environments across the various CAM Testbed UK facilities, accelerating their delivery to market.

Michael Talbot, Deputy Head at the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles said: “After the success of last year’s pilot, we are pleased to provide additional funding for the second cohort of the Zenzic CAM Scale-Up programme. One of the biggest barriers to entry for SMEs and start-ups is access to cutting edge testing facilities. This programme offers a great opportunity for these exciting young companies to experience the world class support and capabilities of CAM Testbed UK and to meet new investors while accelerating their products to market. I look forward to seeing what the new intake achieves.” 

Start-ups and SMEs will be working with our delivery partner Plug and Play, who are headquartered in Silicon Valley, and will be given access to:

  • A share of £500,000 UK government funding through the Centre of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to be used for testing at UK CAM Testbed UK
  • World-class technical and business assistance which will enable them to accelerate their products to market – using the capabilities of CAM Testbed UK to develop a proof of concept, driving new sales and obtaining additional investment supported by Plug and Play’s accelerator experience
  • Zenzic’s insights from the UK Connected and Automated Mobility Roadmap to 2030
  • Access to global players in the CAM ecosystem

Those selected to take part in this new scheme, will be entered into Plug and Play’s extensive portfolio management system for the duration of the programme and beyond. For the start-ups/SMEs, this means:

  • Regular check-ins and mentorship from Plug and Play experts, providing feedback and goals and objectives
  • Links to corporate and venture capital partners across Europe, Silicon Valley, and South East Asia
  • Opportunity to present at the relevant Plug and Play Summit in Silicon Valley and other international offices with the aim of generating inward investment

The five SMEs who benefitted from last year’s programme were; Angoka, Beam Connectivity, Eatron Technologies, Helix Technologies, and RoboK. They secured a share of grant funding as well as world-class technical and business assistance to accelerate their journey toward market success.

David Blumstein, Head of Business Development at Helix Technologies said: “Assuming the requisite levels of preparation and planning required, the Zenzic CAM Scale-Up Programme is an ideal platform for companies that are seeking to innovate in the connected mobility space and who need to demonstrate the potential success of their technology via the medium of real-world trials.  The resulting benefits in terms of increased engineering confidence, customer and partner engagements and credibility with investors are manyfold greater than the scope of the work that will be undertaken within the programme.”

Corporate partners will play a crucial role throughout the Zenzic CAM Scale-Up programme. Together, corporate partners and participants are encouraged to explore opportunities for innovative solutions and growth, share valuable experience and industry insights and support the wider collaborative culture that sets UK CAM apart. 

Mark Cracknell, Head of Connected and Automated Mobility at Zenzic said: “We’re extremely excited to announce the return of the Zenzic CAM Scale-Up programme. We saw great success from the companies selected last year, and they have gone on to do incredible work with fantastic organisations since being enrolled. With the UK’s track record of delivering trusted world class solutions, we hope that the return of the programme will allow more innovative start-ups and SMEs the opportunity to accelerate their products to the CAM market.”

Kieran Borrett, Head of Plug and Play London: “We are excited to support Zenzic launch the second iteration of the CAM Scale-Up programme. Last year, start-ups experienced 9-12 months of product development acceleration, business development & investment opportunities and exposure to international ecosystems. A number of the SMEs involved were also accepted into additional mobility programmes in Silicon Valley.”

For more information, visit: https://zenzic.io/cam-scale-up/

Contact camscaleup@zenzic.io with any questions.

Update: applications for 2021 have now closed.

About Zenzic 

Zenzic was created by government and industry to champion the UK connected and self-driving ecosystem and lead the UK in accelerating the self-driving revolution. The company drives collaboration with partners across industry, government, and academia to shape a world-class CAM Testbed UK, and to deliver a comprehensive UK Connected and Automated Mobility Roadmap to 2030. Zenzic is channelling £200 million of investment, with the ultimate goal of ensuring a safer, more inclusive and productive mobile future. For more information, visit: http://zenzio.io 

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 35+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi.

Plug and Play has mobility and smart cities innovation programmes in: Silicon Valley, Detroit, Stuttgart, Milan, Madrid, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore and Beijing. For more information, visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/europe/