Tontine Nurtured Start-Up Excels
EdTech start-up Estendio, was just one of the go-getting enterprises headed for Strathclyde Business School this week to continue their participation in iGAP@Tontine, a brand new programme which prepares and equips existing businesses to scale up.
Created as a result of partnership working between Strathclyde Business School and Glasgow City Innovation District partner Glasgow City Council, i-GAP@Tontine has been tailor made for those businesses nurtured by the City Deal funded business accelerator, Tontine.
Estendio was incorporated in 2014 by a then 19 year old Chris Hughes after he spotted a gap in the market for software that addresses the challenges surrounding presentation delivery. To meet this need his company created presentation support software, Present Pal.
Present Pal helps presenters deliver a more confident and prepared presentation which particularly meets the needs of users with learning differences, and so equalises opportunities within education and the workplace.
Since January this year, Present Pal has retailed successfully through the Disabled Student Allowance and the App has been launched on the App Store and Google Play.
Whilst the multi-award winning Estendio has moved on from its Tontine base, founder Chris Hughes has reflected on his time at the business incubator, in particular on the flexible support and networking opportunities made available.
Chris said; “As a young entrepreneur, Tontine has served as a brilliant foundation to aid our growth. It was a great opportunity for us to integrate and network with other companies and it was very inspiring to see other tenants expand and succeed.
“We’ve recently taken on two full-time members of staff, one of whom worked as an intern at Tontine and so the future is looking very positive.
“Now that I’m managing a team, I’m really excited to be taking part in i-GAP@Tontine to strengthen my leadership skills and take Present Pal to the next level.”
Tontine was the first project funded by the £1.13billion Glasgow City Region City Deal to open in Glasgow and supports the development and impact of businesses in the creative sectors to encourage collaboration, innovation and high growth.
