Winner measures up in £35,000 Launchpad@ceme competition

A start-up firm on the cusp of revolutionising the way we measure up for clothes is the winner of a £35,000 business support prize to find the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Thames Gateway.

Poikos, founded by computer science expert Eleanor Watson, won the final of the inaugural Launchpad@ceme competition run and hosted by the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) at its business and learning campus on Marsh Way, Rainham, East London.

CEME is managed by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading operator of innovation centres.

Judges were wowed by Eleanor’s concept, which is poised to become the fashion world equivalent of downloading music and videos digitally, paving the way for mass customisation of clothing.

Her Measurecam software, installed in a smartphone or combined with a webcam, captures in avatar-like 3D detail your face and body size and shape, in the way a tailor would with a tape measure to ascertain sizes for your bust/chest, inside leg, neck and waist.

Armed with the information collated by at least 23 measuring points, you could then order made-to-measure clothes online or physically at retailers, taking the guesswork out of fittings and reducing the aggravation of returns because of ill-fitting garments.

CEME chief executive Bill Williams said: “The winner of this year’s Launchpad@ceme event, Poikos, will benefit immensely from the capability at CEME and will, I hope, accelerate their business growth with their fantastic concept.

“If proof were needed that technology innovation and entrepreneurship was alive and kicking in East London it could not have been more strongly evidenced than here at the Launchpad@ceme final.”

Three-strong Poikos receives free office or workshop space at CEME Innovation Centre for one year and a tailored package of business support, including access to marketing, finance and HR experts, business workshops and meeting and conference rooms at the CEME conference centre.

The Launchpad@ceme competition coincided with Global Entrepreneurship Week and was the first of its kind in and around London. Plans are under way to hold it again in 2012.

Eleanor said: “Thanks to CEME, we will be getting a fantastic headstart through some vital business support. CEME should also be congratulated for encouraging the next generation of ‘disruptive manufacturing technologies’, helping to create high-value jobs and boosting the British economy through innovation. We’re tremendously grateful for CEME’s belief in our company.

“Our technology resolves a major obstacle in the way of mass customisation of garments and personal items becoming a viable and powerful industry, with licensing partnership and manufacturing supply chain franchise opportunities.”

Bob Neill, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Communities and Local Government, whose responsibilities include the Thames Gateway and Olympics, paid tribute to the Launchpad@ceme event, which was attended by nearly 50 people.

He said: “It's great to see these exciting new enterprises and innovations getting the recognition they deserve.

“This country needs people to have the courage and creative ideas to help grow their new businesses and the local economies - and they need the proper launch pads to do that like the one offered by CEME, which has also developed a support package to help accelerate business growth.

“I hope the winners' prizes will act as catalysts to support their businesses as they grow and flourish in the Thames Gateway. Well done!"

Runners up were Trade Merchants (Omar Miah, from London Docklands) and Bread (Sarat Babu, from Harold Wood, Essex)
Other nominees were AtlasCode: Staff Square (Simon Swords, from Rochford, Essex) and Eco Finishes (Simon Fordham, from Basildon, Essex).

The judging panel comprised Mr Williams, Chris Allington, Managing Director - Business and Innovation Centres - at Oxford Innovation, Lucy Millar from Ford Motor Company, a long-term supporter and investor in CEME, and Andrew Devenport, Chief Executive of Youth Business International, which hosted Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Mr Williams said: “The CEME Innovation Centre offers technology starts-ups so much more than that a standard business incubator.

“Our customers enjoy the full use of a rapid prototyping product development suite, CNC machine tools and computer-aided design software. CEME offers technology start-ups a real head start in the early days, avoiding the need for investment in expensive equipment when cash is very important.”

David Nix, Regional Director, Thames Gateway, Oxford Innovation, said: “With CEME and inspiring occupiers such as Launchpad@ceme winner Poikos, the London Thames Gateway can become an important ‘technology ecosystem’ in the UK, igniting economic growth and regeneration and creating a strong and balanced economy.”

Picture caption: From left: David Nix of Oxford Innovation, Andrew Devenport of Youth Business International, Lucy Miller of Ford Motor Company, Bill Williams of CEME, Chris Allington of Oxford Innovation, Launchpad@ceme competition winner Eleanor Watson, who is the managing director of Poikos, and shortlisted nominees Omar Miah of Trade Merchants, Simon Swords of AtlasCode:Staff Square, Simon Fordham of Eco Finishes and Sarat Babu of Bread.