InnovationRCA’s pre-incubator welcomes new start-ups turning design ideas into high-impact businesses

Last Summer, InnovationRCA launched their new pilot pre-incubator for early-stage projects with huge potential. Director of InnovationRCA, Dr Nadia Danhash said: ‘We're really pleased to be able to offer this pre-incubation support to these talented founders. Over the next few months we will help them advance proof of market and define the best route for their business ideas.’ Meet them all below.

Vox Aeris are using sound to cleanse the air we breathe of pollution. Founded by our MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering graduate, Selene Sari, the device she is developing intends to become the first choice air purifier for city dwellers for their indoor spaces, which she explains can be five times more polluted than outdoor environments.

The Vox Aeris patent-pending device purifies through agglomeration, a process that brings together pollutant particles much like a snowball through the turbulence of the device’s internal fans and low-frequency sounds. The gathered particles are then filtered out of the space.

Selene told us ‘Joining InnovationRCA will be a catalyst and launchpad for Vox Aeris. Having a programme with access to resources like business development and IP as well as physical workshops is quite unique and one of the main reasons why I chose to join.’

Sophie Richter is a 2022 graduate of our MRes Healthcare & Design. Following her time studying at the RCA, Sophie is bringing her experience of textile design and artificial intelligence to bear on improved care for musculoskeletal healing.

With aiKNIT, Sophie is developing an adaptable glove with localised bracing capabilities that can relieve pain from injuries and support faster recovery. The wearable devices are customisable, tailor-made and adaptive to users’ conditions.

30% of ocean pollution starts as surface water runoff – that's the cocktail of debris from human activity filtered into the sea through rainwater. The Guerilla patent-pending drainage system being developed by our MA/MSc Innovation Design Engineering graduates team could bring the local turbidity of the Thames down by 37% during a rain event via the installation in 250 units in strategic roadside drains.

The Guerilla team is made up of Henry Parkin, Hunaid Nagaria, Summer Chen and Adhesh Shenoy. They told us that ‘being part of InnovationRCA has given us access to unparalleled resources, including state-of-the-art facilities, workshops, and a network that extends to some of the world's most influential companies and thought leaders.’

Can electric vehicles emulate the feel of petrol-powered engines? Driving Control Systems (DCS) from our MA Design Products graduate, Alejandro Gayubo is intending to preserve the sustainability of electric vehicles while enriching the drive experience and restoring the ‘connection and control that we all enjoy’ when driving with the force of petrol.

Alejandro has been obsessed with cars since he was a child exploring the roads of Spain with his father. As an Industrial Engineer he applied himself to the restoration and customisation of historical vehicles. He told us that ‘joining InnovationRCA is like planting a seed in fertile soil; it's not just about growing a business, it's about cultivating a thriving ecosystem of mentorship, collaboration and resilience.’

‘Our gearbox and drive system for electric bikes helps urban commuters travel mess and maintenance free’ BevelBikes Founder and Inventor, Hume Howe (MA Design Products, 2023) explains. Designed to be hidden within the bike frame, the gearbox incorporates a small hidden motor and battery. Hume hopes to make this the most compact eBike motor and drivetrain on the market.

Hume is now joined by former classmates from MA Design Products, Jeremy Coutinho and Satya Schiavina. They explained how they hope working at InnovationRCA alongside other start-ups will have a positive impact on their entrepreneurial journey. ‘Working in a collaborative environment alongside start-ups facing similar challenges will help propel our business and product development.’