Advertising agency R/GA has used its corporate venturing unit, R/GA Ventures, to set up a UK-based internet-of-things (IoT) accelerator.
R/GA Ventures said 10 companies would participate in its R/GA IoT Venture Studio UK. They are:
1. Den, a light switches and plug sockets maker;
2. DigiSeq, for delivering payment, access, loyalty, and guaranteed provenance;
3. Flock, pay-as-you-fly insurance for drones;
4. Hoxton Analytics, which counts and profiles people based on their shoes;
5. Iota Labs, which automates smart home devices using indoor positioning;
6. KG Protech, which provides automotive training;
7. ScreenCloud, which can turn screens into a digital sign;
8. Sensible Object, which makes games;
9. Snaptivity, a robo-camera; and
10. Winnow, which wants to prevent food waste.
Joining the program as entrepreneur-in-residence is Jon Bradford, founding partner of Motive, co-founder of F6S and previously managing director at TechStars London, which had operated R/GA’s accelerator since 2015.
Stephen Plumlee, R/GA’s global chief operating officer at and managing partner of R/GA Ventures, said: “As this is R/GA’s first ever IoT Venture Studio to be housed in London, we are delighted that nine of the chosen startups are UK-based.”
Matt Webb, managing director of R/GA IoT Venture Studio UK, added: “We look forward to welcoming investors, any interested corporates and R/GA clients to the Venture Studio, to explore partnerships and to get a glimpse of the future.”
Last August, R/GA joined forces with its parent company Interpublic (IPG) to launch an accelerator initiative, dubbed R/GA Marketing Tech Venture Studio, to target both early-stage and growth-stage businesses.