Entrepreneur Foundation

PPE manufacturer crowned Net Zero Hero at COP26

PPE designer and manufacturer, Design Abled, were crowned winners of the Heroes of Net Zero competition at the COP26 International Climate Change summit in Glasgow.

Celebrated for their original and innovative actions to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, Design Abled successfully impressed the judges and topped the micro-business category after more than 160 businesses entered the competition. The Heroes of Net Zero competition is part of the government’s Together for Our Planet campaign, run by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The government launched the campaign last June to encourage small businesses to go green, as well as a new UK Business Climate Hub, where businesses can get advice and support and make a commitment to become net zero. The panel of expert judges included the government’s Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith, MP who said: “Representing a diverse range of industries and locations, the finalists spotlight the actions that UK businesses of any size can take to cut their own emissions and help us build back better.” He presented Design Abled and other Heroes of Net Zero finalists with their awards and celebrated their green achievements at COP26 at the Scottish Event Campus. Demonstrating creative efforts to get them to net zero, the PPE manufacturers opt for sustainable manufacturing methods to minimise waste, created biodegradable packaging and are developing recycling and upcycling partnerships for used devices. Dean Ezekiel, Director of Design Abled, said: “We are very proud of the business decisions we have taken on our way to becoming a Hero of Net Zero. We hope to inspire other businesses to make the same commitment and to make eco-friendly decisions. We believe in our chance to make a positive impact.” “Our aim is to solve communication problems of respiratory protection, as a sustainable, net zero business. As a manufacturer, we have a choice to reduce our impact on climate change, while still meeting the needs of customers and growing our business.” Design Abled have produced their own brand of sustainable, transparent face masks known as Helloface. Recently gaining a UKCA/CE mark for their Transparent Medical Face Mask, Design Abled are building connections within the medical industry to support the large demand for the clear face masks.

Entrepreneurs are vital to business; individuals who have a vision, can inspire others to join them on their journey and drive the success of our local and national economy. Hertfordshire Chamber recognises this need and through the Entrepreneur Foundation is identifying entrepreneurs who are passionate about their ideas and about turning their concepts into reality.

Dumb-bells to smart-bells:

the wearable tech revolution from Stance Fitness

The founders of St. Albans-based Stance Fitness share how their fit-tech device will conquer gym-jitters and build the gym of the future. With a little help from their friends at the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, of course…

Have you ever felt embarrassed while exercising at the gym? You navigate your way towards the free weights, squeezing between two demi-gods who are deadlifting in front of a mirror- unblinking, unwavering- when a creeping sense of inferiority settles in. Hertfordshire-based Fit-Tech company Stance Fitness is on a mission to conquer the dreaded ‘gymtimidation’, with machine learning wearable technology designed specifically to boost performance, confidence and motivation in the gym sector. Stance’s technology consists of sensors embedded in wearables and attached to gym equipment or machinery. The sensors automatically connect to both the free weights and the machines to record, track and monitor weight, lifts, number of repetitions, exercise duration, calories burned and a host of other parameters to create your entirely personalised gym routine. To help conquer gymtimidation, the app also shows you how to use equipment properly and effectively. Gyms will have access to all the data created on their machines, which they can then use to tailor more personalised client contact. The product’s potential has recently been spotted by one of the world’s largest venture capitalists - Techstars. The American seed accelerator has funded Stance Fitness and welcomed the Hertfordshire-based Company into its prestigious global start-up programme.

Stance Fitness is co-founded by Alex Freeman, a former Army Officer, who served 20 years in the Forces, and Jayshan Ratnakumar, a graduate of University College London with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. Unlikely partners perhaps, but they share a passion for fitness, a peoplecentric approach to business matters, and a vision to bring clever and user-friendly technology to address some of the challenges faced by users and gym owners in the weight and strength training market. “On an exercise bike you can find out how fast or far you’ve gone, how many imaginary hills you’ve climbed - but in the weight training area it’s extremely limited,” comments Alex Freeman. “With our technology, all strength training can be monitored. The data from our technology can be given to the individual in a really user-friendly format, helping everyone to get fitter, stronger, faster.” Customer retention is notoriously low in the gym sector. January marks the busiest month for new sign-ups – yet over half cancel their memberships within six months of joining. Without seeing tangible signs of improvement, we lose our ‘New Year, New Me’ spark and slump back into our uninspired ways. But Stance’s device will “visibly show progression and give frequent performance-based feedback on an easy-to-use app,” Mr Ratnakumar explains. “This will hugely boost motivation.” Stance Fitness is a member of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneurship Foundation, which Mr Freeman commends for the support it offers to start-ups: “Herts Chamber has been absolutely fantastic for us; it really helped kick-start our business. It provided us with a platform to network through, trained us about the best practices, and oiled the wheels of Stance Fitness to get it where it is today.”

GeoSmartPro launches smart multipurpose fan

GeoSmartPro is a Hertfordshire-based start-up that focuses on innovating smart home products to fit into people´s lives seamlessly. Following the success of the AirGo Smart Fan which is described as one of the quietest fans on the market and was awarded the Quiet Mark, the company has just launched AirLit. It claims it is the UK´s first smart multipurpose fan that will keep you cool as the weather gets warmer.

AirLit is a multipurpose smart desk fan that is intended to boost confidence during online meetings and improve beauty tutorials as well as the air quality of the home and office. Nowadays, as remote and hybrid work is a new reality, it´s important to equip the home office with an effective accessory that not only focuses on indoor air quality and keeping everyone fresh, but that also helps to get workers ready

for daily tasks. The AirLit is not only a smart portable fan but also a smart ring light and mirror which can be controlled with leading voice assistance i.e Alexa and Google Home. As well as creating an elegant appearance for the product itself, it allows the user to control the ring light temperature and brightness, the airflow modes and speed. It can also be used as a phone holder. With the magnetic mirror option, it can help the user to get ready and do make-up and

GeoSmart is offering Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce members a discount with the code: Herts22

it will also keep them cool during meetings. Therefore, AirLit can benefit everyone from content creators to people that work from home and that want their conferences to be as comfortable and easy as they can be. GeoSmartPro products are available in the UK, online and at major retailers such as Currys, Selfridges, Amazon and many others.