Backing British Businesses – CityMaas
Backing British Businesses - CityMaas
CityMaaS Assist is a mobile app and web service using technology to achieve spontaneous and inclusive frictionless travel for disabled people.
It uses a self-adapting UI/UX that is functionally bespoke to each type of disability once a user profile is set up, and machine learning to continuously learn users’ travel behaviour to provide optimal routing options to users in real time.
CityMaaS Assist provides an end-to-end service from discovery, routing and providing essential information to booking and payment of each journey door to door in smart cities.
CityMaas was seeking support in applying for the transport-technology research innovation grants (T-TRIG) funding which purpose is to reduce barriers to innovation and advance technology in transport.
The team needed funding to take their business to the next level and were also looking to enter international markets to grow their client base, broaden their horizon and find international cooperation partners.
Newable is a delivery partner for the Enterprise Europe Network; the largest business support network in the world. CityMaas was introduced to Sandra Steinhauer, Innovation Adviser on the EEN programme.
Sandra supported the team in accessing finance, helping them win a T-TRIG Grant worth £30,000 as well as an IP audit grant. This funding allowed the company to take their innovative solution to the next stage of development and expand their team.
Following the funding and the subsequent growth, the team were ready to start looking to explore overseas cooperation and innovation opportunities. The company was selected to participate in two Global Business Innovation Programmes to the Netherlands and Israel. Sandra made sure the company was well prepared for their innovation visits, had clear objectives and an action plan in place and received all the support needed from the side of the organisers. As a result of these programmes, CityMaas was able to tap into a network of female founders and support networks that indirectly helped accelerate CityMaas’s progression as well as start a UK-UK partnership with another GBIP Netherlands delegate for the mutual benefit and growth of both companies.
“Sandra and EEN has been incredibly value-adding to CityMaaS journey from the beginning when we were selected for the GBIP with Israel. We have made huge amounts of progress from funding, business development and acquisition of talents as a direct result of Sandra and EEN’s efforts. We are eternally grateful for the supports and friendships.”