The BRITE project is on the hunt for the next Product Foundry Cohort

‘As a city, we need to cultivate and advocate for our makers, the radical thinkers and physical creators who are coming up with new products and remedies for the problems we’re facing in our communities.’

Although Brighton and Hove has abundant space and support for service businesses, there aren’t anywhere near as many options for the city’s product makers to create and prototype. Access to maker spaces can be difficult, slow and expensive. 

This is where Plus X innovation hubs and the University of Brighton step in; empowering our city’s physical makers, providing them space to test, fail and create at speed. Since opening in 2020, the innovation hub has been one of the only places in the city that combines entrepreneurship with facilities for creation and has quickly become the beating heart of Brighton’s innovation scene. 

As well as providing office space and co-working spaces for businesses of all sizes, Plus X Brighton is home to the BRITE Project – a series of innovation programmes developed by the innovation team at Plus X and the University of Brighton. One such programme, Product Foundry, aims to support the development of physical products in an advanced prototyping workshop. 

Product Foundry is for anyone that wants to create a physical product; individuals looking to explore the seed of an idea, to established businesses looking to develop new technologies and processes for both existing products and new designs. Rather than waiting weeks for your prototype to come back, you’ll be able to create in-house, using digital fabrication tools like 3D printers, laser cutters and other hardware. 

With the next programme starting in October 2022, the team of product innovation experts will guide participants through seven weekly sessions. Alongside eight to ten fellow product makers, they will develop early-stage prototypes, all the way from testing ideas to maximising a product for its commercial impact. There is no idea too big or too small.

Product Foundry is open to anyone in the Coast to Capital area with a great product idea and strong vision, even if they’re new to a workshop environment. The programme will provide them with the tools and knowledge needed to see the product through to completion. This fully-funded programme is completely free for participants, and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It is open to both current members of Plus X Brighton, and non-members that are able to travel to Brighton one morning a week. 

Could this programme be right for your business or idea? Let us introduce you to some of the alumni from the first cohort to find out more about the types of businesses benefitting from the Product Foundry:

Angela Fung, Director of Fung and Bedford

Fung and Bedford is the design studio of Sussex-based designers Angela Fung and Ashley Bedford. They combine architecture with origami to create large-scale, bespoke paper installations for inspiring spaces. Their designs are low-impact, sustainable and 100% recyclable.

Angela and Ashley joined Product Foundry, with the duo splitting time on the programme. Their time on Product Foundry was used to explore how they could retain their intricate designs and commitment to sustainability whilst creating pieces on a smaller scale. In addition, it enabled them to focus on creating a lighting prototype that  could be used to collaborate with lighting companies.

Andy Mindel, Owner and Director of Shore Ride

Combining his love for the ocean with his passion for sport, serial entrepreneur Andy is on a mission to make it easier, more environmentally friendly and more accessible for people to enjoy watersports. 

Wanting to eliminate unnecessary car journeys, Shore Ride is a product that easily attaches to your SUP or kayak that allows you to then either walk or cycle to the water. Andy used Product Foundry to refine his product and explore the design alongside alternative materials for manufacture.

Jazmine Tiley, Founder of Protective Bubbles

A 2022 winner of the University of Sussex’s Social Impact Prize, Jazmine
Tiley, came up with the idea for her product Drink Bubble after she and a group of friends had their drinks spiked. Her Company Protective Bubbles will launch Drink Bubble to help protect people from being spiked or spilling their drinks in busy venues.

Whilst taking part in the Product Foundry, Jazmine focused on the product’s packaging alongside some additional material exploration centering around price per unit and sustainability. She is completing the programme while studying for a BSc in Psychology at the University of Sussex.

Applications for Product Foundry close on the 17th of September. To apply or to find out more, visit briteinnovation.co.uk/product-foundry.

Product Foundry is part of BRITE (Brighton Research Innovation Technology Exchange). Led by Plus X, in partnership with the University of Brighton, BRITE aims to support leaders of companies that have ambitions to grow and scale their business, receiving up to £5.5m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund.