In an electrifying display of innovation, nine ambitious technology start-ups unveiled their groundbreaking ideas to a captivated audience of rail industry titans at the Future Labs EXPO. The atmosphere buzzed with inspiration and anticipation as the collective visionaries showcased their avant-garde concepts, aiming to revolutionize the railway sphere.
Under the astute guidance of technology journalist Lara Lewington, attendees were immersed in the results of an intensive 12-week accelerator program, where ingenuity flourished amidst a myriad of challenges. Out of nearly 500 hopefuls vying for recognition, these nine trailblazers not only distinguished themselves but also garnered invaluable industry insights from experts associated with the four publicly owned train companies: LNER, Southeastern, Northern, and TransPennine Express. Benefiting from a wealth of mentorship, they honed their solutions, addressing pivotal issues that range from customer satisfaction to operational prowess and workforce development.
The spotlight gleamed even brighter for two of the finalists, who were celebrated for their exceptional contributions at the expo. PotentialU earned the esteemed Collaboration Award for its innovative digital platform that aids frontline leaders in uncovering the strengths and areas for growth within their teams. Meanwhile, the audience’s hearts resonated with Treeva, whose ingenious solutions harness renewable energy from the turbulent flows of airflow generated by passing trains, securing the title of ‘People’s Choice.’
Richard Harrison, the enlightening Chief Financial Officer of DFTO, passionately remarked, “Future Labs is a stellar example of how rail operators are united in their quest to fuel innovation, enhance performance, and enrich the customer experience.” He further emphasized the immense impact of railways on the UK economy, expressing his delight at supporting the remarkable start-ups and commending the breadth of innovation displayed over those transformative weeks.
Daniel Saunders, the resolute Chief Executive of L Marks, which facilitated this initiative, articulated, “The collaborative efforts of LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express, and Southeastern, alongside the start-ups, have paved the way for valuable testing of cutting-edge technologies aimed at advancing human capital, capitalizing on renewable energy, refining operations, and vastly improving customer engagement.” He proudly reflected on L Marks’ role as the innovation ally for such a pivotal endeavor.
The diversity of solutions presented by the nine finalists was nothing short of impressive:
Chata.ai transforms organizational data into a treasure trove of insights, equipping users to dive into self-service analytics with the simplicity of asking direct questions.
Cleancore Intelligence steps into the spotlight with its innovative tracking solution, optimizing cleaning compliance and foot traffic management, and alleviating the burden of manual record-keeping by pinpointing areas that demand attention.
1Huddle energizes recruitment and talent management with gamified experiences that engage new hires dynamically. The platform’s playful training sessions can be accessed anytime, anywhere, ensuring training is both impactful and fun.
iqast offers an automated forecasting powerhouse, harnessing AI and machine learning tailored to individual company needs, functioning independently without the encumbrance of intricate integrations.
Cognition24 stands out with its mobile app, revolutionizing travel for individuals with Autism, ADHD, and other hidden disabilities by providing real-time, accessible information throughout their journey, including essential updates even in quiet environments.
Zing Data leverages artificial intelligence to offer smart business intelligence solutions, allowing users to navigate complex data relationships with natural language queries.
Treeva redefines energy capture by ingeniously extracting renewable energy from turbulent airflow, with a modular design that is both easy to install and maintain, promoting sustainability along our roadways and railways.
PotentialU tailors its approach to elevate frontline leadership capabilities, equipping managers with insights for team improvement and enhanced engagement.
Moonbility emerges as a beacon of foresight in the transport realm, specializing in the predictive analysis of asset failures, empowering organizations to strategize and mitigate operational risks.
As Northern remains the second largest train operator in the UK, facilitating 2,500 train services daily across over 500 stations in the North, the future of rail is undeniably bright, with these innovative ideas poised to transform the landscape of travel.
