We are delighted to announce that Lios has been awarded the Mentors’ Choice Prize at the Advanced Materials Competition Spring Edition 2021. Following over 200 hours of mentoring sessions, the industry experts voted for the business they thought most likely to succeed. We are honoured they chose Lios, and SoundBounce, from a global cohort of very strong advanced materials startups. 

The Advanced Materials Competition (AdMaCom) is an accelerator run by the Innovation Network for Advanced Materials (INAM). On April 26th, 11 startups from around the world began the two week intensive programme which focuses on mentoring from sector specialists and training around IP optimisation, licensing, and business model. 

INAM selected 11 world class materials startups, and it was a great opportunity to meet our contemporaries and exchange experiences and opportunities. Some of the innovations included Polymertal a durable composite parts for automotive, Conovate a better battery technology for eVechicles, IonKraft a recyclable plastic container, and Enlipsium an ultra fast x-ray imaging for real time medical data. The cohort of companies really demonstrated the capacity of advanced materials to bring about real, meaningful change in the world – something we are very passionate about at Lios. 

We gained many insights over the fortnight, both from the industry experts and our peers. AdMaCom brought together a broad range of mentors, encompassing all angles on the materials industry and supply chain. In particular, we focused on business model and market entrance strategies during the programme. Mentors assisted us in creating more nuanced customer profiles, investigating supply chain options, and better understanding large company decision making processes around licensing and partnership. 

AdMaCom Spring Edition concluded with a virtual demo day, broadcast around the world, on May 7th. The jury prize on the day went to GrownValve for their unique heart valve prosthesis system and easy-to-use minimally invasive heart valve replacement made from the patient’s own tissue. You can watch all the pitches and demo day presentations here (find us at minute 59:35).  

We’d like to thank the INAM team – Antonia, Christina, and Chris in particular – for all their efforts in organising an excellent digital accelerator. Their support throughout the programme was much appreciated. Thank you to the mentors for their support and encouragement. And thanks of course to our fellow participants with whom we hope there will be collaborations and conversations for a long time to come. 

Applications are now open for Fall 2021, we would encourage other advanced materials startups to apply.