Liverpool clean tech firm Heatio joins £1m incubator programme to accelerate its data-driven approach to saving energy in homes. Tony McDonough reports

A Liverpool company that has developed a digital platform that improves energy efficiency in homes is joining a £1m incubator programme.

Heatio was founded by Thomas Farquhar and Simon Roberts. They have developed a digital platform that enables optimisation, control and flexibility of connected technologies and devices in the home. These include heat pumps, electric batteries and solar panels.

In January LBN revealed the Royal Albert Dock-based business had secured two contracts worth a total of £1.2m. This will see them improve the energy efficiency of 350 homes in the North West of England.

Now Heatio has joined the LYVA Lab’s Deep Tech Incubator. Backed by a £1m fund from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, LYVA Lab’s incubator programme is aimed at deep tech start-ups.

It provides a tailored support programme, £10,000 funding and the opportunity for a further investment of up to £90,000 to match grant funding.

This will provide Heatio with resources, mentorship, and access to LCR’s innovative ecosystem – including LYVA Lab’s partners and collaborators – supporting them in their commitment to accelerating the deployment of low-carbon technologies in homes.

Heatio’s Flexx Home Energy system and Virtual Power Plant will propel significant change in the energy sector, giving people greater and more affordable access to clean energy.

Flexx allows homeowners to connect to a mobile/online platform, which gives them an unprecedented amount of insight into their energy usage, their energy profile, comparisons to other properties/homes and the routes to reducing this energy usage.

It will recommend and specify energy-efficient technologies tailored to individual households based on their actual energy consumption and property type. 

These devices will then be connected to the Virtual Power Plant to deliver a smart, connected, energy-optimised home allowing for maximised savings, free energy and revenue generation.

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Thomas Farquhar said: “We are delighted to be selected for the first edition of what we believe is going to be an exceptional programme.

“Liverpool city region continues to show a staggering level of support for tech companies such as Heatio, and we welcome the opportunities that programmes such as LYVA Lab’s Deep Tech Incubator provide for growth and development.”

Other companies joining Heatio in the incubator are:

• Bundant – an AI-based technology for re-ordering household products.
• Leftfield Football Consultants – using analytics to help football leaders improve decision making.
• BossIT.Online – an advanced manufacturing system that reduces waste in construction.

Hannah Randles, LYVA Labs’ Innovation ecosystem partner, who is leading the programme said: “We are really looking forward to working with the successful companies and watching them develop and grow during their time on our Deep Tech Incubator programme.”