The sixth Leicester Startups Accelerator has ended with Loughborough University graduate Katie Michaels being named the winner at Demo Day.
Her startup Moti Me, which specialises in helping children with disabilities through an innovative physiotherapy toy and app, was selected as the best from five startup pitches.
Katie came up with the idea for Moti Me to help her own cousin with cerebral palsy.
The entrepreneur will now be connected with SFC Capital for a possible £150k investment.
Katie said she was completely shocked when she’d been named the winner:
“I am so grateful to have won and I am still speechless. I have big plans for Moti Me and to receive this support is completely game changing for us.
“Improving the lives for children with disabilities is very close to my heart. I’m just so grateful to have this opportunity to help support more children through the Moti Me.”
Katie’s 2024 plans are to develop the Moti Me app, begin working with manufacturers and reach 100+ early adopters.
Speaking of her time on the Leicester Startups Accelerator, she noted:
“I couldn’t recommend this program more to local startups. Each week I have learnt so much. When I reflect back to week 1, we were in a very different position. Each week we have had a different expert to learn from as well as a fantastic group of mentors.
“I was lucky enough to have Kerry – who has been a brilliant mentor and offered me so much support. Access to the Funding Hero platform has really supported us in building our pitch and preparing us for investment so we are very grateful to Jim Shirley.
“Also not forgetting the support from the other wonderful startups the whole way through the journey – the enthusiasm and encouragement has really driven me particularly as a solo founder.”