Spotlight On Geovation

Spotlight on Geovation and their Proptech/Geotech Accelerator

Geovation is a celebrated Innovation Hub powered by the Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry. It’s celebrating 15 years of supporting founders working on solutions in proptech or geospatial data – its alumni have raised over £155 million.

Their open call for applications to their spring accelerator closes on the 2nd March, so if you’re working on a startup that uses data or works in the built environment, you should make sure you meet the deadline and apply. It’s free to participate, and to help climate founders understand if it’s a fit, we sat down with Ben Rossi and Caroline Bray to understand what makes Geovation such a value add.

“First off, Ben and Caroline, tell us about your roles at Geovation”

Caroline: I’m Caroline Bray. I work for HM Land Registry but my main role is the stakeholder and contract manager for the Geovation proptech accelerator programme. I work with all the prop tech companies that are on the accelerator, who want to know anything about Land Registry, about the data we offer. I also take part in the application process, to see who should come on the proptech stream.

Ben: I’m the accelerator programme manager at Geovation. Similar to Caroline, I’ve followed the founders from their application all the way through to interviews and then helping guide them through the programme as well.

“What Makes Geovation Unique?”

Caroline: “It’s the only place, I think, where you get the opportunity to have Land Registry and Ordnance Survey working together. This collaboration provides startups with unparalleled access to data and expertise, helping them navigate the complexities of geospatial and property-related data.

So it’s not about taking equity in these companies or anything like that. It’s literally as a member, helping them understand the data, using the data, maybe discounting the data if it’s not for them. We don’t believe there is another innovation hub that does that.

They wouldn’t have the the contact with people from Ordnance Survey or Land Registry, just at the drop of a hat without being part of Geovation.”

Ben agreed and pointed to the value of a network focused on a sector: “Sometimes it’s just the things you hear over at the coffee machine that are the most valuable.”

Applications for your proptech and geotech accelerator close Sunday 2nd March, how do they work?

“Geovation runs two accelerator programmes annually, each with two tracks: GeoTech and PropTech. The current open call, closing on March 2nd, seeks innovative startups to join their spring programme. 

• GeoTech: This track focuses on compelling use cases of geospatial data, seeking new markets and ways to improve data insights.
• PropTech: This track is more specific, focusing on the land and property sector, aiming to speed up processes like home buying and selling, and leveraging HM Land Registry data.

What makes Geovation’s accelerator really stand out? 

Unlike traditional accelerators, Geovation’s programmes are not solely focused on pitch practice or attracting investors. “We’re not looking at you like an investor. We’re looking at you like a collaborator and colleague.” 

The programmes offer a structured framework from validation to go-to-market, but their unique offering lies in the geospatial advice from their tech team and the networks within HM Land Registry and Ordnance Survey.

Success Stories

Geovation has supported over 200 startups, including:

• Orbital Witness: Specializing in commercial real estate, they leverage Land Registry data.
• Hesti (now Viability, a Carbon13 alumnus): They utilise both Ordnance Survey and Land Registry data, receiving significant support from Geovation’s tech team.  
• Search Land: Another example of a successful proptech startup using both data sets.

These examples demonstrate the tangible impact Geovation has on startups, providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed.

Applying to Geovation

With the deadline approaching, Ben and Caroline offer advice to potential applicants:

• Clearly articulate the problem you’re solving.
• Show evidence of validation and user feedback.
• Reach out to the Geovation team with any questions.
• Just be really clear. Answer the question as if we don’t know anything about the problem.

Geovation is looking for startups that demonstrate a deep understanding of their problem and a clear vision for their solution. If you’re in the GeoTech or PropTech space, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.