Provision of Internet of Things Accelerator Services

Tender description

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (the Council) is looking to establish a contract for the provision of an Internet of Things Accelerator service. Barnsley Council is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced organisation to deliver an accelerator programme focusing on early stage technology businesses who are developing an Internet of Things (IoT) product or service. We are looking for a provider to design and deliver a programme to be completed by May 2023. The programme and successful provider should: - Provide a structured, cohort model for delivery of intensive accelerator-style business support for organisations with at least a minimum viable productor or service that is based around IoT technology. - Support at least 15 companies for an intensive programme including business planning/model review, expert industry mentoring, technology development support as required, and introductions to relevant markets, investors and investment. This support can be delivered virtually in agreement with the Barnsley project oversight team, although our preference is to have support delivered face to face where possible. Beneficiaries of the programme must be South Yorkshire based. - Plan and deliver events that showcase the cohort, raise awareness and provoke discussion around the technology and provide a pitch and demo day. - Work closely with the DMC team to ensure the support is clearly embedded in the local and regional ecosystem and anchored into the DMC including relevant introductions to local relationship managers, and ongoing promotion of Barnsley and South Yorkshire as a viable destination for start-up and scale up companies. - Be able to attract suitable companies via competitive entry which will be managed by the provider in consultation with the Barnsley project oversight team - Provide a prospectus of the cohort of companies to support engagement and pilots and provide a report on conclusion as well as handovers with relevant parties in the Barnsley oversight team. - Be able to help facilitate and manage selected opportunities for live trials that might become available. Please note that there is no obligation on behalf of Barnsley Council to commit to trialling any product or service. - If appropriate, the supplier may focus the accelerator on a specific market sector or technology vertical but will need to demonstrate relevant knowledge and experience in this area. The providers will be requested to work alongside the DMC and Enterprising Barnsley, to promote the programme and engage suitable companies and will help to create a pathway to wider business support.