Home » News » Superb Start-Ups Catch The Eye At Riverside Stadium Demo Day

Superb Start-Ups Catch The Eye At Riverside Stadium Demo Day

Business & Invest | Published on: 26th March 2026

A huge range of start-up owners have pitched their businesses as part of a programme helping to take their ventures up a level.

Tees Valley Labs Stable programme has welcomed 24 business owners to the scheme to give them expert guidance and mentorship for their budding firms.

And the group had a golden opportunity to present their ideas and expansion plans to investors at a Riverside Stadium Demo Day on Tuesday (24 March).

The Stable offers a six-month incubator focused on taking firms from early ideas and discovery through to market traction and funding.

Designed for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and scale-ups, entrepreneurs have been able to access significant grant funding as part of the programme, including a monthly grant of up to £2,200 and the opportunity to apply for a top-up grant of up to £4,800 on successful completion of the programme.

Tuesday’s Demo Day gave the latest group the chance to seek investment and share their visions after months of workshops and support.

One firm on the Stable, ACE Education, is an innovative education software and training company transforming teaching and learning through technology and AI-powered solutions.

Founder Rosie Hussain said her firm’s momentum had grown on the back of the support and guidance she’d received on the Stable programme – with hopes for a bright future ahead in the region.

She added: “My background is in education, and they filled the gaps I had when it came to business – and what to think about when building a brand and a viable product.

“It makes sure you’re really analysing your business model and makes sure it’s strong.”

The Stable is run by Middlesbrough innovation consultancy Alt Labs on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen gave a speech ahead of the pitches getting underway.

He said: “It was a pleasure to help open the Stable Demo Day – and it’s great to see one of our unique programmes yielding results for brilliant start-ups.

“Funding the Stable and Tees Valley Labs gives local entrepreneurs the backing, confidence and practical support they need to turn great ideas into successful businesses.

“We’ve got huge talent here and initiatives like this are helping people take that next step by creating jobs, attracting investment and strengthening our own economy.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke, TVCA Cabinet Member for Inward Investment and Finance, added: “It’s fantastic to see so many ambitious businesses coming through the Stable programme and showcasing their ideas here. It is particularly amazing to see people turning their own lived experience into solutions for others it really speaks to who we are as a place.”

“Middlesbrough has a strong and growing entrepreneurial community, and giving people in our region the tools, funding and support to succeed is vital to setting them up for success.”

Imran Anwar, CEO of Alt Labs, said: “We’re so proud of the founders on The Stable. They’ve all had open minds, have put the work in, and have been able to build and develop their ideas into viable businesses in six months.

“The Demo Day showcased everything all 24 of them have worked for, and they all did brilliantly. They’re a great group of people, and they’re going to go far.”

The firms presenting were: