BCU Hatchery

Cuddly Companion Company Wins Runner-Up Prize at STEAMhouse Hatchery 2024!

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news, our founder, Kyle, was awarded the Runner-Up Prize at the STEAMhouse Hatchery 2024 business incubator programme! 🎉

For those who don’t know, STEAMhouse Hatchery is a fantastic initiative run by STEAMhouse, designed to support and develop early-stage creative and tech businesses. The eight-week course ran from July through to August 2024 and gave entrepreneurs like Kyle the chance to test, shape, and validate their business ideas, with guidance from industry experts and experienced mentors.

Over 100 aspiring founders signed up for the programme, with around 70 completing the full eight weeks, and 50 pitching their ideas at the end. We’re so proud to say that Kyle’s pitch for Cuddly Companion Company…and our cuddly, photo-friendly star, Coco, secured a Runner-Up Prize!

The prize included funding to help us further develop our product and take Coco into the wider world but truthfully, the real win went far beyond the money.

What we gained from the Hatchery was

Priceless:✔️ 

New connections with other founders and creative minds.✔️ 

Expert feedback from seasoned business mentors.✔️ 

Fresh ideas and encouragement from people who’ve built brands themselves.✔️ 

And, most importantly, validation. ✔️

Validation that our idea is not only exciting, but viable. That professionals in the industry believe in the concept. That Coco has a real place in the market.

The sense of community was incredible too. We met some amazing businesses during the programme, including the well-deserved winners, Sharedish, who are doing fantastic things in the world of sustainable dining.

For Kyle, being able to bounce ideas off such a wealth of experience, learn what makes a brand succeed, and see other founders face the same challenges was invaluable in shaping the future of Cuddly Companion Company. The confidence and clarity it’s given our journey is something no prize money can buy.

We’re so grateful to the STEAMhouse Hatchery team, all the mentors, guest speakers, and fellow founders who made the programme such a rewarding experience.

With the support of this prize and the belief of everyone who cheered us on, we're one step closer to seeing Coco go on countless adventures with new friends all over the world.

Stay tuned… there’s so much more to come! 🐾✨