Nesta CareerTech Challenge
Supporting tech start-ups developing new solutions for workers whose roles are at risk of automation
Challenge
The CareerTech Challenge was an ambitious innovation programme that focused on stimulating new solutions for precarious workers
Outcome
Strategy and commercial training provided to the cohort of prize winners, and 1:1 coaching of four start-ups to develop a clear commercialisation strategy
The ongoing digital transformation of our economy poses not only opportunities for many, but also a major threat to workers whose roles are at risk of automation.
To help address this challenge, Nesta launched the CareerTech Challenge, an ambitious innovation programme led by Nesta and Nesta Challenges in partnership with the Department for Education. The programme focused on stimulating new solutions for precarious workers, such as those in low paid, insecure work, susceptible to change, to upskill and retrain online, or access accurate data-driven information, advice and guidance that helps them find work. 31 innovators were awarded funding and support via the CareerTech Challenge.
Over the twelve months of the programme, I worked in partnership with Simpact to provide a range of training to the cohort of grantees, including strategy development, business model design, market sizing, pricing strategy and commercialisation. In addition, I coached four of the prizewinners throughout the programme as they developed new go-to-market strategies for their emerging products.
“[The] support was universally praised by finalists, who found their coaching and advice invaluable in defining their go-to-market strategies and business models”
“Our 1:1 coaching sessions were extremely helpful, especially when we focused on specific routes to market. They had strong expertise here that heavily influenced our commercial strategy.”