Connexica helps its clients makes sense of data though self-service data analytics.  Founded in 2006 through a management buy-out, the Stafford-based company has since expanded from six to 30 employees.  The team created CXAIR, a unique search-powered business analytics solution which they have continually developed.  Many clients are public authorities such as local government and NHS trusts, but Connexica now also supports a wide range of clients including challenger banks, football clubs, theme parks and retailers.  Solutions are offered on a fully-managed basis, or as a licensed arrangement in which the client runs its own data centre. Connexica helps clients cut down on fraud and realise efficiencies by spotting patterns hidden in huge volumes of data and harnessing previously siloed data.

Keele University’s Business Gateway team spotted Connexica’s potential at The Sentinel Business Awards 2017, and the two have now got together to see Connexica participate in Keele’s Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND)* proejct.

For Connexica’s Technical Director Mike Streeton, Keele’s funded programme holds the key to entry into smart energy networks.  

“Smart is the future but, at our scale, entry into the sector is not easy.  By participating in SEND, we hope to apply our existing expertise in Business Intelligence to create new products which we can then test in Keele’s live environment,” says Mike.  “Keele’s programme is world-leading and we simply couldn’t pass on this opportunity right on our doorstep.”

A key attraction for Connexica is the provision of a dedicated University Associate for three years.  Mike adds: “Getting involved could hardly have been easier, and the Keele Universty Business Gateway team have made the process so business-friendly.  We’re now working up the project details in collaboration with SEND Director Professor Zhong Fan from the University’s School of Computing and Mathematics."

Keele University is at the forefront of smart energy networks and through its SEND programme is seeking further partners from across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who want to develop a broad range of new products and services for smart energy networks.  Companies benefit from a full-time person for research, development and innovation for three years, as well as access to the University’s smart energy network, the expertise of University specialists, and other SEND partners.

Interested companies should contact the University’s Business Gateway on 01782 733001 or email business.gateway@keele.ac.uk.

*The SEND project (ref: 32R16P00706) is part-funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds England Growth Programme 2014-2020, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).