Technology drives innovation from fitness to fashion
Technology is not just the remit of the IT department as two successful, local entrepreneurs prove. The delivery of innovative new services in the field of wellbeing and fashion has been down to the creative application of technology. Founders of the two companies will attend the OnCourse Innovation Masterclass and answer questions from the audience in a Question Time-style event chaired by BBC Working Lunch presenter Rob Pittam. The free event will take place on May 17th at Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
Tim Vryenhoef founder of NutraTech Limited, developed the UK’s first online and mobile phone weight management service in 2005. One of Nottingham’s fast growing businesses, the company provides online diet services predominately targeted at women. However this week the company moves into a new sector with the launch of its latest service ‘Nutracheck for Men’. Aimed completely at the male market, the combination of online and mobile technology will have a definite appeal for gadget-loving men as they check the calories and fat content of thousands of food and drink items.
Tim will provide an insight into how smart technology has been customised for the development of a service that will appeal to a fresh audience. "Our latest service for men is the result of researching our successful core proposition, and tailoring it to the needs of this market," he says.
Prior to founding NutraTech, Tim had considerable experience working in food and healthcare marketing for two leading retailers. He says, "We wanted to provide a healthier, more effective weight loss solution to many being offered on the market, and believed the way to differentiate ourselves was through the creative use of everyday technology – PC and mobile phones. It took time to refine the proposition – five years in fact before starting the business – but hopefully sharing our experience will inspire other local entrepreneurs to consider new and responsive ways of meeting their customers’ needs."
Tim will be joined by Nicola Davison, Managing Director of Click2touch. Nicola has developed unique patent pending software that allows fabrics to be felt through the computer screen. At the click of a button virtual-reality animations accurately mimic fabric movement so that consumers can see a garment as a 3D object, enlarge its details or experience different tactile sensations. By using internet technology a user can see how a particular fabric reacts and performs when handled, whether it creases when scrunched or remains smooth when stretched.
Nicola’s knowledge of the fashion industry in the UK and the US, coupled with experience in the design department of a web company has helped her to create an innovative business specifically designed for the fashion, clothing, home furnishing and textile market.
The OnCourse Innovation Masterclass event is part of a three-year series aimed at inspiring the city’s business leaders of tomorrow by putting emerging entrepreneurs into contact with leaders who have succeeded through innovation. Launched in March 2006 by John Saunders of Experian it is run by Nottingham Development Enterprise.