Cardiff-based digital start-up accepted onto Google scheme

Cardiff-based digital start-up Ramp, a site where you can order personalised t-shirts for teams or events quickly, has been accepted onto the Google Campus Exchange programme.

Launched in July, it’s a weeklong programme that will give ten early-stage technology firms the chance to work from Campus London, a co-working space for start-ups.

With it commencing on August 22nd, the lucky few will also receive world-class support and advice from some of the best mentors and investors in the UK tech industry.

According to the search giant, businesses that have taken part on the scheme in the past went on to secure funding and go through to the Google Play Awards.

Ramp was founded in March by entrepreneur Neil Cocker, who also co-founded Welsh start-up community Cardiff Start. It analyses thousands of sales to predict the likely distribution size required in an order.

Neil explained to Tech Dragons that his firm has taken part in several events at the campus and believes the news is a key milestone for him.

“We’ve been speaking to Google Campus for a while, and even attended and presented at a handful of events there earlier this year when we were taking part in the Ignite Accelerator programme. So we were delighted to hear that we’d been accepted onto their Campus Exchange,” he said.

Cocker said the advice on offer from Google and its partners will be invaluable for his start-up, and he’ll be bringing all this knowledge back to Wales to benefit Welsh firms.

He said: “The tools and skills required to grow a lean, smart, scalable tech start-up are different to most industries, so having access to relevant, experienced advice is invaluable to a tech start-up like ours.

“We’re really looking forward to taking advantage of the great mentoring, workshops and events that are planned, and then bringing that knowledge back to Wales. We want to make Ramp a real Welsh success story by developing great technology, and using data in clever ways, to make e-commerce easier.”