Partner Article

North East start-up business secures financial backing

A North East company is celebrating as its future is secured through a series of financial awards, new business wins and completed business deals.

Sports intelligence and predictions website Tipstar.co.uk offers sporting news and data and allows members to make, sell and buy predictions.

Backed by the North East’s Design and Creative Fund, Tipstar received £150,000 towards its capital investment and a further £20,000 through a Business Link grant to put towards its marketing activity.

The Tipstar team has recently signed agreements with bookmakers Bet365, Ladbrokes and Coral to integrate their software with the Tipstar website to provide up-to-date odds and news. The company has also North East communications agency Karol Marketing Group to support its public relations and marketing output.

Rob Mathieson managing director from Tipstar said: “Having spent over two years refining the Tipstar software we are delighted to have the backing of both the North East’s Design and Creative Fund and Business Link. This external support shows that there is still opportunity for start up businesses willing to put in the hard work and the funding gives us a great platform from which to launch our business.

“Our links with the UK’s leading bookmakers allow us to bridge the current gap between the betting industry and the sports better.”

The idea for Tipstar was born following research into the sports betting industry which revealed that although telephone tips are widely available they were often only accessible via premium rate phonelines. Tipstar was created to fill the gap in the market for online sports tips.

The Tipstar website is currently under the second stage of development and the website will be accessible via both computer and mobile phone.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .