AI start-up chooses Durham base

A new technology business developing artificial intelligence systems and products has chosen County Durham as its home as it looks to turn AI concepts into practical commercial solutions.

Invent Group has established its office at Belmont Business Park in Durham, with founders Malcolm Brechin and Sam Whisker taking on the roles of chief executive and chief technology officer, respectively.

Malcolm brings more than 25 years’ experience building and scaling businesses, while technologist Sam has spent his career developing software designed to change how organisations operate.

They have been joined on the board by chief strategy officer Richard Lowes, an experienced creative director specialising in brand strategy and business development.

The trio have also assembled a wider network of specialists to help organisations develop AI ideas into scalable, user-ready products.

Invent Group has already released three products.

Bid King is designed to help organisations prepare tenders and proposals, while Vericase uses AI to support the management of complex legal disputes.

Schools-safe, meanwhile, focuses on secure and accessible communication within education.

The business is also working with MBA students from the University of East London to strengthen its research and development capacity.

Malcolm said: “The technology space is noisy right now, especially when it comes to AI. 

“Organisations’ interest in AI is on the rise, which is really exciting, but all too often ideas don’t ever become working capabilities. 

“Meanwhile we see so many people overwhelmed by the hype, and the danger is they remain ‘AI uncomfortable’ when they could take even small steps to completely change how they operate.

“Despite this crowded market I genuinely think we have something different. 

“A place where people can come and develop their ideas with us, pulling, as required, on the power of seven interconnected capability areas – strategy, infrastructure, productisation, data, implementation, efficient scale and go-to-market. 

“Whether clients want to use AI to ‘problem solve’ in their own organisation, or create a completely new product, the ‘invent’ process is high energy yet grounded in decades of business rationale.”

The founders say that their North East roots, coupled with the region’s growing technology sector, influenced their decision to establish Invent Group in Durham.

Sam added: “For centuries, inventors have conceptualised billions of new ideas, but not all can – or should – reach the market. 

“We move from investigation to prototype, from prototype to working system, and working system to a market-ready release, only when the opportunity is right. 

“Our clients appreciate our independent counsel and honest insight, because that’s what delivers sustainable growth for everyone.”

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