About Ignite
We are
Ignite.
The operating system for the world's most ambitious innovation ecosystems.
Our Story
Born from a gap the world couldn't afford to ignore.
It started with Upitch — an entrepreneur-investor matching platform we built to connect bold ideas with capital. Through it, we cultivated a vibrant community of over 5,000 entrepreneurs across the UK.
Listening closely to our users, a critical insight emerged: a great idea wasn't enough. 83% of our community confirmed they needed structured, foundational support to build a solid business case and a compelling pitch.
That insight was the genesis of Ignite — the platform we wish our Upitch founders had from day one. Not just a tool, but a complete operating system for universities, incubators, and accelerators.
Today, Ignite equips innovation programmes with AI-powered mentorship, structured learning paths, deal flow management, and automated reporting — transforming good ideas into investment-ready ventures.
Our Mission
"To democratise world-class entrepreneurship support — and make every innovation programme a powerful engine of growth."
Empower Programmes
We give universities and incubators the AI-driven platform to turn their programmes into scalable, sustainable innovation engines.
Accelerate Founders
We equip founders with world-class AI mentorship, instant pitch feedback, and access to vital investor networks.
Drive Economic Impact
By fostering successful startups, we help institutions become powerful engines for regional job creation and economic growth.
What We Stand For
Principles that guide everything we build.
Innovation at Our Core
We are relentless in our pursuit of new and better ways to support entrepreneurs. We embrace cutting-edge technology, challenge conventional wisdom, and constantly experiment.
Scalable Impact
Our goal is to democratise access to top-tier entrepreneurial support — designed to scale so partners can expand reach without linear increases in cost or complexity.
Partner Success Focused
We succeed when our partners succeed. We foster a symbiotic ecosystem where every member contributes to and benefits from the collective success.
Integrity & Trust
We are committed to the highest standards of security, transparency, and ethical conduct — because the trust of our users is our most valuable asset.
The People
Meet the team behind Ignite.
Russell Short
Founder
With nearly two decades of experience in collaborative business ventures, Russell co-founded Ignite to address the critical resource gap in entrepreneurial education discovered through the Upitch app.
Helen Cunningham
A seasoned entrepreneur, Helen identified the market need for foundational support for founders, leading to the creation of the Ignite platform.
Neville Wilkinson
Technology & Business Transformation Lead
Neville is a business-focused technologist with over 20 years of IT industry experience, specialising in implementing solutions that deliver a proven, positive step change.
Gabriela Boneva
Strategic Resilience & EU Programme Lead
Drawing on high-level expertise from Sheffield Hallam University's CENTRIC, Gabriela specialises in ensuring strategic resilience and security integrity across the Ignite platform.
Kyril Palaveev
Lead Technologist & Strategic Performance Analyst
Kyril brings extensive technical leadership from Airbus and Rolls-Royce. His current PhD research in Net Zero Aviation at Cranfield positions him to provide strategic foresight on sustainable innovation.
Collaboration
Partners who share our vision.
Founding Academic Partner
Sheffield Hallam University
Our primary academic partner, providing educational expertise and validation for our entrepreneurship curriculum and AI-powered learning methodologies.
Origin Story
Where It All Began
Our journey started with Upitch — an entrepreneur-investor matching platform that connected innovative ideas with capital, cultivating a community of over 5,000 entrepreneurs. The insight we gathered from that community became the foundation of Ignite.
The Next Step
Join us on our mission.
Partner with Ignite to unlock your institution's full potential. Let's work together to build a future where innovation thrives.