The Plexal Grown in Hackney programme was a free, six-month initiative offering tailored business support to help fast-track local businesses, supported by Hackney Council.
Now that the second cohort of the Grown in Hackney programme has come to an end, the founders reflect on their experiences during the six months of business support, and the growth their organisations have experienced through participating in the programme:
Tend’s mission is to redefine mental health treatment across the globe, by delivering scalable, clinically-proven digital therapeutics for anxiety, depression and other common mental health conditions. Leveraging the unique power of immersive technologies, they aim to radically reduce costs and allow anyone, anywhere and at any time to access high quality, clinically validated immersive therapeutics.
Speaking about Tend’s vision, Matt Hoad-Robson, Founder and CEO of Tend-VR said: “Our transformative mental health solution offers the world’s first fully interactive Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) course providing a unique and immersive environment that enhances its therapeutic effect and significantly improving both course retention and completion.” Speaking about taking part in Grown in Hackney, Matt added: “[it] was a highly valuable experience for Tend, providing expert guidance on an extensive range of topics—from public speaking to go-to-market strategies. The programme’s friendly and supportive staff fostered an environment conducive to open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, allowing us to clarify our vision and navigate challenges with confidence. The networking opportunities enabled us to connect with other emerging enterprises in the health technology sphere and the exchange of ideas reinforced the importance of collective learning.”
Integrate Support Services is a Hackney Wick based fundraising consultancy working with charities and social enterprises. The organisation provides outsourced director-level fundraising services for small and medium charities and social enterprises that struggle to recruit and retain fundraising staff due to scale, inflationary pressures and a fundamental lack of fundraising workforce in the sector.
Eoin Heffernan, Founder, added: “The programme allowed us to build our brand within the local community as we are more known in South London and across the UK thant we are in Hackney. During the programme we held a big event at Trowbridge Gardens, Hackney Wick (just down the road from Plexal) in partnership with Allia and we connected 30+ organisations who came along. As an example of the impact that created, at the event we met Joanne, Founder of Queertopia and we have since been supporting their engagement and consulting work with the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board plus more general grants fundraising. On the consulting front, Joanne has secured work from Homerton Hospital and is developing a strong relationship with CAHMS too. And the latest news is that Queertopia secured lottery funding recently, which is fantastic and a step change for the company.
Our goal is to have a big fundraising event in Plexal in the near future, welcoming charities and social enterprises from Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and right across London too.”
Tokens of Appreciation (TOAP) convert appreciation for good work into an asset. Organisations enjoy higher performance and engagement, while contributors earn reputation, access and even ownership for perfect alignment.
Gaye “Gaia” Soykok, Co-Founder and CEO at Tokens of Appreciation stated: “As Tokens of Appreciation, our season with the Grown in Hackney program has come to an end. We are thankful to our venture partner Nicole and her support. I wanted to take this time to acknowledge your impactful contributions. We learned, built and executed. We want to take this time to thank you and share what we have accomplished through this journey. We are in BETA and have created our demo to showcase the potential.” The company has recently been recognised as an innovative wealthtech startup in the UK by FCA innovation and presented to FCA, banks, and members of the UK finance sphere. They have formed a seven-person team and aim to raise funds in 2025 with EIS/SEIS, which they will focus on after their first set of paying clients. “Tokens of Appreciation CTO, Sean O’Reilly, became a TOAP co-founder, and my ex-colleague from Legal and General launched the first reinsurance blockchain protocol with me” Gaia adds.
Betaminds is a community organisation focused on personal, social, emotional and mental wellbeing, particularly for marginalised groups in Hackney. They run peer support groups, resilience workshops, intergenerational projects, and initiatives tackling exclusion, isolation, and mental health challenges. Rhy Blackett-Codrington, Founder & Managing Director, commented: “Taking part in the Grown in Hackney programme was incredibly valuable, especially having access to space at Plexal. It provided a much-needed environment to work quietly while also offering networking opportunities with other founders, which was particularly beneficial at a time when we didn’t have a dedicated space of our own. We’re very grateful for the opportunity and the support it provided.”
Orli is creating what they call the “Fourth Space”, a bridge between home, school and the healthcare system. They use AI-powered tools, behavioural science and real-world opportunities to give children and their families the support, skills and confidence to manage their emotional wellbeing together. From gamified avatars and emotional well-being pathways for kids to a freemium parent app that guides families through their unique journeys, turning waiting time into opportunity.
Speaking about the Grown in Hackney programme, Mark Cox, Co-Founder of Orli Health stated: “being paired with a mentor who had deep expertise in grant funding was incredibly valuable for us as an early-stage business navigating the funding landscape. Meeting other brilliant founders from Hackney – the sense of community and shared learning was fantastic. [Additionally] becoming part of the wider Plexal community has been a real highlight, giving us access to both formal support and those invaluable informal chats that spark new ideas and collaborations.”
As the second cohort of the Grown in Hackney programme closes, it’s clear that the initiative continues to provide invaluable support for local businesses, empowering them to scale, innovate and create lasting impact in Hackney and beyond. The diverse range of businesses, from health tech to social enterprises, demonstrates the power of fostering a collaborative and supportive environment where knowledge-sharing and mentorship can drive real progress.
Hackney’s reputation as a hub of creativity and innovation is only growing stronger, and initiatives like Grown in Hackney are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of local business. Visit this page if you would like to learn more about the Grown in Hackney programme, or take a look at our work for more examples of our past work, as well as programmes with open applications.
