The Dundee Accelerator Programme was a 6-month venture building programme led by The Ventures Lab in partnership with the Dundee City Council, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We supported 8 innovative impact-led ventures in Dundee with their products, services, models, or technologies that had the potential to be game-changers in their sectors.
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The Ventures Lab helped Tatha Water to build a self-sustaining intervention model, utilising leverages and guiding the right funding pathway to deliver a positive impact, which was achieved by:
· Market analysis and validation: Analysed the regulatory environment and existing WASH solutions and funding dynamics to sensitise why Tatha Water should focus on the corresponding geographical area, what are the limitation of the current solutions, and how Tatha Water can bring something different.
· Impact intervention model development: Identified the potential operational models Tatha Water can pursue to ensure both social (health), environmental (clean water), and economic (community income) benefits are addressed.
· Partnership and funder matching: Based on the potential intervention model, identified and engaged ecosystem partner and funder to align resources, scale solutions, and create meaningful change in underserved communities.
Entrepreneurial mindset is also needed not just in the private sector, but also in the third sector. In this Dundee Accelerator Showcase, Dr Victoria Kina, the Co-Founder of Tatha Water, shared her insights from the Dundee Accelerator Programme.
The Ventures Lab: What is your organisation?
Victoria: Tatha Water is a water and sanitation charity on a mission to solve the water crisis in the Brazilian Amazon. We work with local communities to design and install rainwater harvesting systems and ecological toilets suitable for isolated, rural households.
The Ventures Lab: What are the pain points you found from your venturing journey?
Victoria: We have a clear vision and mission built out of almost two decades of research. We know who we are and what we want to achieve, but the path to get there is still blurry. My background is research and community development, so business planning is an emerging skillset! I founded and run Tatha pro-bono as a single parent while running my own consultancy business, so finding the time and money to access training is challenging.
The Ventures Lab: Why did you join the Dundee AcceleratorProgramme?
Victoria: The Accelerator came at just the right time. I had recently completed a programme that had enabled me to crystalise our vision, and I needed to start thinking about concrete steps to make Tatha sustainable. The Dundee Accelerator provided the solid business thinking that Ineeded, helping me to build the resources and structures needed to engage in conversations with potential funders.
The Ventures Lab: What are the greatest achievements you found throughout the programme?
Victoria: There have been a few 'aha!' moments, which have actually involved quite simple things. I've struggled to clearly frame the partnership between Tatha, our sister organisation in Brazil, and our ongoing relationship with the University and the programme has helped to clarify the different roles of the partners.
For more information about The Ventures Lab and how we support purpose-led enterprises that have the potential to make a difference in multiple locations, either here in Scotland or globally, visit The Ventures Lab.
