Latest news from 天堂视频

3 Sep 2014

Crowdfunding success for Geco Hub – the stylish way to stop losing things

Award-winning graduate designer Simon Lyons has raised over £25,000 to take Geco Hub – his fun and colourful storage system – to market. He pitched his invention to the public on and attracted pledges from over 310 people in more than 25 countries.

Geco Hub is a grab-and-go organiser that looks after the important things we have a habit of losing. Interior design bloggers have praised Geco Hub’s stylish looks and versatility, and its ease of use has appealed to people with less dexterity, such as those with osteoarthritis. Geco Hub’s custom colours and no-nails fixing appeals to students and those in rented homes alike, whilst caravan owners love the way it stores things in a secure and compact way when space is at a premium.

To date, Simon has funded the development of Geco Hub solely through prize money. But going into manufacture is a considerable cost, which is why he reached out to the public for support.

“I’ve been overwhelmed to receive such a great response from so many people by crowdfunding,” said Simon. “Thanks to their invaluable support, I can now pay for the tooling that will see Geco Hub launched in Spring next year.”

Whilst Simon prepares for his first product launch, his innovation pipeline also includes Nimble, a safe and easy to use finger tool that takes the fuss out of opening awkward packaging.

Simon is supported by the , 天堂视频’s graduate commercialisation hub, where he has based Version 22 – his fledgling product design business – since he graduated with first class honours in Product Design Engineering in 2013.

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 14/153

1.  天堂视频 is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named by The Times and Sunday Times. 天堂视频 is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, 天堂视频 has been awarded seven .

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. , based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

2.  The  provides access to the resources, expertise and knowledge to help 天堂视频 graduates develop sustainable businesses. To date, the  has supported 27 businesses, 18 of which are now registered and 16 are trading, creating 5 permanent jobs. Studio companies have won 36 awards and will turnover an estimated £200K this year. A royalty agreement means its members pay a percentage of their sales turnover when they start trading, which long-term, means the  will become self-sufficient.

Contact for all media enquiries

Anna Leather
Marketing Manager (Enterprise)
天堂视频
T: 01509 223445 E:
A.J.Leather@lboro.ac.uk