Management and hiring insights platform, ThriveMap, have secured funding of more than £120,000 upon completion of the ‘Drive with Belron’ start-up accelerator programme.

ThriveMap’s platform offers companies a way to measure if new team members ‘fit’ with the team before hiring them. This innovative tool is designed to prevent companies from the costly process of hiring employees who ultimately leave very soon after joining, due to incompatibility with the team dynamic. The business was one of five selected to participate in the 2017 ‘Drive with Belron’ programme, of which two businesses were chosen to receive investment. It will now receive funding £128,340 of funding to help develop its platform further.

Belron are the world’s leading vehicle glass repair and replacement group. The company has run its accelerator programme for the past two years, to find start-up businesses who offer disruptive solutions, as well as to help them improve operations and discover new ways of working themselves. The programme saw several teams paired with one of Belron’s participating countries (including UK, Spain, France, Germany and Canada) in order to give start-ups a medium through which they could trial their products.

Companies were also allocated desk office space in Egham, and received mentoring from senior members of Belron’s leadership. At the end of the programme, Belron, alongside their investment partner L Marks, decided which companies they wanted to invest in. Head of Digital & Innovative Technology at Belron, Nick Burton commented that he was “really impressed” with the companies, and that he “appreciate[d] all the hard work and teamwork on display”.

“The Drive programme really helped us to hone our product,” said CEO Chris Platts. “We got a backstage pass to Belron, a people-centric organisation that’s a perfect fit for ThriveMap.”

In addition to Thrivemap, fellow Sussex Innovation member Thanksbox were also one of the five start-ups involved in the programme. Thanksbox were able to showcase their range of digital tools to maximise employee engagement and surface data-led insights to managers and leadership, demonstrating their effectiveness in the corporate environment and receiving feedback. Nick Burton described all of the teams involved as “brilliant”.