UCL School of Management alumna Ponk Memoli has recently been awarded the £50,000 Innovate UK Grant to support her architectural design startup, HTCH. The UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK supports business-led innovation across myriad industries, sectors and technologies across the country and encourages the development of life-changing innovations.

MSc Entrepreneurship alumna Ponk launched HTCH to modernise how architects and teams design buildings together. Their mission is simple: to tackle the disconnect between professionals and homeowners. By democratising building information (3D models, technical drawings) and clarifying building processes, HTCH empowers everyone to participate in shaping their living spaces.

A testament to HTCH’s incredible work, Innovation UK received over 2,100 applications for this funding opportunity, which the team will use to extend their current software with exciting new features that will enhance the user experience.

Discussing her incredible achievement, Ponk states, ‘I’m thrilled to have Innovate UK on board. This grant comes at the perfect moment for HTCH, allowing us to make architecture more open and inclusive. It represents a giant leap towards achieving our vision of empowering individuals to understand and engage with their built environment.’

Find out more about UCL School of Management’s MSc Entrepreneurship programme or read about Ponk’s entrepreneurial journey so far.