How Launchpad helped Hivedome develop an AI-driven solution
When specialist software developer Hivedome moved into Launchpad, the goal was simple: step out of isolation and connect with a wider business community.
What followed was something far more powerful: a partnership with academia, access to funding, and the development of an innovative AI-driven solution that could reshape how their industry manages knowledge.
Breaking out of the bubble
Hivedome develops specialist software for the international commodities and trading sector, a complex industry driven by data, documentation and regulatory processes.
Before joining Launchpad, the team worked from a small office environment and had limited interaction with the wider business ecosystem.
Director, Jason, explains that this isolation created a barrier to growth:
“We were quite isolated as a business and didn’t interact with many other organisations. Launchpad offered the opportunity to become part of a community, access business development support and simply meet other people.”
Moving into Launchpad opened the door to new conversations, ideas and opportunities.
Connections that unlock opportunity
One of the biggest advantages of being part of the Launchpad community is access to support networks and collaborative partnerships.
Through introductions facilitated by Launchpad, Hivedome connected with Essex University, which led to discussions around a potential research collaboration.
That conversation evolved into a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project – a programme designed to connect businesses with academic expertise to drive innovation.
With support from the university and the Launchpad team, Hivedome successfully applied for Innovate UK funding, covering around two-thirds of the project’s costs.
Without that support, the project would not have been possible.
Turning research into real-world innovation
The focus of the KTP project is the development of a new AI-powered solution designed to tackle a longstanding industry challenge.
The commodities trading sector relies heavily on documentation and complex processes. Over time, these documents quickly become outdated, creating inefficiencies and knowledge gaps.
Hivedome’s innovation aims to solve this problem.
By using modern AI technologies and language models, the project will create an intelligent chatbot capable of:
- capturing and organising key knowledge,
- providing real-time access to information,
- supporting multiple languages and user capabilities,
- helping teams and customers interact with complex systems more effectively.
The result will be a centralised knowledge repository integrated into Hivedome’s software platform.
This will allow both internal teams and customers to access accurate information instantly, creating a dynamic two-way flow of knowledge.
A platform for innovation
For Hivedome, the project represents more than just a technical advancement.
It demonstrates how the right environment can accelerate innovation.
Being based at Launchpad helped the company access the networks, expertise and support needed to move from an idea to a funded innovation project.
The development of the new AI-driven capability is also expected to strengthen Hivedome’s position within the global trading technology market.
By embedding intelligent knowledge management directly into its platform, the company is creating a feature that sets it apart from competitors.
The power of community
Hivedome’s journey highlights a key principle behind Launchpad’s mission: innovation rarely happens in isolation.
When ambitious businesses surround themselves with the right people, ideas and opportunities, collaboration becomes a catalyst for growth.
From university partnerships to funding opportunities and peer support, Launchpad provides the environment where those connections can happen.
For Hivedome, that environment has already helped to develop a new product, access to research expertise and a stronger innovation pipeline for the future.
And it all started with a simple decision to become part of the community.
