Supporting an AI-led scale-up to make the railways safer
The Client: One Big Circle (OBC)
OBC has developed AIVR (Automated Intelligent Video Review), an innovative system, which is used across the UK rail network. AIVR captures high-definition imagery and data, and using AI it monitors the railways remotely to find potential hazards. Now that AIVR is deployed across the rail network, inspections can be carried out more safely and efficiently, by reducing physical track inspections.
This Bristol-based technology company has grown to over 60 people since its inception in 2017.
We’ve worked with OBC since day one, and we continue to support their growth with legal advice from all of our teams.
How we’ve helped:
We have worked with OBC for over 8 years. We first met the founders via their previous business, which we also acted for.
They knew we could provide the advice a growing tech company needs, so they approached us to help with OBC. As is typical for this type of business, the main support we’ve provided is around raising finance and negotiating customer contracts.
Corporate work:
One Big Circle were initially partnered with the Bristol-based business incubator, SETsquared which gave them support and resources to grow.
In 2019, the company secured Scale up for Growth funding, which is a business support programme delivered by UWE.
Then in 2020, they secured key investment from tech pioneers David Harris and Toby Hughes. David and Toby joined the board as Executive Chairman and Non-Executive Director respectively. Roxburgh Milkins advised on this investment and the business’s ongoing corporate structure.
Commercial work:
OBC’s solution is the type of hardware/software deeptech solution we enjoy working with. Using our sector expertise and an understanding of their business model, we drafted template agreements for the business back in 2020.
Since then we have helped them negotiate contracts with customers in the UK and internationally, including framework agreements with Network Rail and members of its supply chain.
A long-term relationship:
We have known the founders of OBC for over 15 years, when they were working in a previous business. We have established a relationship of trust over the years, so when they started OBC, we were able to guide them through the process of starting a business and expanding it into a scale up.
We have acted as business advisers as well as legal advisers, providing support and mentorship where needed. We have helped them to secure external investment and draft contracts with their key clients such as Network Rail and Transport for Wales.
