A technology firm that creates AI infrastructure, intelligent systems and products for organisations has announced its new home in Durham as the board takes shape.
Invent Group is the brainchild of experienced commercial strategist Malcolm Brechin, who has more than 25 years’ experience building and scaling businesses, and technologist Sam Whisker, who has spent his entire career developing progressive code that changes how organisations operate.
Taking on the roles of CEO and CTO respectively, they are now joined by chief strategy officer Richard Lowes – an experienced creative director with deep expertise in brand strategy and business development.
With a strong track record of working together, the trio have also built an Invent Group network of wider, multi-disciplined specialists who, collectively, will prove the difference between an AI idea remaining an innovative concept, or becoming a user-ready, scalable and resilient solution that adds practical value in the real world.
Despite their careers spanning UK-wide roles, the board’s roots in the North East of England – and the increasingly vibrant technology scene in the region – saw Belmont Business Park selected as the location for Invent Group’s new office.
“The technology space is noisy right now, especially when it comes to AI,” said Brechin. “Organisations’ interest in AI is on the rise, which is really exciting, but all too often ideas don’t ever become working capabilities.
“Meanwhile we see so many people overwhelmed by the hype, and the danger is they remain ‘AI uncomfortable’ when they could take even small steps to completely change how they operate.
“Despite this crowded market I genuinely think we have something different. A place where people can come and develop their ideas with us, pulling, as required, on the power of seven interconnected capability areas – strategy, infrastructure, productisation, data, implementation, efficient scale and go-to-market.
“Whether clients want to use AI to ‘problem solve’ in their own organisation, or create a completely new product, the ‘invent’ process is high energy yet grounded in decades of business rationale.”
Invent Group’s research, capability and implementation expertise has already resulted in three product releases. Bid King empowers resource-strapped organisations to deliver faster, smarter and more conversion-ready submissions to tenders and proposals. Vericase is an AI-native legal dispute product which accelerates the management of complex casework, with greater clarity and control. And Schools-safe facilitates more secure, accessible communication within the complex education setting.
In addition to the team’s in-house expertise, Invent Group is also working with a team of MBA students from East London University, to bolster the firm’s R&D capacity.
“For centuries, inventors have conceptualised billions of new ideas, but not all can – or should – reach the market,” added Whisker. “We move from investigation to prototype, from prototype to working system, and working system to a market-ready release, only when the opportunity is right.
“Our clients appreciate our independent counsel and honest insight, because that’s what delivers sustainable growth for everyone.”
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