Unlocking Innovation: How Arise Helped Empower Japeto’s Growth
Japeto commitment to excellence has driven them to explore cutting-edge solutions. But how has Arise, a part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), contributed to Japeto growth? Lets look into their remarkable journey, where the ABOVE programme, the Accelerator Programme, and an ARU intern merge to create a support system of community, expertise, and collaboration.
In the heart of Harlow, where innovation thrives, Japeto—a trailblazing tech company—has found its home within the dynamic ecosystem of Arise Innovation Hub. Japeto’s mission? To create cutting-edge chatbot tools for charities and healthcare organisations, digitally connecting them with their audiences.
Japeto’s sexual healthcare chatbot named Pat was developed with Positive East. It utilises user queries and provides accurate responses. Selling Pat to the NHS presented a unique challenge: ensuring consistent and reliable performance. As technology evolved, Japeto needed a way to validate their chatbot’s effectiveness against various large language models. While cloud-based options existed, cost considerations prompted them to explore an alternative approach. Could they build an in-house system capable of delivering comparable results?
Arise Innovation Hub stepped in, providing crucial funding through the ABOVE programme (Arise Beyond Open Innovation for Value and Entrepreneurship), funded by Essex County Council. With this support, Japeto embarked on an ambitious project: constructing a specialised computer named Blue Fairy. Despite budget constraints, they assembled a powerful system featuring three Tesla graphics cards, a robust CPU, ample RAM (36 gigs), and several terabytes of SSD memory.
Blue Fairy’s purpose? To train open-source models directly on-premises and compare their performance with cloud-based counterparts. Large language models, like ChatGPT, demand significant computational resources—far beyond what standard computers can handle. Blue Fairy became Japeto’s secret weapon, enabling rigorous testing and validation.
Ingrid, CEO of Japeto, tells us,
“The ABOVE grant had a knock-on effect on the business. Not only did it help us build Blue Fairy, but it then meant we were able to run open source models locally, which means that we don't have to connect to the cloud. It created an option for us to build a whole new type of product for clients off the back of it. We've been able to do a quick prototype of a generative AI product that we're actually going to be selling using Blue Fairy - and we wouldn't have been able to sell that without it.”
Japeto then looked to optimise the health score associated with each chatbot conversation. This score would provide valuable insights into chatbot performance. To help with this, they applied for an intern, provided by Arise. A student of Anglia Ruskin University joined them for 4 weeks.
Ingrid says,
“We have a chatbot dashboard where people can manage their chatbots to see how they're doing, and part of that is a health score that's associated with every conversation the chatbot has. He's worked on optimizing that health score so it can be more useful and relevant.”
Find out more about this experience by reading Japeto’s case study; The algorithm maze: an intern’s tale of chatbot optimization.
Japeto then wanted to expand their reach, foster meaningful connections, and gain insights beyond their immediate network. They sought a solution that would provide both knowledge and community.
Enter the Accelerator program. Delivered by Arise, in partnership with Medilink Midlands , and funded by Essex County Council. This program was designed to nurture small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by offering a blend of expertise, networking, and collaborative opportunities. The chance to discuss challenges with fellow entrepreneurs over a cup of coffee was incredibly useful. Japeto’s founder, Ingrid, remarked, “It was a really good networking opportunity and I loved having it in-person.”
The program’s structure impressed them. Unlike fleeting webinars, their full-day sessions allowed for deep dives into critical topics. Ingrid appreciated the expert-led sessions, especially the one on medical devices. Max Bardwell, Head of Business Development at Health Tech Enterprise, shared insights that Japeto had been grappling with independently. Questions flowed freely, and Japeto gained actionable knowledge.
Ingrid said: “You don't often get to be in a room with an expert who does that. And it was really nice to just asking questions and things. It was super useful.”
Japeto joined Arise as a physical member in September 2023 but for them, the space is more than aesthetics; it’s about hosting meaningful meetings, engaging with other members, and feeling part of something greater; it’s a catalyst for growth. The ABOVE funding helped laid the foundations. The Accelerator Program amplified their network, and the ARU intern, with fresh perspectives, optimised their chatbot health score. Together, these elements form a vibrant ecosystem—a place where ideas flourish, relationships deepen, and Japeto thrives.
To learn more, visit their website