Manchester-based Dote – operated by Area 52 Ltd – is preparing to transform parenting with the world’s first integrated AI-powered baby monitor, app and travel system, which will give real-time insights into the state of a baby’s wellbeing.

Dote provides real-time insights into a baby’s comfort, sleep patterns and development, both inside and outside the home. Unlike conventional monitors, the system combines AI, intuitive software and a travel-ready design to create a seamless digital log of baby development.

Dote’s innovation responds to a clear challenge faced by new parents: the need for reassurance without constant supervision. By combining health-focused insights with practical design, it gives families confidence while freeing up time and reducing stress during the crucial early years of a child’s life.

Ralph Wood, Chief Product Officer at Dote, says: “Our goal is to take away some of the uncertainty that comes with parenting. By giving families clear, trusted insights into their baby’s wellbeing, we can make daily life less stressful and give parents more confidence in the choices they make.”

Research validation strengthens credibility

Dote reached out to Innovate UK Business Growth in March 2021 and received strategic mentoring support that focused on investment readiness over the next six months. It recalled that the service’s commitment to re-engage around growth opportunities and re-established contact in July 2024, when Innovation and Growth Specialist, Philip Crosland, worked with the leadership team to help develop its growth strategy.

With a product launch on the horizon, and international retail opportunities opening up, the priorities were defined as: build independent validation to strengthen credibility, protect intellectual property (IP) to reassure investors and prepare the business to raise the capital needed for scale.

To support this, Dote secured an Innovate UK Business Growth Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) / Catapult grant to define how its technology could support paediatric health in collaboration with Medipex , a specialist healthcare innovation hub for Yorkshire and Humber.

The study, completed in March 2025, identified medical conditions that could be monitored with Dote’s system and explored clinical pathways and health economics. These insights not only shaped the product roadmap but also provided the third-party evidence investors and retailers look for.

Ralph explains: “The RTO / Catapult scheme is a game changer for innovative start-ups seeking third-party validation of their technology and value proposition. For Dote, the expertise and credibility of Medipex’s analysis has been an incredibly powerful tool when presenting to retailers and investors. Without this independent evaluation, many pre-revenue companies simply wouldn’t have the budget to access research of this quality.”

Protecting IP to support fundraising

With validation in place, the next priority was to protect the company’s intangible assets. Philip recommended Dote strengthen its IP position, ensuring the foundations were strong enough to underpin investor confidence.

An IP Audit, majority-funded by Innovate UK and delivered by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), identified areas requiring stronger protection, particularly around contracts with software providers. The audit also confirmed trademark registrations and highlighted opportunities to safeguard design features tied to the brand.

Ralph adds: “Managing your IP is another critical factor that many start-ups underestimate. As soon as investors see strong IP, the fundraising journey becomes much easier. The audit helped us recognise the value of our IP, what we had protected and what we hadn’t, and ensure that anything unprotected was properly secured or shielded from disclosure.”

Investment support fuels scale-up

Philip also provided support around funding and finance – including pitch reviews and investor profiling – helping Dote secure the investment needed to commercialise its innovation and pursue international growth opportunities.

This support underpinned its £2.78 million equity investment raise in 2021 and on re-engaging with Innovate UK Business Growth, Philip has continued that journey, guiding Dote as it prepares for its forthcoming £1 million round to accelerate launches in UK stores and in Target in the US.

Ralph notes: “Our Innovation and Growth Specialist, Philip, has always kept a healthy balance between identifying relevant opportunities and being supportive, while also posing difficult questions that have helped steer our strategy and business plans.”

Smart baby-tech with national and global impact

With a full product launch imminent, Dote is on track to scale rapidly. Its innovation addresses everyday parenting challenges while creating high-value jobs in the UK. The company has already made two senior hires and is contributing to the UK’s growing strength in health-focused baby technology.

Ralph concludes: “Innovate UK Business Growth has been an incredibly valuable resource. I’d highly recommend any start-up engage with it as soon as they’re eligible. Having a second pair of eyes on the journey has filled gaps in our capacity with tangible advice and direction, without the cost of an independent advisor.”

Our Innovation and Growth Specialist, Philip, has always kept a healthy balance between identifying relevant opportunities and being supportive, while also posing difficult questions that have helped steer our strategy and business plans.

– Ralph Wood, Chief Product Officer at Dote